World’s first genetic cotton seed revolutionized cotton industry.

Even the greatest athletes retire so the 2004 season marks the final year Emergent Genetics, Inc. will offer Stoneville brand BXN cotton seed varieties for sale.  Introduced in 1995, BXN was the world’s first genetically-enhanced cotton seed.

“BXN introduced cotton farmers to the value that comes from a transgenic product where one input, in this case, weed control, was greatly simplified and enhanced by the utilization of BXN technology,” says Dr. David Guthrie, manager of technical services for Emergent Genetics. 

“Today, a broadened array of transgenic cotton technologies is being offered.  Stoneville actively works with all available technologies and is dedicated to bringing U.S. cotton producers the most advanced technology in the best germplasm available.”

In 2004, Stoneville released four new varieties with Bollgard®, Bollgard II® and Roundup Ready® technology:  ST 5242BR, ST 4646B2R, NexGen™ 1553R and NexGen™ 2448R.   The company has plans to introduce five new varieties in 2005, and eight more in 2006, which will include new Roundup Ready Flex® technology. 

“In 2005 we will have the best available technology—Bollgard II/Roundup Ready—in three varieties with different maturities,” says Guthrie, who is based in Memphis.  “The Bollgard II technology promises to further enable cotton farmers to control lepidopteran pests.  The Bollgard II technology enables growers to achieve higher yield potential because it virtually eliminates the losses caused by insect damage considered to be below threshold levels.”

In addition to providing genetic crop protection from insect and weed pests in its varieties, Stoneville continues to develop germplasm with enhanced fiber quality that mills demand, along with the high yield potential that growers need. 

“It’s a testimonial to the value of transgenic cotton that since those first commercial BXN fields were planted in 1995, less than 10 years ago, U.S. cotton farmers have switched to planting more than 90 percent of their acreage to transgenic varieties,” Guthrie says.”

Rich in cotton heritage, Stoneville, an Emergent Genetics™ brand, is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, with research & development sites, and seed production facilities located across the United States and internationally.  Breeding cotton since 1922, Stoneville was the world’s first to commercialize genetically-enhanced cotton seed, and set a new packaging standard by changing to a 230,000 seed count.  Stoneville brand provides varieties that cotton growers need today to compete in the global cotton economy.