What percent of crops in the US are genetically-modified?
In the U.S. approximately 57% of all soybeans cultivated in 1999 were genetically-modified, up from 42% in 1998 and only 7% in 1996. Bt corn and Bt cotton also experienced similar but less dramatic increases. Bt corn production increased to 30% of all corn grown in 1999, from 26% in 1998, and 1.5% in 1996. Bt cotton was 27% of the total crop in 1999, up from 23% in 1998, and 19% in 1996. As anticipated, pesticide and herbicide use on these GM varieties was slashed and, for the most part, yields were increased.
