As a result of increasing benefits from biotechnology-derived (biotech) crop varieties, farmers are adopting the technology with greater ease than ever before, according to a new study update released by the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy (NCFAP).

The study examined 11 case studies of six biotech crops planted in the United States in 2004 — corn, soybean, cotton, papaya, canola and squash — and is based on data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service and surveys of crop specialists from various universities.

According to the study, insect-resistant crops again produced the greatest yield increase among the crops studied, improving food and fiber production by 6.5 billion pounds. While insect-resistant traits increased production, herbicide-resistant varieties generated the greatest reduction in production costs by reducing the amount of pesticide needed and lowering costs associated with hand weeding and mechanical cultivation. Herbicide-resistant varieties cut costs by $1.8 billion and reduced pesticide use by 55.5 million pounds.

Regionally, Midwestern states of Iowa, Nebraska, Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota experienced the greatest benefits from biotech crops. Iowa farmers experienced the largest increase in farm income ($266 million) and the greatest reduction in pesticides (9.1 million pounds annually).

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