YieldGard® Plus Corn and Roundup Ready® Corn 2 both received high marks in a 2005 grower survey, with over 90 percent of surveyed farmers saying they were satisfied with the maximum in-plant insect protection of YieldGard Plus and with the effective weed-control of the Roundup Ready Corn 2 System.

For survey participants who planted Roundup Ready Corn 2 this season, they cited outstanding crop safety, simplicity, quality of the stand, and flexible window of application of the Roundup Ready Corn 2 System, said John Jansen, Monsanto’s Corn Traits Marketing Manager.

“Roundup Ready Corn 2 provides unsurpassed weed control whether you follow a pre/post or total postemerge weed management program and because and because Roundup Ready Corn 2 provides tolerance to Roundup® agricultural herbicides, growers achieve outstanding crop safety, as well as convenience and more flexibility to manage around the weather, Jansen said.

Overall 91 percent of growers expressed satisfaction with Roundup Ready Corn 2, the seventh consecutive year the brand has scored a satisfaction in excess of 90 percent.  

Roundup Ready Corn 2 allows farmers to use Roundup® agricultural herbicides for effective, in-season weed control in corn with more flexible application options than its predecessor. Roundup Ready Corn 2 offers a wider application window for herbicide applications and the ability to apply higher rates of herbicides for tough weeds.

Pleased with benefits that include flexible weed control and excellent crop safety, growers planted Roundup Ready® Corn 2 technology on more than 24 million acres in 2005, a record level.  That is more than a 40 percent increase over 2004 Roundup Ready Corn acreage of 17 million acres.  It also represents almost 30 percent of total U.S. corn planted this season, which the USDA reports to be 81.6 million acres.

YieldGard Plus farmers see added value

“In survey results, corn growers utilizing Monsanto’s YieldGard Rootworm insect-protected trait technologies pointed out the performance, convenience, peace of mind and value that these trait technologies offer growers,” said David Rhylander, Monsanto’s U.S. Traits Director.

Nearly 60 percent of growers reported they were “very satisfied” with the rootworm control of YieldGard Plus, versus only:

• 35 percent who were very satisfied with the performance of high-rate seed treatments, and

• 27 percent who were very satisfied with corn treated with a soil-applied insecticide

These survey results are especially significant considering this was the first year YieldGard Plus was marketed commercially in the United States. Growers also reported distinctive visual differences between their YieldGard-protected corn and corn with conventional insecticide protection. 

• 90 percent said plants with YieldGard rootworm protection were healthier.

• 81 percent said the YieldGard plants had a bigger root system

• 74 percent said YieldGard plants had less moisture stress

• 67 percent said YieldGard plants had fuller ears

YieldGard Plus is the first corn technology to deliver whole-season, in-plant protection against European and southwestern corn borers and effective and consistent protection against western and northern corn rootworms. YieldGard Plus also offers in-the-bag protection against wireworms, white grubs, seed corn maggots, early flea beetles and black cutworms. It also suppresses earworms, fall armyworms and stalk borers.

Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON) is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality.

Always read and follow pesticide label directions. Monsanto Company. Roundup Ready crops contain a Roundup Ready gene, which confers tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup agricultural herbicides. Roundup agricultural herbicides will kill plants that do not contain a Roundup Ready gene. Follow Grain Marketing Requirements. Roundup®, Roundup Ready® and YieldGard® are registered trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2005