USDA Reports Biotech Crop Use Has Leveled Off

Washington--According to a recent update from the Agriculture Department, the use of biotech crops has leveled-off somewhat. 

The Economic Research Service reports that 88 percent of all corn grown in the U.S. this year is a genetically engineered variety, the same percentage as in 2011 and 2 percent more than in 2010. Biotech soybeans account for 93 percent of the crop this year, down 1 percent from last year and equal to 2010. Biotech cotton has shown a 4 percent increase from 2011; 94 percent of the nation’s cotton crop is now biotech.

The states with the highest percentage of genetically engineered crops are North Dakota (97 percent of corn and 98 percent of soybeans), South Dakota (98 percent of soybeans) and Arkansas (99 percent of cotton).

The full report from USDA is available here.

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