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Revisiting the Impact of Bt Corn Adoption by U.S. Farmers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2016

Jorge Fernandez-Cornejo  and
Seth Wechsler
Jorge Fernandez-Cornejo
Affiliation:
Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, in Washington, D.C.
Seth Wechsler
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland
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Abstract

This study examines the impact of adopting Bt corn on farm profits, yields, and insecticide use. The study employs an econometric model that corrects for self-selection and simultaneity. The model is estimated using nationwide farm-level survey data for 2005. Regression analysis confirms that Bt adoption is associated with increased variable profits, yields, and seed demand. However, the results of this analysis suggest that Bt adoption is not significantly related to insecticide use. This result may be due to the fact that insect infestation levels were lower in 2005 than they were in previous years.

Keywords

genetically engineered cominsect resistanceBt corninsecticide usetechnology adoptionyields
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Agricultural and Resource Economics Review , Volume 41 , Issue 3 , December 2012 , pp. 377 - 390
Copyright
Copyright © 2012 Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association 

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