Roundup Ready® Corn 2 has reached a new milestone: the technology is expected to be planted on more than 32 million acres this season, or about 40 percent of the U.S. corn acres. That is a substantial increase over the record 24 million acres in 2005.

John Jansen, Monsanto Marketing Manager for Roundup Ready Corn 2, attributes the brand's rapid adoption to the Roundup Ready Corn 2 System's unsurpassed weed control, excellent crop safety and the flexibility to manage weeds around the weather.

"Weather continues to be the biggest risk factor farmers face," explains Jansen. "What started out as a good, moist spring last year turned hot and dry, especially in places like Illinois and Indiana. The opposite was true in parts of Ohio. Regardless of wet or dry conditions, I think a lot of farmers found that the Roundup Ready Corn 2 System provided the flexibility for early-season weed control with the ability to come back with Roundup® agricultural herbicide through 48-inch corn, should Mother Nature force you to do that. That translates into excellent weed control all season long."

To help achieve that early-season weed control, weed scientists also recommend that farmers use a residual herbicide then follow with Roundup agricultural herbicide for a broad spectrum of weed control as well as outstanding crop safety.

"By providing farmers with technology that delivers crop safety, you don't have to worry about crop injury, like you may have to with conventional herbicides," says Jansen. "That's one of the biggest benefits. And, with spring planting just around the corner, now is the time for growers to consult their seed dealers for a trial of Roundup Ready Corn 2, available in all the top-performing hybrids."

Grower on-farm trials in 2005 showed that the Roundup Ready Corn 2 System — using Roundup® agricultural herbicides on Roundup Ready Corn 2 with built-in crop safety — yielded approximately 6 more bushels per acre versus conventional herbicide programs used over the same hybrid.

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Always read and follow pesticide label directions. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® agricultural herbicides. Roundup agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not glyphosate tolerant. Roundup® and Roundup Ready® are registered trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. ©2006 Monsanto Company.