New York Farm Bureau

Jaime Pullman – Brian Lenihan

Biotechnology & Farming: Bt Corn

New York Farm Bureau

• Biotechnology, specifically Bt hybrids of corn, is beneficial for farmers– Increased yields– Decreased pesticide use/cost– Less air / water / soil pollution– Cut production costs

Jaime Pullman – Brian Lenihan

New York Farm Bureau

• The Bt toxin as a plant pesticide in corn has no known or foreseeable human health hazards (U.S. EPA 1995).

• Bt corn was not found to adversely effect non-pest insects

Jaime Pullman – Brian Lenihan

In Defense of Bt Corn

New York Farm Bureau

• Loss of competitiveness with other states

• Loss of revenue for farmer• Closing of domestic markets• Loss of international markets• Lower yields nationwide• Higher prices for consumers• Higher production costs for farmers

Jaime Pullman – Brian Lenihan

Consequences of a moratorium

New York Farm Bureau• Impact of Bt corn on Monarch

butterflies is negligible (Sears, 2001)– Between several states and Canada – Two year long study – Published in Proceedings of the National

Academy of Sciences

Jaime Pullman – Brian Lenihan

Results- Pollen count needed to kill larvae: 1000 grains/square cm- Pollen count found: 170 grains/square cm- Only dangerous strain (Bt 176), phased out by 2003

New York Farm BureauGrain Benefits of Bt corn (Monsanto 2001)

- Reduces insect damage to ears by 96%- Reduces mold in grain- Mold causes fumonisin, a toxic mycotoxin- YieldGard corn was found to reduce fumonisin by 90-93%- Prevents grain eating larvae by 70-80%

Jaime Pullman – Brian Lenihan

New York Farm Bureau

• Insect resistance management – EPA and Corporate seed agreements– 100 ft. buffer zone– Non-Bt corn refuge is required on at

least 20 percent of corn acres– Refuge provides non-resistant mates– Mating between resistant and non-

resistant moths/borers dilutes resulting resistance

– Prevents loss of Bt corn as an option for insect control

Jaime Pullman – Brian Lenihan

New York Farm Bureau

Jaime Pullman – Brian Lenihan

-This figure reflect the importance of early refuge management

New York Farm Bureau

Environmental Benefits of Bt- Reduces need to plow- Decreases erosion of topsoil- Decreases air, soil, and water pollution- Viable alternative to harmful pesticides

Jaime Pullman – Brian Lenihan

New York Farm Bureau

Jaime Pullman – Brian Lenihan

- This figure demonstrates the decreasing trend in herbicide use due to Bt hybrids.- A small increase in glyphosate can be attributed to the introduction of a generic brand.

New York Farm Bureau

Farmer Benefits:- Reduces labor costs- Reduces number of trips through fields- Reduction in fuel consumption/spillage- Increases yield per acre

Jaime Pullman – Brian Lenihan