The United States Department of Agriculture has released a new report on the
adoption of herbicide tolerant and insect resistant crops since their
introduction in 1996. According to the report, the percentage of genetically
modified (GM) seed within the U.S. corn crop nearly doubled over the past 10
years, from less than half of the total planted corn acres in 2004 to 93
percent this year, up from 90 percent last year.

The report also revealed that farmers in the United States have widely
adopted genetically modified crops because of the many benefits they
provide. Genetically engineered (GE) soybeans, cotton, and corn are the
preferred varieties of US farmers. The report's key findings include:

* GE soybean is 94 percent of soybean hectarage in the US in 2014 from
93 percent in 2013;
* GE corn is 93 percent of all corn planted in the US, up from 90
percent in 2013; and
* GE cotton is 96 percent of all cotton grown in the US, up from 90
percent in 2013.

[www.ers.usda.gov]