U.S. corn growers will celebrate a major milestone as the 2005 planting season begins in the spring. The upcoming season marks the tenth year in which biotech hybrids have been commercially available to U.S. farmers, and according to the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), biotechnology has thoroughly revolutionized the way producers grow America’s top crop.

In 1996, growers planted biotech corn on just 4 percent of total U.S. corn acreage, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In contrast, producers planted biotech seed on 45 percent of corn acres in 2004. If 2005 plantings support the five-year trend, biotech hybrids will account for approximately half of total U.S. corn acres in the coming year.

NCGA President Leon Corzine, who farms near Assumption, Ill., said as growers and customers began to realize the benefits of biotechnology, the adoption rate steadily increased.

“Like any other new technology, there initially was some apprehension from customers about the use of biotechnology in agricultural production,” he said. “But as the corn sector enters the tenth year of using biotech hybrids, those concerns have been addressed. Biotechnology has had an excellent safety record and has really changed the way we grow corn.”

According to a 2004 study by the National Center for Food and Agriculture Policy, biotech corn increased yields in 2003 by an estimated 87.5 million bushels and significantly reduced pesticide and herbicide use. The result was an additional $258.4 million in farm income.

Biotechnology also helps producers grow more corn on less land, Corzine said, pointing to this year’s record yield projection of 160.2 bushels per acre as evidence. “We’re increasing production without significantly increasing our acreage,” he said. “That’s just one of the environmental benefits biotechnology provides.”

Corzine said good stewardship practices and an effective regulatory system have helped biotech crops gain acceptance. “Biotech crops have been subject to closer regulatory scrutiny than any other agriculture products,” he said. “Obviously, the regulatory system is working well because there haven’t been any proven health incidents related to the use of this technology.”

Biotechnology holds even greater promise for the future, Corzine said. As new traits are developed to combat specific threats to corn, the technology will further increase production efficiencies. New hybrids may also offer new health and nutrition benefits, Corzine said.

“The potential of biotechnology appears to be limitless,” he said. “We’ve already seen great benefits through the use of biotech corn, but some of the things that are under development have the capability to enhance our product even more.”