Source: USDA/NASS via CropBiotech Net

The acreage planted to genetically modified (GM) crops in the US is envisioned to increase in 2004. This is according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, DC in the US. Herbicide resistant soybean is expected to increase to 85 % in 2004. While, the total percentage of GM cotton is also predicted to rise to 76%. GM corn will also rise further to 45%. On the other hand, wheat acreage is expected to drop by 3 percent from its 2003 figure.

Corn planted area for all purposes is estimated at 81 million acres, and growers are expected to harvest 73.4 million acres for grain. The 2004 soybean planted area is estimated at 74.8 million acres, up by 2 percent from its 2003 figure, and is foreseen to be the largest planted area on record if this materializes. Area for harvest also increased by 2 percent - 73.7 million acres. All cotton plantings are also expected to total 13.9 million acres, 3 percent above the 2003 figure.

On the other hand, all wheat planted area is estimated at 59.9 million acres, down by 3 percent from 2003, and harvested area is expected to total 50.7 million acres (4 percent decrease).

The USDA/NASS report, published on June 30, 2004, is available:
- in PDF format at http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/field/pcp-bba/acrg0604.pdf and
in HTML format at http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/field/pcp-bba/acrg0604.txt