WASHINGTON -- Farmers are, according to these stories, turning away from genetically engineered crops, especially a biotech corn that's toxic to insects, amid consumer resistance that started overseas and is now being felt in the United States.

An Agriculture Department survey released Friday was cited as finding that plantings of the gene-altered corn are projected to drop 24 percent this year, and suggested declines in biotech varieties of cotton and soybeans. Allan Morris, who farms near Mason, Ill. was quoted as saying, "We don't want to go out here and spend any more money ... than we absolutely have to. We can't afford to do that with the margins we have in agriculture." The stories say that according to the USDA survey, farmers in major corn-producing states intend to plant 19 percent of their corn acreage this year to the Bt variety, down from 25 percent in 1999.

Plantings of biotech cotton are projected to decline from 55 percent last year to 48 percent in 2000. Some 52 percent of this year's soybean acreage is expected to be a biotech variety that is resistant to a popular herbicide. About 57 percent of soybeans last year were herbicide resistant, including a small amount that was conventionally bred.

Don Roose, an analyst with U.S. Commodities Inc, was quoted as saying "Producers are just trying to protect themselves. The industry seems to be saying they want less biotech and that's what their interest is, going to where the industry is telling them to go."

Margaret Mellon of the Union of Concerned Scientists was quoted as saying, "Farmers need markets. They always say the consumer is king, and the consumer in this case isn't that interested in genetically engineered corn." The stories note that seed companies have insisted that demand for biotech varieties is in line with last year, although some have been offering discounts to farmers to maintain sales. Monsanto Co.'s biotech sales are "flat to marginally better" than last year, said spokesman Dan Verakis. Jerry Dittrich, who farms near Tilden, Neb., planted at least 75 percent of his corn and soybean acreage to biotech varieties last year and isn't cutting back because they save work and reduce the need for insecticides and herbicides, adding, "I haven't seen any proof that it's not safe." Overall, farmers plan to plant an estimated 77.9 million acres of corn this year, up 1 percent from 1999, and a record 74.9 million acres of soybeans, also a 1 percent increase, according to the USDA survey.

Charles Margulis of the environmental group Greenpeace was quoted as saying, "The handwriting is on the wall...biotechnology is on the way out." said in assessing the government report.

Agricultural analysts said the downturn was dramatic but also surprisingly small in light of months of campaigning against genetically modified crops. Half of U.S. soybean and cotton sowings and a quarter of corn planting will be

Jane Rissler of the Union of Concerned Scientists was cited as saying the drop-off in biotech plantings reflected misgivings about the foods and that consumer opposition was likely to grow, adding, "This should be a turning point for the industry. It needs to understand the consumer is queen here, that consumer choice makes a difference. It needs to have foods in the grocery store labeled by whether they are engineered or not."

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