St. Louis, Missouri
March 2, 2004
With
spring around the corner, soybean growers are only a few weeks
away from planting their 2004 crop. For those still deciding
which soybean variety to plant, the answer may be as simple as
looking back at the yield results of Asgrow® and DEKALB®
varieties in 2003.
According to yield data released from
Monsanto, soybean growers
who planted Asgrow or DEKALB soybeans in 2003 harvested higher
yields than growers who planted other brands. In more than
46,800 head-to-head field comparisons, leading Asgrow and DEKALB
soybean varieties averaged 1.6 bushels or $10.96* more per acre
than all competitors across soybean-growing areas from Group 0
through Group V maturities. Asgrow and DEKALB varieties
throughout the same geographies delivered an average of more
than $8.90 per acre than Pioneer® varieties and $13.01 more than
NK® varieties.*
Our
initial yield results indicate that once again both the powerful
performance of high-yielding genetics in Asgrow seed and the
extensive lineup of built-in disease and pest protection are
helping growers add significant revenues to their operations and
keeping our performance a step ahead of the rest, said Dion
McBay, U.S. marketing manager for Asgrow and DEKALB soybeans. An
average of over $10 an acre can make a real difference in a
grower s success at the end of a season. The outstanding
performance in all of the maturities shows the Asgrow
performance advantage.
Asgrow
varieties in all maturities outyielded leading competitive
varieties. Trials in Group 0 show Asgrow delivered a
$10.27-per-acre advantage over the competition. In early Group
II, the
Asgrow performance
advantage was $12.33 per acre. In both late Group III and Group
V, the
Asgrow performance advantage was
$18.49 per acre.
Even in
areas where soybean yields were challenged in 2003, Asgrow and
DEKALB outperformed other brands and yielded more for the
growers who chose to plant them instead of other brands. Even in
the most strenuous production conditions, our beans stand out in
performance compared to the competitors. Our Asgrow lineup
stayed in the forefront with its high-yielding genetics and
extensive disease and pest tolerance, said McBay.
For
2004 planting we launched 30 new varieties to further enhance
our lineup in which growers can see the power of unmatched
genetics and built-in disease and pest resistance.
In
1,457 head-to-head comparisons conducted last year, the 30 new
2004 Asgrow and DEKALB varieties outyielded Pioneer varieties by
3.5 bushels per acre. Many of the soybean varieties available
for 2004 offer an extensive lineup of built-in protection
systems against diseases and pests like soybean cyst nematode,
Phytophthora, sudden death syndrome and brown stem rot.
While
growers are planting the new 2004 varieties, Monsanto will use
the summer of 2004 to showcase field trials and plots to exhibit
new Asgrow and DEKALB varieties scheduled for planting in the
spring of 2005.
With an
extensive commitment to research and development, Monsanto
continues year after year to offer growers varieties with the
most profit potential, concluded McBay. For 2004, growers can
look for Asgrow and DEKALB to continue to deliver
industry-leading soybeans with outstanding yield potential and
the most comprehensive package of risk-management traits
available, and these qualities should be enhanced in the 2005
class of Asgrow and DEKALB varieties.
Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) is a leading global provider of
technology-based solutions and agricultural products that
improve farm productivity and food quality.
* Restricted
comparisons to 2003 season with five or more comparisons in
Group 0-V. Compared high-volume-leader varieties, Asgrow and
DEKALB, to Pioneer and Northrup King varieties. Calculated
weighted averages comparing Monsanto varieties to brand
comparisons and maturity group brand comparisons. Performance
advantages based on 2003 average price of $6.85 per bushel, as
cited by the 2003 U.S.D.A. reports. Data source is all farmer
strip trial data in CPA as of 12/19/2003. |