Double cropping around the world could handicap American farmers.
A professor at the Ohio State University told Brownfield Ag News that 400 million acres have been added to worldwide crop production since 2000, specifically in South America. Brazil now accounts for around a quarter of new cropland expansion. China added the most acres among non-tropical countries, but collectively Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan added more.
The U.S. lacks the ability to have major double cropping, and has had no major land increase since 1980. Europe and the U.S. are the only two countries to reduce cropland since 2000, with the U.S. losing four million acres. The professor says ag genetic research and production technology could help keep American farmers competitive.
