St. Louis, Missouri
November 30, 2006
Early order patterns in the United
States for Monsanto's corn
seeds and traits are reinforcing the company's goals of growing
market share and increasing trait penetration, particularly in a
triple-stack combination.
In the 2007 growing season, the company's DEKALB and Asgrow
national corn brands could have more than 35 percent of all of
their seed sold in a triple stack, and for the first time will
sell more acres of triple-stacked corn hybrids than hybrids with
just one trait. The company's American Seeds Inc. (ASI)
subsidiary of regional seed brands could have more than 30
percent of its seed sold as a triple stack. In 2006, the mix of
triple stacks was 21 percent for DEKALB and Asgrow, and the mix
of triple stacks was 14 percent for ASI.
Monsanto's triple-stack product in corn combines Roundup Ready
herbicide tolerance, YieldGard Corn Borer insect protection and
YieldGard Rootworm insect protection. In 2006, Monsanto's
triple-trait corn technology was planted on 5.8 million acres in
the United States.
"The early order activity for our triple-stack products is
unprecedented, and half of the orders we've received so far are
for triple-stack DEKALB and Asgrow hybrids," said Carl Casale,
executive vice president for Monsanto's North America commercial
business.
"Farmers are seeing the results of great seed germplasm with
great trait protection in this year's harvest, and are choosing
best-in-class yield protection," said Casale. "Our business is
to provide farmers with the seeds and traits that give them the
best performance, and they are voting loud and clear for the
triple stack."
The company believes that it can again grow market share for its
national brands by 1-to-2 percentage points and increase the
overall penetration of its corn traits in the United States in
the 2007 season. Specifically, the current orders from its
Holden's/Corn States licensing business and from its DEKALB,
Asgrow and ASI customers suggest that:
-
Roundup Ready
corn could be planted on more than 40 million acres,
compared with more than 32 million acres in 2006;
-
YieldGard
Rootworm insect-protected corn could be planted on more than
15 million acres, compared with 10 million acres in 2006;
-
YieldGard Corn
Borer insect-protected corn could be planted on more than 32
million acres, compared with slightly more than 32 million
acres planted to the technology last year; and
-
Monsanto's
triple trait corn technology could be planted on more than
10 million acres, compared with 6 million acres in the 2006
growing season.
During the 2006 growing season,
approximately 26,500 farmers used DEKALB and Asgrow brands, an
increase of 16 percent in customers from the previous year. The
on-farm penetration by those farmers rose as well, with more
than 60 percent of the total farm acreage planted to a DEKALB
and Asgrow hybrid, up from just under 50 percent in the 2005
growing season.
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of
technology-based solutions and agricultural products that
improve farm productivity and food quality. To learn more about
Monsanto's corn trait technologies or the company's focus on
serving farmers please visit Monsanto's web site at
www.monsanto.com.
DEKALB, Asgrow, Roundup Ready and YieldGard are trademarks of
Monsanto Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. |