And in Europe, there were protests over biotech crops last year. Many nations won't buy such products. It's a risk they are loath to take while commodity prices hover near record lows. Also, with a large part of the Wisconsin corn crop going into animal feed, there is little incentive to grow the more expensive GMO seed. Traditional corn will suffice, Bartholomew said.
Soybeans are another story.
The biotech soybeans are Roundup resistant, meaning they can survive spraying with the popular herbicide, allowing farmers to control weeds more easily. That saves farmers time and money, even if the biotech seeds are more expensive, Tracy said. That may also be because customers are not as particular about genetic engineering of soybeans. Robert Karls, executive director of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board in Madison, said he knows of no one who has refused a shipment of biotech soybeans. Food labeling limits branded 'lying' June 29 Sydney Morning Herald Supermarkets and food producers are backing the Prime Minister's compromise proposal on the labeling of genetically modified products, a position described by the Australian Consumers' Association as lying to the public.