DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Some Iowa farmers worry they may have difficulty finding conventional seed for spring planting as increased emphasis is placed on high-tech crops.

Companies, such as Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc., have said that plenty of both kinds of seed will be available for planting.

But some farmers are thinking twice about genetically engineered crops.

``There's definitely indecision,'' said Tom Matya, customer operations manager at the former DeKalb Genetics Corp., a major seed corn company now owned by Monsanto Co. (NYSE:MCT - news; NYSE:MTC - news)

Financial concerns have dampened enthusiasm for the seeds. Crop restrictions have cut U.S. exports, worrying some of this country's producers about marketability.

Many farmers also doubt the crops can generate enough additional income to offset the higher-priced high-tech seed used to produce them.

Craig Floss, chief executive officer of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, believes plenty of the new class of seeds will be available while supplies of conventional seed products will be limited.

Genetically engineered corn accounted for about one-third of U.S. corn acreage in 1999, while biotech-based soybeans were planted on about half of the country's soybean acreage.

The seed industry had expected more than half the U.S. corn acreage to be planted with biotech hybrids within the next few years.

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