Under pressure from soggy fields, late planting and bouts of early winter weather, American corn and soy plants proved resilient thanks largely to advances in genetically-modified seeds, precision tools and inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides. In its critical monthly crop report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture on [Jan. 10] raised yield estimates for both crops. That defied expectations from analysts who, on average, predicted a drop.
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The big crops are a testament to the major strides that have been made for crop technology in just the past few decades. It boils down to: genetics matter. Now that 92% of U.S. corn acreage is seeded with GMO plants, fields are able to stand up to extreme conditions like 2019’s record rains. That figures compares with 85% in 2009 and 25% in 2000.
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Read full, original article: U.S. Corn Crop Is Now 92% Genetically Modified
