Corn and Biotechnology Special Analysis 

Agricultural Statistics Board NASS, USDA 11jul03

Released July 11, 2003, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Corn and Biotechnology Special Analysis" call Mark Harris at 202-720-2127, office hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) started monitoring the U.S. corn crop for adoption of biotechnology in 2000. These data were collected as a part of the March and June Agricultural Surveys with results published in the Prospective Plantings and the Acreage reports, respectively.

Randomly selected farmers across the United States were asked if they intended to plant or had planted corn that, through biotechnology, was resistant to insects, herbicides, or both. If the biotech variety was resistant to both insects and herbicides, it was referred to as a stacked gene variety. Insect resistant varieties included only those containing the bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) gene. Conventionally bred herbicide resistant varieties were excluded. The estimates resulting from these surveys were subject to sampling variability because not all operations planting corn were included in the sample. The variability, as measured by the relative standard error at the U.S. level, was approximately 1.7 percent for insect resistant only varieties and 6.2 percent for stacked gene varieties.

This special analysis provides additional information on corn farms and acres planted in 10 major States. The 10 States included in the analysis are Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. These States planted 61.3 million acres of corn in 2002 which represents 77 percent of the U.S. all corn planted area. The 10 States planted 45.1 million acres (74 percent) of corn to non-Bt varieties and 16.2 million acres (26 percent) to varieties containing the Bt gene (see Chart 1). Of the 16.2 million acres planted with a Bt variety, 11.9 million acres were planted on farms with 80 percent or less of their total acreage planted to Bt varieties (see Chart 2).

Growers who plant corn varieties containing Bt have a requirement to also plant an area, known as a refuge, to non-Bt corn varieties. The refuge requirements are specified in a contractual agreement between the grower and the seed technology company. Other details, such as proximity of the Bt corn to its refuge, are also specified in the contractual agreement. Refuge requirements vary depending on the mix of biotech crops planted. All 10 States highlighted in this report have a refuge requirement that 20 percent of the total corn area be planted to non-Bt corn varieties. No questions were asked during the March and June Agricultural Surveys about the refuge.

NASS’s survey questions were designed to measure the adoption rate of biotechnology. Growers were asked to report total corn acres and acres planted or to be planted to biotech corn varieties. These results were used to categorize farms by the percent of corn area planted to varieties containing Bt. The tables in this special analysis provide information on the number of farms planting Bt corn and Bt acreage, by percent of corn area reported as planted with Bt varieties.

Chart 1: 10-State Corn Acreage: Non-Bt and Bt, 2002*

10 State Total Corn Planted Area = 61.3 Million Acres
*IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, NE, OH, SD, and WI

Chart 2: Corn Planted by Acreage for 10 Selected States*

   CATEGORIES
A  Total Corn
B  Total Bt Corn
C  Bt Corn on Farms with 0.1-80.0% Bt Acreage Planted
D  Bt Corn on Farms with 80.1-99.9% Bt Acreage Planted
E  Bt Corn on Farms with 100% Bt Acreage Planted

*IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, NE, OH, SD, and WI

Farms With Corn, by Percent of Acres Planted to Bt Varieties, Selected States, 2002 ^{1, 2, 3}

	A       B               C               D               E               F              .
State	Number 	Number 	Percent Number 	Percent Number 	Percent Number 	Percent Number 	Percent
IL 	48,640 	32,330 	66.5 	14,010 	28.8 	820 	1.7 	1,480 	3.0 	16,310 	33.5
IN 	25,270 	21,940 	86.8 	2,960	11.7 	40 	0.2 	330 	1.3 	3,330 	13.2
IA 	55,620 	30,590 	55.0 	20,470 	36.8 	1,400 	2.5 	3,160 	5.7 	25,030 	45.0
KS 	11,590 	7,360 	63.5 	2,830 	24.4 	390 	3.4 	1,010 	8.7 	4,230 	36.5
MI 	15,030 	12,380 	82.4 	1,440 	9.6 	190 	1.3 	1,020 	6.8 	2,650 	17.6
MN 	33,230 	20,310 	61.1 	10,560 	31.8 	680 	2.0 	1,680 	5.1 	12,920 	38.9
NE 	26,290 	13,430 	51.1 	9,970 	37.9 	1,080 	4.1 	1,810 	6.9 	12,860 	48.9 
OH 	26,690 	23,870 	89.4 	1,760 	6.6 	20 	0.1 	1,040 	3.9 	2,820 	10.6
SD 	13,470 	5,940 	44.1 	5,010 	37.2 	950 	7.1 	1,570 	11.7 	7,530 	55.9
WI 	33,810 	27,960 	82.7 	4,810 	14.2 	120 	0.4 	920 	2.7 	5,850 	17.3
10 Sts 	289,640	196,110	67.7	73,820	25.5	5,690	2.0 	14,020 	4.8 	93,530 	32.3

