FARGO - Farmers in North Dakota and Minnesota are turning more toward genetically modified crops, a government report says.

Gene-altered soybean varieties are expected to make up about 83 percent of Minnesota's crop and 81 percent of North Dakota's crop.

The projections represent increases of 4 percent for Minnesota and 7 percent for North Dakota compared with last year, says the report released Wednesday by the federal Agriculture Department.

Farmers in both states will increase their planting of genetically modified corn varieties by about 4 percent, officials said.

"I think we'll continue to see biotech corn go up slightly every year," said Nathan Johnson, a Lowry, Minn., farmer and a board member of the state's Corn Grower's Association.

Farmers are turning more to genetically modified varieties to help control weeds, pests and for potentially higher yields, Johnson said.

The USDA plantings report also shows the region's farmers intend to grow larger soybean and corn crops and less wheat, sunflowers and a slightly smaller sugar beet crop.

Strong soybean and corn prices are largely driving the shift in acreage from other crops, farmers and commodity group officials said.

"Corn just pencils out better than small grains," said Jocie Iszler, director of the North Dakota Corn Grower's Association.

"Our acreage will be at an all-time high and I only see more growth," Iszler said.

North Dakota's soybean crop is estimated to hit a record 3.7 million acres, up 17 percent from last year. The projected increase does not surprise Gary Theisen, the Emerado Farmers Elevator manager.

"When you can contract at about $7 (per bushel), I thought there would be even more," Theisen said. His customers so far this spring have contracted twice the amount they did all of last year, he said.