Press Releases

Garst Seed Company and American Cyanamid Company have entered into a collaborative agreement which has the potential to dramatically increase the number of IMI-CORN® hybrids available to U.S. farmers. Corn hybrids that have been specially bred to be tolerant to imidazolinone herbicides, discovered by Cyanamid, are called IMI-CORN.

"The agreement will enhance access to technology that is in demand, providing farmers greater flexibility in choosing effective, broad spectrum, low rate herbicides," says Kevin Seese, Cyanamid's Business Director for IMI-CORN. The newest of this line of products is Cyanamid's LIGHTNING herbicide, which controls key broadleaf weeds and grasses in IMI-CORN. LIGHTNING is unique because its early post-emergence residual and contact activity allows growers the opportunity for a true one-pass weed control program, maximizing corn hybrid yield potential.

As a result of the collaboration, germplasm can be quickly converted to include the imidazolinone tolerant trait, using Garst's proprietary (RFLP) gene mapping technology. Garst is recognized in the seed industry for the ability to convert parental lines of corn quickly which maintaining the germplasm's high yield potential.

"This agreement is a big step forward for the IMI-CORN program," Seese says. "Selected seed companies will now be able to provide more hybrids with the IMI™ trait. That means that more corn growers will have LIGHTNING and the other IMI herbicides as a weed control option, regardless of the seed variety which best fits their farm."

With the introduction of IMI-CORN, Cyanamid was the first to develop and launch herbicide tolerant crops developed through biotechnology and plant breeding to select naturally occurring tolerance to imidazolinone herbicides.

"Corn farmers are the real winners in this arrangement," says Col Seccombe, President of Garst, based in Slater, Iowa. "IMI-CORN hybrids have given farmers a freedom and flexibility they have never had before in a weed management tool."

This collaboration is an extension of a partnership between Cyanamid and Garst established in the early 1990s, when the companies brought Herbicide Tolerant Crop (HTC) technology to corn production with the introduction of IMI-CORN. Garst's original IMI-CORN hybrids were one of the world's first HTC varieties sold to growers.

The agreement specifies that the IMI trait will continue to be available to seed companies without royalties, technology fees, or stipulations barring the seed companies from combining, or "stacking" the IMI gene with other genetic traits.

"Cyanamid's position has always been that we should not create obstacles to our seed corn partners, and especially not to the American farmer," Seese says. "Through this collaborative agreement, we will work with our seed corn partners and the American farmer to ensure that no cumbersome or restrictive contracts will limit a grower's choices for the best available weed control."

"Garst has used its characteristic innovation and aggressive approach to the market to help drive the IMI-CORN concept from the very beginning," Seese adds. "They have an exemplary track record in inserting genetic traits into corn hybrids while retaining the yield and performance characteristics of those hybrids."

"Garst has become a recognized leader in mastering technology which enables gene insertion in plants," Seccombe says. "This capability means we can offer other seed companies a proven, reliable way to get the IMI trait into new elite hybrids in a very timely manner."

To handle the additional hybrid conversion work expected to be generated by the agreement, Garst will add to its team of conversion specialists and begin work immediately on a $1 million expansion of its 364-acre research and production facility in Oahu, Hawaii.

American Cyanamid is a global crop protection company. It is a subsidiary of American Home Products (AHP), one of the world's research-based pharmaceutical and health care products companies.

The statements in the press that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including those detailed from time to time in AHP's periodic reports, including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and the annual report on Form 10K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ from the forward-looking statements.

American Home Products Corporation is one of the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical and health care products companies. It is a leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications. It is also a global leader in vaccines, biotechnology, agricultural products, animal health care and medical devices.

Garst is a member of the Advanta group of companies. Advanta is a joint venture between leading global life-sciences company Zeneca, and Cosum a major European sugar company. Advanta ranks fourth among seed companies worldwide, and is present in all major global seed markets.

For more information:

Suzanne Thompson
Public Affairs Director, American Cyanamid
973 - 683 3254

David Witherspoon
Director of Marketing, Garst Seed Company
515 - 685 5234

Mike Smidt
Marketing Communications, Garst Seed Company
712 - 684 3243

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