A  All Farms
B  Farms with 0.0 Percent Bt Acreage Planted
C  Farms with 0.1 - 80.0 Percent Bt Acreage Planted
D  Farms with 80.1 - 99.9 Percent Bt Acreage Planted
E  Farms with 100 Percent Bt Acreage Planted
F  All Farms Reporting Bt Acreage Planted
1  Bt corn refers to all varieties which contain the Bt gene including stacked gene varieties. 
2  Number of farms rounded to the nearest 10. Percents may not add due to rounding. 
3  These 10 States have consistent refuge requirements.

Farms With 200 or More Acres of Corn, by Percent of Acres Planted to Bt Varieties, Selected States, 2002 ^{1, 2, 3}

	A       B               C               D               E               F              .
State	Number 	Number 	Percent Number 	Percent Number 	Percent Number 	Percent Number 	Percent
IL 	21,990 	10,430 	47.4 	10,800 	49.1 	550 	2.5 	210 	1.0 	11,560 	52.6 
IN 	9,170 	7,020 	76.6 	2,100 	22.9 	0 	0.0 	50 	0.5 	2,150 	23.4
IA 	23,020 	8,220 	35.7 	13,140 	57.1 	570 	2.5 	1,090 	4.7 	14,800 	64.3
KS 	4,900 	2,480 	50.6 	1,960 	40.0 	200 	4.1 	260 	5.3 	2,420 	49.4
MI 	2,880 	1,910 	66.3 	750 	26.0 	120 	4.2 	100 	3.5 	970 	33.7
MN 	10,490 	3,040 	29.0 	6,440 	61.4 	450 	4.3 	560 	5.3 	7,450 	71.0
NE 	14,400 	4,860 	33.8 	7,980 	55.4 	870 	6.0 	690 	4.8 	9,540 	66.3 
OH 	5,690 	4,440 	78.0 	1,110 	19.5 	10 	0.2 	130 	2.3 	1,250 	22.0
SD 	6,330 	1,990 	31.4 	3,260 	51.5 	560 	8.8 	520 	8.2 	4,340 	68.6
WI 	3,670 	2,000 	54.5 	1,520 	41.4 	40 	1.1 	110 	3.0 	1,670 	45.5
10 Sts 	102,540 46,390 	45.2 	49,060 	47.8 	3,370 	3.3 	3,720 	3.6 	56,150 	54.8

A  All Farms
B  Farms with 0.0 Percent Bt Acreage Planted
C  Farms with 0.1 - 80.0 Percent Bt Acreage Planted
D  Farms with 80.1 - 99.9 Percent Bt Acreage Planted
E  Farms with 100 Percent Bt Acreage Planted
F  All Farms Reporting Bt Acreage Planted
1  Bt corn refers to all varieties which contain the Bt gene including stacked gene varieties. 
2  Number of farms rounded to the nearest 10. Percents may not add due to rounding. 
3  These 10 States have consistent refuge requirements.

Farms With Less than 200 Acres of Corn, by Percent of Acres Planted to Bt Varieties, Selected States, 2002 ^{1, 2, 3}

	A       B               C               D               E               F              .
State	Number 	Number	Percent Number	Percent Number 	Percent Number Percent 	Number	Percent
IL 	26,650 	21,900	82.2	3,210 	12.0 	270 	1.0 	1,270 	4.8 	4,750 	17.8 
IN 	16,100 	14,920 	92.7 	860 	5.3 	40 	0.2 	280 	1.7 	1,180 	7.3
IA 	32,600 	22,370	68.6	7,330 	22.5 	830 	2.5 	2,070 	6.3 	10,230 	31.4
KS 	6,690 	4,880	72.9	870 	13.0 	190 	2.8 	750 	11.2 	1,810 	27.1
MI 	12,150 	10,470	86.2	690 	5.7 	70 	0.6 	920 	7.6 	1,680 	13.8
MN 	22,740 	17,270	75.9	4,120 	18.1 	230 	1.0 	1,120 	4.9 	5,470 	24.1
NE 	11,890 	8,570	72.1	1,990 	16.7 	210 	1.8 	1,120 	9.4 	3,320 	27.9 
OH 	21,000 	19,430 	92.5 	650 	3.1 	10 	0.0 	910 	4.3 	1,570 	7.5
SD 	7,140 	3,950	55.3	1,750 	24.5 	390 	5.5 	1,050 	14.7 	3,190 	44.7
WI 	30,140 	25,960	86.1	3,290 	10.9 	80 	0.3 	10 	2.7 	4,180 	13.9
10 Sts 	187,100	149,720 80.0	24,760 	13.2 	2,320 	1.2	10,300 	5.5 	37,380 	20.0

A  All Farms
B  Farms with 0.0 Percent Bt Acreage Planted
C  Farms with 0.1 - 80.0 Percent Bt Acreage Planted
D  Farms with 80.1 - 99.9 Percent Bt Acreage Planted
E  Farms with 100 Percent Bt Acreage Planted
F  All Farms Reporting Bt Acreage Planted
1  Bt corn refers to all varieties which contain the Bt gene including stacked gene varieties. 
2  Number of farms rounded to the nearest 10. Percents may not add due to rounding. 
3  These 10 States have consistent refuge requirements.

