U.S. Farmer Biotech Crops Adoption continues to rise

[wifezilla]

"American farmers continue to enthusiastically choose genetically engineered (GE) crops over their conventional counterparts, according to a new USDA report.

USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) report, Adoption of Genetically Engineered Crops in the U.S. was released July 1, 2010. Key findings include:

Adoption of GE soybeans is 93 percent in 2010. (up from 91 percent in 2009) Adoption of all GE cotton climbed to 93 percent in 2010. (up from 88 percent in 2009) Adoption of all biotech corn reached 86 percent in 2010. (up from 85 percent in 2009)"
http://news.thomasnet.com/companystory/U-S-Farmer-Biotech-Crops-Adoption-continues-to-rise-579746

 

[hoodat]

"American farmers continue to enthusiastically choose genetically engineered (GE) crops over their conventional counterparts, according to a new USDA report.

USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) report, Adoption of Genetically Engineered Crops in the U.S. was released July 1, 2010. Key findings include:

Adoption of GE soybeans is 93 percent in 2010. (up from 91 percent in 2009) Adoption of all GE cotton climbed to 93 percent in 2010. (up from 88 percent in 2009) Adoption of all biotech corn reached 86 percent in 2010. (up from 85 percent in 2009)"
http://news.thomasnet.com/companystory/U-S-Farmer-Biotech-Crops-Adoption-continues-to-rise-579746

What alternatives. Monsanto has about wiped out any companies that produced competition.

 

[vfem]

Its sad to know the need to 'produce more' to break even is forcing farmers to do this. The idea of loosing even 1% of there crop is scaring them into these sad choices. Monsanto has really pushed the people out who want to keep any part of farming, part of nature. Food is not longer natural, its as tech savvy as a computer in someone's office.

 

[seedcorn]

"American farmers continue to enthusiastically choose genetically engineered (GE) crops over their conventional counterparts, according to a new USDA report.

USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) report, Adoption of Genetically Engineered Crops in the U.S. was released July 1, 2010. Key findings include:

Adoption of GE soybeans is 93 percent in 2010. (up from 91 percent in 2009) Adoption of all GE cotton climbed to 93 percent in 2010. (up from 88 percent in 2009) Adoption of all biotech corn reached 86 percent in 2010. (up from 85 percent in 2009)"
http://news.thomasnet.com/companystory/U-S-Farmer-Biotech-Crops-Adoption-continues-to-rise-579746

What alternatives. Monsanto has about wiped out any companies that produced competition.

There are MANY alternatives, it's just they aren't lucrative enough because people won't pay for the alternatives. It all starts w/us the consumers.

 

[wifezilla]

You mean like us consumers that are joining CSAs, shopping at farmers markets and even digging up our lawns to create our own garden beds in an effort to get away from the GMO's???



I do agree that the traditional markets a farmer is used to dealing with wont work. But even on the farm level things are changing. More are going direct to consumer. A good "ferinstance" is one of my customers who had me create a flier to market his local beef and pork. While he did pay me for graphic design and printing, I ended up buying half a pig from him

 

[seedcorn]

You mean like us consumers that are joining CSAs, shopping at farmers markets and even digging up our lawns to create our own garden beds in an effort to get away from the GMO's???



I do agree that the traditional markets a farmer is used to dealing with wont work. But even on the farm level things are changing. More are going direct to consumer. A good "ferinstance" is one of my customers who had me create a flier to market his local beef and pork. While he did pay me for graphic design and printing, I ended up buying half a pig from him

I meant the consumers who obviously don't mind GMO's, that won't pay for the extra costs of growing non-GMO, that are growing in numbers.

If MORE people would pay for non-GMO, the farmers wouldn't be switching more acres to GMO's as article stated.

Never said nor implied that traditional markets won't work. Ag is a changing industry that does not sit still.

There are many choices besides GMO from the 4 chem companies but they are more expensive to grow per acre thus the consumer has to pay for it. Selling a few hogs/cattle to a few friends does not change an industry--that has been going on from the beginning of man.

 

[lesa]

I predict it will, in fact, change an industry! I am betting all of this will lead back to the successful, small, family farm! Consumers hold the power- if nobody buys it- nobody will plant it. Business if business!

 

[seedcorn]

I predict it will, in fact, change an industry! I am betting all of this will lead back to the successful, small, family farm! Consumers hold the power- if nobody buys it- nobody will plant it. Business if business!

I hope you are correct but do the math. Assume w/insurance, etc, need $50,000/year to live, 300 acre farmer has to profit $165/acre. If they make 20% profit (no traditional farmer would come close), they have to generate over $825/acre. If you would go back to open pollinated corn (as some on this board advocate) average yields using that seed and manure for fertilizer and no chemicals was 50 bu/acre. Consumer has to average paying over $16/bushel for corn.

Just for giggles a small, used combine is around $120,000. Small, new tractor around $90,000. Planters are around $5,000/row. Interest of 6% on all this plus land payments, do the math on $5,000/acre dirt. Try paying for that on 300 acres--unless you have relatives that leave land to you, it don't compute...........

 

[lesa]

That is the joy of keeping it small! And the joy of biodiversity. I would never plant one crop. Nor would I plant feed crops, as an alternative to pasture raising. Somehow we got to doing everything backwards! There were headlines in our local paper about our dairy farmers going back to pasturing their livestock. No planting, no tractors, no bailing, just cows doing what they do naturally! These farmers were actually on a "field trip" to see this in action.

 

[hoodat]

I predict it will, in fact, change an industry! I am betting all of this will lead back to the successful, small, family farm! Consumers hold the power- if nobody buys it- nobody will plant it. Business if business!

It's hard to avoid it if you buy anything at all from the grocery. GMO crops are found in virtually everything. It's in your bread, your tortillas, snacks, ice cream, soda pop. Even pickles and shampoo and conditioner have it in there.
I tried to find some non GMO corn meal. It's all but impossible. Even the ones labeled organic don't say whether or not the corn is GMO.