Key takeaways
- USDA ERS data shows genetically engineered seed adoption now exceeds 90 percent for major U.S. field crops.
- Herbicide-tolerant traits dominate soybean, corn, and cotton production.
- Insect-resistant (Bt) traits continue to expand, particularly in corn and cotton.
- Stacked GE varieties combining HT and Bt traits now represent the majority of planted acres.
- Adoption trends reflect agronomic pressures and trait availability rather than new crop categories.
USDA ERS tracks nearly three decades of GE seed adoption
Data compiled by USDA ERS shows that genetically engineered (GE) seeds have been widely adopted in U.S. agriculture since their commercial introduction in 1996. Adoption rates increased rapidly in the years following commercialization and now exceed 90 percent for corn, upland cotton, and soybeans.
GE crops are classified in the dataset as herbicide-tolerant (HT), insect-resistant (Bt), or stacked varieties that combine both traits. While additional GE traits have been developed, including drought tolerance and enhanced nutritional content, HT and Bt traits remain the most widely used in U.S. crop production.
Herbicide-tolerant crops dominate soybean, corn, and cotton acres According To USDA ERS's Data
According to USDA ERS survey data, herbicide-tolerant crops account for the majority of planted acreage in key field crops. Soybean HT adoption rose from 17 percent in 1997 to 68 percent by 2001 and reached 94 percent in 2014. By 2024, adoption peaked at 96 percent and remained at that level in 2025.
HT cotton acreage expanded from approximately 10 percent in 1997 to 56 percent in 2001, exceeding 90 percent of upland cotton acres by 2017. In 2025, 93 percent of upland cotton acreage was planted with herbicide-tolerant GE varieties. HT corn adoption increased more gradually but now covers approximately 92 percent of domestic corn acreage. HT traits are also widely used in alfalfa, canola, and sugar beet production.
Insect-resistant traits expand with pest pressure
Insect-resistant GE crops containing Bt genes have been available since 1996. USDA ERS data shows Bt corn acreage increased from about 8 percent in 1997 to 19 percent in 2000 and reached 87 percent in 2025. Bt cotton adoption followed a similar trajectory, rising from 15 percent in 1997 to 37 percent in 2001 and reaching 91 percent of U.S. cotton acres by 2025.
Increased adoption of Bt corn has been linked to the introduction of varieties targeting corn rootworm and corn earworm, expanding beyond early protection against European corn borer. Adoption rates may fluctuate depending on pest pressure in a given year.
Stacked varieties now represent the majority of acres
Data from USDA ERS also highlights continued growth in stacked GE varieties combining HT and Bt traits. In 2025, approximately 87 percent of cotton acres and 84 percent of corn acres were planted with stacked seeds, reflecting farmers’ preference for multiple-trait packages addressing both weed and insect management needs.
Together, these trends illustrate the sustained role of GE technologies in U.S. crop production, driven by agronomic performance and pest management requirements rather than the introduction of new crop categories.
