Glut of GMO Crop Seeds
The prices for genetic modified crop seeds have skyrocketed during the past 20 years, however, it has kidded lower for three years.
20年來基改種子價格飛漲，收成價近三年卻日漸低迷；今年，一堆農民要等著虧錢了。
Spending on crop seeds has nearly quadrupled since 1996, when Monsanto Co. became the first of the companies to launch biotech varieties. Yet major crop prices have skidded lower for three years, and this year, many farmers stand to lose money.
為什麼收成賣不了好價錢呢？也要謝謝孟山都啊，這家公司專搞農業生產技術，幫大家把土地的單位產能提高，結果高到… 產量遠高於需求！玉米大豆和小麥從2013起，都爆剩幾百萬噸；玉米每一蒲式耳（呃，這個單位換算上有點難形容，接近25公斤好了）在2012可以賣到美金8塊，到去年8月只剩3塊出頭。大豆的價格呢？也從2012的高點跌掉46%。
Since 2013, the world has produced millions of tons more corn, soybeans and wheat than it has consumed, according to the USDA. From their 2012 peak at around $8 a bushel, corn prices fell to half that in mid-2014 and have largely traded between $3.50 and $4.00 a bushel since then, skidding to $3.01½ in late August. Soybean prices have dropped 46% from their 2012 peak.
更何況，孟山都要賺的，還不僅僅是基改種子本身。農民因為用了基改種子所省下的除蟲劑及勞務成本，還得把33%繳回孟山都，當成「科技使用費」。
For every dollar that biotech seeds saved farmers in pesticides and labor, Monsanto would keep about 33 cents, in the form of a “technology fee” charged on top of each bag of seed.
可是瑞凡，這回得去嗎？目前美國94%的大豆田、92%的玉米田，用的都已經是基改種子了…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates this year that 94% of soybean acres were planted with biotech varieties, and 92% of corn acres.
新聞來源：
Behind the Monsanto Deal, Doubts About the GMO Revolution