New York Farm Bureau

1
New York Farm Bureau
Biotechnology Farming Bt Corn

• Jaime Pullman Brian Lenihan

2
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
3
New York Farm Bureau
In Defense of Bt Corn

• 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
4
New York Farm Bureau
Consequences of a moratorium

• 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
5
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

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
Jaime Pullman Brian Lenihan
6
New York Farm Bureau

• Grain 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
7
New York Farm Bureau

• Insect resistance management
• EPA and Corporate seed agreements
• 100 ft. buffer zone (Lincoln)
• 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
• 
  (EPA)

Jaime Pullman Brian Lenihan
8
New York Farm Bureau
Figure 1. This figure reflects the importance of
early refuge management (ILSI)
Jaime Pullman Brian Lenihan
9
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
10
New York Farm Bureau
Figure 2. 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
(Fernandez-Cornejo).
Jaime Pullman Brian Lenihan
11
New York Farm Bureau

• Economic Benefits
• Keeps market flooded and commodity prices low
• Roundup Ready
• -30 per acre Roundup
• -52 per acre conventional
• - Tremendous benefits during Borer years

Jaime Pullman Brian Lenihan
12
New York Farm Bureau
Figure 3 Monsanto Seed Company Research indicates
sometimes substantial yield benefits, up to
13.54 per acre (Monsanto).
Jaime Pullman Brian Lenihan
13
New York Farm Bureau

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

Jaime Pullman Brian Lenihan
14
New York Farm Bureau
Biotechnology is vital to the future success of
agriculture.
Jaime Pullman Brian Lenihan