Mycogen Seeds, the growing seed business unit of Dow AgroSciences, has introduced 40 new hybrids and varieties for the 2000 growing season. 

The new lineup includes 19 grain corn hybrids, 12 soybean varieties, four corn silage hybrids, one sunflower hybrid, one alfalfa variety and one canola variety.

"The needs of today’s farmer are constantly evolving," says Dan Johnson, agronomy services manager for Mycogen Seeds. "It’s important that Mycogen continue to develop a wide selection of new products to help farmers meet those demands.

"Each new product Mycogen releases first goes through a thorough testing process. These hybrids and varieties have been studied in trials in their areas of adaptation to ensure they will perform well under a wide range of soil, water, weather, pest and management conditions."

Corn

Sixteen new NatureGard™ Bt hybrids lead the new Mycogen corn hybrid lineup.

These hybrids provide the yield protection of the NGBt1 gene for outstanding control of first and second brood European corn borer (ECB). 

"The yield potential of these new Bt hybrids is outstanding," Johnson says. "Mycogen researchers have combined the NGBt1 gene with some of the best genetics in the industry."

Additionally, four of the new Bt hybrids include tolerance to Lightning* herbicide in the CLEARFIELD* Production System.

"The new CLEARFIELD hybrids give farmers the ability to use a cost-effective form of weed control in fields where they’ve been severely challenged in the past," says Johnson.

Some of the new corn hybrids from Mycogen Seeds also carry enhanced native protection against first-generation ECB. Because this level of resistance to ECB has been bred into the hybrid just like yield and other agronomic traits are bred into conventional hybrids, it is an effective non-genetically enhanced alternative to Bt corn hybrids.

"Enhanced native protection hybrids are an excellent alternative to Bt hybrids or can be used on Bt refuge acres," explains
Johnson. "These hybrids offer enhanced protection from ECB without carrying the Bt gene, so farmers can have some level
of ECB protection across all their acres and still stay in compliance with Bt acreage restrictions."

TMF™ Silage-SpecificSM Corn

TMF™ Silage-SpecificSM corn hybrids from Mycogen are bred to produce more highly digestible forage per acre to aid in dairy or beef production. Two of the four new hybrids also contain the NatureGard™ NGBt1 gene that protects against ECB.

"This year we can offer even more choices to our customers who require high quality silage," says Johnson. "Not only can our customers get high-yielding, high-quality silage, they can protect those yields against ECB with the Bt technology available in some of our Silage-Specific hybrids."

Sunflowers

"With our leadership position in high-oleic sunflowers, and the elite genetics of our traditional sunflower hybrids, we’ve been able to fill a range of needs," says Johnson. "Our hybrids produce higher oil contents, better standability and improved tolerance to premature ripening."

Mycogen Seeds offers a full lineup of NuSun, high-oleic, confection and traditional oilseed sunflower hybrids.

Canola

The first canola variety introduced by Mycogen Seeds is part of a new line of canola from Dow
AgroSciences, known as Nexera™ Canola, which focuses on market-specific qualities for
specific end-use markets.

"Nex 500 is one of the most consistent performers in canola trials," says Paul Holmen, canola product manager for Mycogen Seeds. "Trial after trial, in a wide variety of growing conditions and weather, Nex 500 has grown and yielded reliably."

Additionally, Mycogen Seeds continues to offer high-yielding alfalfa and soybean varieties and sorghum hybrids. 

"We aim to keep evolving our entire line of products," says Johnson. "Any farmer who comes to Mycogen for the best corn hybrid should also expect to find outstanding soybean, sorghum or alfalfa varieties available."

A local business unit of Dow AgroSciences, Mycogen Seeds markets grain corn, silage corn and nutritionally enhanced corn seed, as well as sunflower, canola, soybean, alfalfa and sorghum seed through the Corn Belt, the eastern United States and in major dairy areas throughout the nation. Mycogen is an acknowledged leader in developing technology-based products to control agricultural pests and improve food and fiber production.

*CLEARFIELD and Lightning are registered trademarks of American Cyanamid Company. 
Roundup Ready is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company.

Company news release
N2493