For related articles and more information, please visit OCA’s Genetic Engineering page and our Millions Against Monsanto page.

Kai Ryssdal:
We’ve talked some on this program about genetically modified crops, the pluses and minuses.

Today, something a little bit different. Turns out GMO crops are creating headaches for farmers and the tires on their equipment.

Marketplace’s Adriene Hill reports.

---

Adriene Hill:
Genetically modified crops are engineered to be tough. It helps them fight off pests, withstand drought. And it’s a beefed-up-ness, you can see.

Mark Newhall:
Their stalks are stiffer and tougher.

Mark Newhall is the editor of Farm Show magazine.

Newhall:
So when you cut them off to harvest them, it’s like having a field of little spears.

Little spears that are stabbing, and bumping and chewing up tractor tires — poor tires.

Robert Parks is the owner of Custom Tire Cutting which customizes tractor tires. He says this GMO crop stubble is killing tires early.

Robert Parks:
In some instances, just a year or two, where normally they would get five or six years out of the tires.