A recent survey revealed 93 percent of the farmers surveyed, who planted hybrids containing Herculex I Insect Protection last year, say the technology met or exceeded their expectations. This past year, Mycogen Seeds offered growers 11 hybrids with Herculex™ I Insect Protection.

Growers were pleased with the overall performance of Herculex I, citing protection against European corn borer, black cutworm and western bean cutworm as a positive attribute.

“Growers told us that they chose hybrids protected by Herculex I because of its spectrum of insect protection and their desire for higher yields,” says David Borgmeier, Marketing Specialist at Mycogen Seeds. “This research shows they believe they made the right decision.”

Dow AgroSciences conducted the survey interviewing producers in key corn-producing states who tried Herculex™ I on their farms during 2003, its first season of commercial availability.

“Herculex I performed exceptionally well,” says Stephen Smith, Agronomy Services Manager, Mycogen Seeds.
Growers cited the broad-spectrum protection Herculex I offers as the No. 1 reason for deciding to plant corn hybrids containing this technology. Herculex I protects corn plants against first- and second-generation European corn borer, southwestern corn borer, western bean cutworm, black cutworm and fall armyworm, and provides intermediate suppression of corn earworm, making it the broadest-spectrum in-plant insect protection available. Herculex I is the only trait on the market that protects against western bean cutworm – a pest of growing importance, especially across the western Corn Belt.

“Herculex I is offered in our top corn hybrids, and fewer potential feeding pests help ensure those hybrids reach their full genetic potential. Growers don’t have to sacrifice quality or yield for built-in protection against key corn pests,” says Ben Kaehler, National Sales Manager with Mycogen Seeds.

Herculex I hybrids are tolerant to over-the-top application of Liberty® herbicide. “With resistance concerns increasing, more farmers are placing greater importance on managing their herbicide options,” says Borgmeier.
Most growers surveyed said they definitely plan to use Herculex I again during the 2004 growing season. “Broad-spectrum insect protection and the proof of performance they saw in their own fields were the main reasons cited by growers who are planning to plant Herculex I again this season,” says Borgmeier

Additionally, when Dow AgroSciences interviewed growers who had considered Herculex™ I hybrids for 2003 but chose not to plant them, six out of 10 now say they plan to turn to Herculex I this year. Among the reasons growers gave for the change were spectrum of insect protection, the addition of western bean cutworm to that spectrum, and agronomic performance, based on Herculex I hybrids they viewed in plots last summer.

Several Herculex I hybrids are offered with Cruiser™ Extreme Pak (Cruiser insecticide and Dynasty™ fungicide seed treatments) which protect germinating seed from damage and stand loss caused by wireworms, seedcorn maggots and secondary pests. Herculex I hybrids, offered with the Cruiser Extreme Pak, provide the grower with a herbicide-tolerant option along with the broadest insect protection package available. Contact your Mycogen Seeds sales representative or agronomist for more information.

Mycogen Seeds is an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences LLC. Mycogen Seeds is the leader in Silage-SpecificTM corn, the largest sunflower seed producer, and a leading producer of seed corn, alfalfa, soybeans and sorghum. For more information on Mycogen Seeds, go to www.mycogen.com on the Internet.

®™Mycogen, the Mycogen M logo and Silage-Specific are trademarks of Mycogen Corporation.
™Herculex is a trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC
Liberty and the LibertyLink Logo are registered trademarks of Bayer.
Cruiser and ™Dynasty are trademarks of Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc.
©2004 Mycogen Seeds. Mycogen is an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences LLC.

Herculex I Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred.