E-M:/ Genetically Engineered Crops and Pesticide Use in the United States

[Claire O'Leary <claireoleary@comcast.net>]

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Enviro-Mich message from Claire O'Leary <claireoleary@comcast.net>
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While many farmers have embraced the promise genetically engineered  
(GE*) crops as a way to reduce the toxic use of chemicals in their  
fields, this report reveals that "GE corn, soybeans and cotton have led  
to a 122 million pound increase in pesticide use since 1996...HT  
[herbicide tolerant] crops have increased herbicide use 138 million  
pounds."

Dr. Benbrook: "As a result, the difference in the total pounds of  
herbicides applied per acre planted to HT crops compared to non-HT  
conventional varieties has increased steadily since 2000.  Three  
factors--the emergence and spread of weeds resistant or less sensitive  
to glyphosate, limited supplies of conventional crop seeds in a number  
of popular maturity groups, and aggressive herbicide price cutting by  
companies seeking a larger share of the market--are working together to  
create the 'perfect storm' that now threatens to undermine the efficacy  
of HT technology." (from Executive summary, p. 4)

**Percentage of major crops planted in U. S. with GE varieties in  
2004---(Michigan acres/percentages):

GE corn  45% (726,000/33%)

GE Soybeans 85% (1,500,000/75%)

GE Cotton 76% (0% needs warmer climate)

*GE is also known as GM/genetically modified.  Since conventional plant  
breeders are essentially using selective breeding to genetically modify  
the traits of  organisms, genetic engineering is a more accurate term  
to describe this novel technology.

**According to Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology, August, 2004

Claire O'Leary
Sierra Club Genetic Engineering Committee
MOFFA

> Genetically Engineered Crops and Pesticide Use in the United States:
> The First Nine Years
> Dr. Charles M. Benbrook
> Northwest Science and Environmental Policy Center
> Sandpoint Idaho
> October 25, 2004
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> -----
> About This Report
>
>    This report is the seventh in a series of Technical Papers prepared  
> by
> Benbrook Consulting Services on the development, costs and benefits,  
> and
> environmental impacts of genetically engineered (GE) crops in the  
> United
> States. The full series of Technical Papers has been posted on the  
> website
> Ag BioTech InfoNet and are accessible at
> http:/www.biotech-info.net/highlights.html#technical_papers.
>
> The analysis in this report relies heavily on the good work of the  
> USDA's
> National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). While NASS pesticide  
> use
> data are neither perfect nor complete, the annual NASS survey on  
> pesticide
> use in major field crops is the best and only source of publicly  
> accessible,
> national data on pesticide use. NASS data are consistent over time and
> across production regions, key attributes for an assessment over  
> several
> years such as the one reported herein.
>
> Thanks to Karen Lutz Benbrook for compiling NASS pesticide use data  
> into a
> database that allows more in-depth analyses. She also did an excellent  
> job
> in producing the report's final format and layout.
>
> Several pest management specialists working at land grant universities
> provided guidance regarding recent developments in the field and the
> appropriate interpretation of USDA data. The entomologists and weed  
> science
> specialists at several universities, in particular Iowa State  
> University,
> the University of Illinois, Purdue University, University of Arizona,  
> and
> the University of Wisconsin are conducting and reporting independent
> analyses of the impacts, performance, costs, and benefits of today's
> genetically engineered crops. Thanks to them for their important,  
> ongoing
> work.
>
> Also thanks to the Union of Concerned Scientists for providing the  
> funding
> that made it possible for this analytical work to be carried out. This
> report was prepared by Benbrook Consulting Services and is being  
> provided
> free of charge via Ag BioTech InfoNet as a public service.
>
> Read the report at: http://www.biotech-info.net/technicalpaper7.html
>
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