Memphis, Tennessee
March 19, 2009
Performance of the Deltapine Class
of ’09 cotton varieties is generating tremendous interest across
the Cotton Belt. It is clear that growers are anxious to get the
new varieties on their farms while maximizing the operation’s
profitability. With these things in mind, a “smart transition”
approach that calls for balancing these new varieties with other
proven top-performers is recommended.
“Large-scale tests on more than 100 commercial farms in 2008
demonstrated the outstanding yield potential of these new
Deltapine varieties, resulting in great demand for the products
this spring,” said Dr. Dave Albers, U.S. cotton germplasm lead
at Monsanto. “We recommend
farmers devote up to 30 percent of their cotton acres this
season to the new Class of ’09 varieties to see for themselves
how these new products can take their yield potential to the
next level. Growers will want to take note of how these respond
to management – I think they will agree these products are
easy-to-manage.”
In regions like the Mid-South where farmers have been growing
high-yielding Bollgard with Roundup Ready® varieties such as DP
555 BG/RR, DP 444 BG/RR and DP 445 BG/RR, it is also important
to continue to rely on these consistent, proven performers to
maximize profitability, he said.
“These proven Deltapine varieties have shown that, year-in and
year-out, they can help cotton farmers make the most of their
cotton acres,” said Albers. “When every pound counts, it is
smart to use these proven varieties as the foundation for a
farm’s cotton acreage.”
Albers referred to this as a “smart transition” approach which
creates a win/win situation. “Growers are looking to make the
move to second generation traits. We’re all looking to balance
gaining experience with varieties that represent the future of
cotton, while continuing to benefit from the strength of
varieties that have helped them maximize performance potential
over the years.”
Arkansas crop consultant and farmer Adam Chappell says
traditionally, his recommendation for trying new varieties on a
farm is no more than 25 percent of the total acreage. The speed
at which variety improvements are made today may require a
change of strategy, he says.
“Because of the quick development and delivery of new varieties
to the market, many growers and consultants feel compelled to
allocate up to 50 percent of their acres to new varieties to try
and stay ahead of the curve,” Chappell said. “But it is also
important to continue to plant varieties proven on your farm. In
trying new lines, however, you should try and minimize risk by
planting several different new varieties so you don’t put all of
your eggs in one basket. And when choosing new varieties, you
should always try to gather as much data from University
Extension and industry trials as possible to determine how the
varieties you are interested in performed in as many different
environments as possible, paying particular attention to soil
types similar to your own.”
When considering which Deltapine Class of ’09 varieties to try
this season in conjunction with traditional performers like DP
444 BG/RR, DP 445 BG/RR, DP 555 BG/RR and DP 164 B2RF, Albers
said farmers should consider the following:
- DP 0912 B2RF is an
early-maturing variety (similar to DP 444 BG/RR) that showed
outstanding yield potential across many growing regions on
both irrigated and non-irrigated ground in 2008 trials. This
variety was often the top-yielding Class of ’09 variety in
the 2008 Deltapine New Product Evaluator tests across the
upper Mid-South and the Southwest.
- DP 0920 B2RF is an
early-maturing variety that demonstrated potential to offer
high yield and good fiber quality in tough, non-irrigated
conditions of the Mid-South and Southwest last season. It
shows yield stability similar to DP 444 BG/RR.
- DP 0924 B2RF was in the
top yield group across 14 University of Arkansas test plots
last season and showed consistent yield across soil textures
and in irrigated versus dryland situations. It has a
maturity similar to DP 445 BG/RR.
- DP 0935 B2RF and DP 0949
B2RF are longer season varieties, each with benefits ranging
from high yield potential to a nectariless trait in DP 0935
B2RF, is a mid-maturity variety that can make plants less
attractive to plant bugs. DP 0949 B2RF is a mid- to
full-season variety has demonstrated improved staple,
strength and uniformity versus DP 555 BG/RR.
To calculate how new and
established Deltapine cotton varieties maximize your profit
potential, go to
http://compare.cottoncommunity.com.
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of
technology-based solutions and agricultural products that
improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains
focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to
produce more from their land while conserving more of our
world's natural resources such as water and energy. To learn
more about our business and our commitments, please visit:
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