Total Corn Acres and Bt Corn Acres, by Percent of Acres Planted to Bt Varieties, Selected States, 2002 ^1,2,3

Total Corn Acres and Bt Corn Acres on Farms with 200 or More Acres of Corn, by Percent of Acres Planted to Bt Varieties, Selected States, 2002 ^1,2,3

	A      	B              	C               D              	E              .
	1,000	1,000		1,000		1,000		1,000
State	Acres 	Acres 	Percent Acres 	Percent Acres	Percent Acres 	Percent
IL 	9,509 	1,733 	18.2 	155 	1.6 	105 	1.1 	1,993 	21.0
IN 	4,457 	303 	6.8 	2 	0.0 	33 	0.7 	338 	7.6
IA 	9,625 	2,813 	29.2 	315 	3.3 	446 	4.6 	3,574 	37.1
KS 	2,758 	540 	19.6 	104 	3.8 	126 	4.6 	770 	27.9
MI 	1,661 	146 	8.8 	44 	2.6 	72 	4.3 	262 	15.8
MN 	5,308 	1,536 	28.9 	219 	4.1 	245 	4.6 	2,000 	37.7
NE 	7,388 	2,209 	29.9 	401 	5.4 	355 	4.8 	2,965 	40.1
OH 	2,250 	75 	3.3 	2 	0.1 	73 	3.2 	150 	6.7
SD 	3,624 	1,103 	30.4 	268 	7.4 	284 	7.8 	1,655 	45.7
WI 	1,904 	329 	17.3 	37 	1.9 	74 	3.9 	440 	23.1
10 Sts 	48,484	10,787 	22.2 	1,547 	3.2 	1,813 	3.7 	14,147 	29.2

A  Total Corn Acres Planted
B  Bt Acres on Farms with 0.1 - 80.0 Percent Bt Acreage Planted
C  Bt Acres on Farms with 80.1 - 99.9 Percent Bt Acreage Planted
D  Bt Acres on Farms with 100 Percent Bt Acreage Planted
E  Total Bt Acreage Planted
1  Bt corn refers to all varieties which contain the Bt gene including stacked gene varieties. 
2  Percents may not add due to rounding.
3  These 10 States have consistent refuge requirements

Total Corn Acres and Bt Corn Acres on Farms with Less Than 200 Acres of Corn, by Percent of Acres Planted to Bt Varieties, Selected States, 2002^1,2,3

	A       B               C               D               E              .
	1,000 	1,000 		1,000 		1,000 		1,000 	
State	Acres	Acres	Percent	Acres	Percent	Acres	Percent	Acres	Percent
IL	1,691	76	4.5	11	0.7	48	2.8	135	8.0
IN 	943	27	2.9	2	0.2	11	1.2	40	4.2
IA	2,675	383	14.3	76	2.8	149	5.6	608	22.7
KS	492	40	8.1	18	3.7	49	10.0	107	21.7
MI	589	21	3.6	1	0.2	31	5.3	53	9.0
MN	1,892	242	12.8	28	1.5	106	5.6	376	19.9
NE	1,012	115	11.4	18	1.8	94	9.3	227	22.4
OH	950	10	1.1	1	0.1	31	3.3	42	4.4
SD	776	121	15.6	35	4.5	81	10.4	237	30.5
WI	1,746	119	6.8	5	0.3	56	3.2	180	10.3
10 Sts	12,766	1,154	9.0	195	1.5	656	5.1	2,005	15.7

A  All Farms
B  Farms with 0.0 Percent Bt Acreage Planted
C  Farms with 0.1 - 80.0 Percent Bt Acreage Planted
D  Farms with 80.1 - 99.9 Percent Bt Acreage Planted
E  Farms with 100 Percent Bt Acreage Planted
F  All Farms Reporting Bt Acreage Planted
1  Bt corn refers to all varieties which contain the Bt gene including stacked gene varieties. 
2  Percents may not add due to rounding.
3  These 10 States have consistent refuge requirements

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source: http://www.usda.gov/nass/pubs/bioc0703.pdf 16sep03