Non-GMO Corn Outperforms Conventional GMO Corn in Select Markets

Jason Webster has led research at the Precision Technology Institute (PTI) Farm to compare GMO, non-GMO, and organic corn production systems. The trials aimed to determine if alternative systems could offer more profit per acre than conventional GMO corn, even with lower yields.

The comparisons showed that while GMO corn still yielded the most bushels per acre, the economics changed when production costs and market premiums were included. Non-GMO corn yielded about 7.8 bushels per acre less than GMO but generated over $90 per acre in additional net returns due to a 25¢-per-bushel premium.

Organic corn produced more than $130 per acre in additional returns compared to GMO, based on an $8-per-bushel organic price. However, the PTI Farm's experience with organic corn was challenging, and Webster admitted he doesn't know how to feed an organic crop effectively.