In an age of agricultural and corporate uncertainty, Bayer CropScience and its FiberMax® Cotton Seed brand have shown an increasing commitment to provide the best solutions to the U.S. cotton grower. These efforts have resulted in FiberMax attaining a No. 2 U.S. market share ranking of acres planted in the eight years since FiberMax cotton seed varieties were introduced.

Now, the company has its sights set on continued growth, said FiberMax Director of Cotton Operations Lee Rivenbark. With strong personnel and the further development of the brand’s biotech traits, he said this goal is attainable.

“This organization is only as strong as its employees,” Rivenbark said. “With that in mind, we’ve brought in top individuals this past year and have real cause to be excited about the depth and breadth of experience of the U.S. FiberMax team.”

In particular, Rivenbark pointed out four top-line employees who have been added in the past year – Jeff Brehmer, Marketing Manager; Art Simpson, Cotton Supply Chain Manager; Steve Nichols, U.S. Agronomic Services Manager; and Gary Gaar, U.S. Sales Manager.

A Strong Past, A Stronger Future

Since 1998, FiberMax varieties have enjoyed a steady growth in market share; and for 2006, that share has grown again. According to the recently released U.S. Department of Agriculture, “2006 Cotton Varieties Planted” report, FiberMax cotton varieties now account for 26.7 percent of total U.S. cotton acreage. Combined, FiberMax and AFD™ Seed varieties account for 29.2 percent of total cotton acreage.

“Our success with FiberMax is built upon a quality germplasm package that consistently brings our growers excellent fiber quality and high yield potentials,” Rivenbark said.

Because the breeding program has focused on high quality fiber throughout a broad range of environmental and management differences across the Cotton Belt, FiberMax is keeping pace with the needs of cotton producers, he added. The benefits of growing FiberMax cotton varieties truly span the Cotton Belt, Rivenbark said. “Current R&D will bring additional germplasm and biotech traits to cotton growers in each production region.”

Intense research efforts are currently under way at the company’s three breeding stations in Lubbock, Texas; Leland, Miss.; and Sellers, S.C. With plans for additional stations in the coming years, Bayer CropScience and FiberMax are striving to build on a tradition of excellence.

“Thanks to our own successes in developing and marketing high quality fiber, our competitors now aspire to better quality in their own varieties,” Rivenbark said. “There’s no doubt that FiberMax raises the bar on fiber quality and offers the high yielding varieties growers demand. It has changed and continues to change the dynamic of how this cotton is being received around the world.”

Industry Experience, Knowledge, Key To Progress

All told, Rivenbark said that Brehmer, Nichols, Simpson and Gaar bring more than 80 years of industry experience and knowledge to FiberMax.

Brehmer has served in several key Bayer CropScience roles since 1996. He has been behind innovative programs such as the Georgia Quality Cotton Awards and the FiberMax One Ton Club™. With years of in-field experience, Brehmer focuses on the value of FiberMax at the grower level. “We have a clear vision of not only where the company is going in the next 10 years, but also how to get there,” Brehmer said. “It all comes down to understanding growers’ needs.”

Nichols comes to FiberMax from the Delta Research and Extension Center at Mississippi State University, where he has conducted research and training for the past eight years. With his experience, he brings a clear agronomic strategy to experimental variety testing and selection. “There are currently some fantastic cotton varieties in development,” Nichols said. “Our germplasm pipeline is stronger than ever.”

Simpson was previously at Emergent Genetics, where he held various supply chain positions since 1999. He has extensive prior experience handling supply-chain logistics, counter-season production and quality assurance. This experience will be especially valuable in light of recent acquisitions such as AFD™ Cotton Seed. “It’s a great time to be involved with FiberMax,” Simpson said. “We have a lot of irons in the fire, and I’m encouraged by how much progress is being made.”

Gaar joins FiberMax from Gowan Company, where he managed sales, field development and customer service for U.S. and Canadian markets. With more than 30 years of industry experience, much of his career has been devoted to developing relationships with key growers, retailers and distributors across the Cotton Belt. “There have been a lot of changes in cotton production over the last few decades,” Gaar said. “What’s most exciting is that the biggest changes are perhaps yet to come.”

Bayer CropScience LP is the U.S. business of Bayer CropScience, which has its global headquarters in Monheim, Germany. Bayer CropScience, a subsidiary of Bayer AG with annual sales of about EUR 6 billion, is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and plant biotechnology. The company offers an outstanding range of products and extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture and for non-agricultural applications. Bayer CropScience has a global workforce of about 19,000 and is represented in more than 120 countries, ensuring proximity to dealers and consumers.
For additional product information, visit our web site at www.cottonexperts.com.