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Stance™ plant growth regulator from Bayer CropScience entered the market in 2006 with the promise of being a simple, effective solution to cotton plant management. According to data collected during the season, Stance has delivered on this promise.

“Trials initiated by universities and Bayer CropScience show Stance performing as well or better than mepiquat chloride in controlling vegetative growth and plant height,” said Jon Mixson, Stance product manager, Bayer CropScience. “Moreover, it accomplishes this without the guessing games that can accompany mepiquat chloride use.”

Steve Brown, Extension cotton specialist for the University of Georgia (UGA), said Stance appears to have a benefit over mepiquat chloride on cotton plants in adverse conditions or variable growth situations. This advantage was also noted by Louisiana State University Extension cotton specialist Sandy Stewart, who said PGR applications as early as matchhead square have become increasingly popular in recent years. That strategy has had the potential to backfire with other products if adverse weather immediately follows the application.

“It looks like an early application of Stance may carry built-in insurance if growing conditions turn bad with hot, dry weather,” Stewart said.

Mixson said a synergistic effect between the dual active ingredients of Stance allows its rate to be much lower than other PGR products. The labeled rates are 2 oz per acre for moderate vegetative vigor and 3 oz per acre for high vegetative vigor.

Mixson added that Stance may also provide a boost in fiber quality. UGA was at the forefront of this discovery, with data showing a repeatable, statistically significant staple length increase in seven of nine trials. Similar increases have been documented at the University of Arkansas, Texas A&M University and the University of Missouri.

Mixson said the increase could mean the difference between a discount, base or premium staple length in some instances. For example, in a 2006 Wharton Co. (Texas) trial, the untreated check had a discounted 33 staple and the cotton treated with Stance had a base 34 staple. Avoiding a discounted staple in this particular trial was worth $10.54 per bale.

“We have strong evidence that using Stance can lead to increased staple length,” Mixson said. “We will continue to conduct research to better define optimal application timing and other factors that will maximize this benefit.”

Growers interested in learning more about Stance should visit www.CottonExperts.com or contact their local Bayer CropScience sales representative.

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.

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