Monsanto
Company

Biotechnology Survey

Over 2000 arable farmers returned their questionnaire, and approximately 78% farmed over 100 hectares, and 25% farmed over 300 hectares.

Winter wheat is the most popular crop, grown by over 95% of the farmers. This was followed by winter barley 70% and oilseed rape 65%. However, many other crops are grown too, 26% grow sugar beet, 10% grow fodder beet. Of the 2000 farmers who replied 43 (about 2%) also grew organic crops.

Many respondents are members of conservation organisations, including the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), Game Conservancy, The National Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

Computers

The increased use of computers was reflected in the survey with over 70% of farmers owning a computer. Over 60% of farmers used a computer regularly for farm business.

Profitability

As profitability declines, what action will farmers take over 60% are intending to maintain or increase inputs while only 25% would seek to reduce inputs and labour costs.

Biotechnology in Agriculture

Arable farmers' views on Biotechnology, and in general their responses were positive in that 89% support Biotechnology crops for agriculture, with some reservations. Also important was the number of farmers, (over 95%) who are aware that GM Crops can significantly reduce the need for pesticides.

Would farmers consider growing a GM crop? Over 50% said they would, and 48% said they would not.

Media Coverage

Readership of national newspapers show that over a third of arable farmers read the Daily Telegraph. The most favoured Agricultural Journal was Farmers Weekly at 47%, while Farming News scored 25%, this was followed by Crops at 19% and Arable Farming at 9%.

The majority of you believed that the media coverage of biotechnology was biased. The graph shows that 85% of you believe that the media was strongly biased against GM crops.