Wilmington, Delaware
December 2, 2008
As agricultural seed selling for
the 2009 North America planting season kicks into high gear,
preliminary indications suggest superior product performance and
enhanced customer service are making a difference for
DuPont business
Pioneer Hi-Bred.
"We had a strong seed product line-up in the marketplace in
2008. The challenging growing season demonstrated the agronomic
strengths and overall superiority of our products. But we also
had a much expanded sales force helping farmers match products
to their specific needs," said James C. Borel, DuPont group vice
president.
"Harvest results show improved performance by Pioneer 'triple
stack' seed corn products and extended leadership in other
categories," Borel said. "In soybeans, the Pioneer M Series
continued to deliver industry-leading performance and the new Y
Series delivered impressive yield advantages as expected.
"The response we are seeing from customers this fall in the form
of strong early seed orders has to be attributed to both
products and service," he said.
Borel will give an update on 2008 harvest results and the 2009
outlook for the DuPont production agriculture businesses as part
of the DuPont 2009 Update webcast Dec. 4 at 10:00 a.m. EST.
"While we're pleased to see our average competitive yield
advantage increase, we know that farmers don't purchase based on
averages," Borel said. "Our focus is squarely on helping
customers plant the right product on the right acre. In the seed
business, that's best for our customers and it's why we expect
to grow market share in both corn and soybean seed in 2009."
Initial 2008 corn yield comparisons have Pioneer(R) brand
products with a 2.9 bushels per acre yield advantage versus
similar competitive products across 13,000 on-farm trials.
Pioneer "double stacked" seed corn products are averaging 5.5
bushels per acre better than competitive "double stacks."
Pioneer(R) brand hybrids with herbicide tolerance are averaging
7.1 bushels per acre better than competitive hybrids with
herbicide tolerance.
On-farm soybean yield trials are showing an overall Pioneer
advantage of 1.3 bushels per acre. Key soybean products, which
include the new Pioneer Y Series soybeans, are demonstrating as
much as a 3.8 bushels advantage over competitors.
Over the past year, Pioneer has expanded its North America sales
force with an additional net increase of more than 250 points of
sale. At the same time, it launched a number of new products and
increased its competitive advantage for both corn and soybeans.
Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, is the world's leading
source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers
and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des
Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics
in nearly 70 countries.
DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded
in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable
solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for
people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont
offers a wide range of innovative products and services for
markets including agriculture and food; building and
construction; communications; and transportation.
The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont(TM), The miracles of science(TM),
and Pioneer(R) are registered trademarks or trademarks of DuPont
or its affiliates. |
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