GMO seeds pose farming dilemas

Farmers across Iowa are facing tough decisions as they buy seed for next season’s crops. Iowa State University extension economist Bob Wisner says the markets continue changing and there’s more discrimination against G-M-O or genetically-modified grains.G-M-O crops are desirable for farmers as they’re resistant to many herbicides and insects, but poor publicity is turning some consumers away. In addition to the negative reception for some G-M-O crops in Europe, Wisner says Asian markets are also beginning to back away from such products.Wisner, who’s an economics professor at I-S-U, says Iowa farmers are in a difficult situation in this changing global marketplace. He says there hasn’t been much discrimination against G-M-O products in the United States.Wisner says it shouldn’t be a hassle for farmers who order non-G-M-O seed this winter to shift to G-M-O varieties later, but he says going the other way around could present some problems.