Minnesota-based Albert Lea Seeds’ non-GMO seeds recently outperformed many GM varieties in field trials held by Farmers’ Independent Research of Field Technologies this year. Albert Lea Seeds’ Viking brand non-GMO seed variety 44-98 out-produced 29 other corn varieties, including 22 GM varieties, in an Iowa field trial. The Viking non-GMO corn produced yields of 262.1 bushels per acre, three bushels per acre more than a GM variety from Golden Harvest. Another Viking non-GMO corn seed, 51-04, finished second in another field trial in Southeast Minnesota, topping 24 other GM varieties.
Albert Lea Seeds’ president Mac Ehrhardt says there is “no question” that non-GMO corn seed can produce yields that are equal to or even better than GM seed.