Garst Seed Company recently announced the addition of 19 new NK® Brand soybean varieties to its 2007 product lineup. In addition to combining industry-leading genetics with disease and herbicide resistance, growers who plant NK Brand soybeans from Garst may qualify for risk management assurances.

Each of the most recent soybean advancements includes the Roundup Ready® trait, and 11 of the new varieties also carry soybean cyst nematode (SCN) resistance. The latest product offerings represent a wide range of relative maturities from Group 00 to Group V.

“We are excited about the new class of NK Brand soybeans available through Garst,” says Mike Schaefer, soybean product manager for the Slater, Iowa-based company. “Our latest offerings highlight the research emphasis placed not only on yield potential, but also the importance of delivering strong agronomics and the latest technologies.”

In 2006, Garst released 25 new soybean varieties for the 2007 planting season, including seven Garst® Brand varieties and 18 new NK Brand varieties from Syngenta, Garst’s parent company. Garst is offering a total of 114 soybean varieties, many of which include resistance to SCN.


NK Soybeans Outperform the Competition


At the 2006 Syngenta Learning Centers, NK Brand soybeans averaged 58 bushels per acre (bu/A), more than 15 bu/A over the 2006 national average recently reported by the USDA.

The Syngenta Learning Centers, which are operated in conjunction with third-party researchers, explore on-farm agronomic solutions at several Midwest locations to help growers produce more profitable crops.

In 24,000 soybean trials in 2006, NK Brand Roundup Ready® Soybeans out-yielded all competitive brands. In maturity Group III, NK Brand soybeans posted a 1.1 bushel-per-acre advantage over competitive varieties, winning 56 percent of head-to-head field trials. In all maturities, NK Brand soybean varieties yielded more than either Pioneer® or Asgrow®, with up to a 1.9 bushel-per-acre advantage.

“Growers should always make their soybean selections based on yield and agronomics for a particular field,” says Schaefer. “Beginning with seed that delivers both is the first step in achieving maximum yields. The performance numbers from the Learning Centers clearly reflect the performance potential of the NK brand lineup Garst is offering growers.”

Garst is also providing financial rewards up to 21 cents per bushel for growers who qualify for Syngenta’s AgriEdge™ Grain Premium Program. For 2007, growers who have not planted NK soybeans previously, or current NK soybean customers who increase their order by at least 200 units over last year, are eligible for this program. The deadline for qualifying for the 2007 AgriEdge Soybean Grain Premium Program is March 1, 2007.

Garst Seed Company, with headquarters in Slater, Iowa, provides innovative seed solutions for growers across North America with high yielding corn, soybean, sorghum, alfalfa and sunflower products. For more information about Garst products, contact your local Garst ProSeller or visit Garst’s Website at www.garstseed.com.

Garst Seed Company is affiliated with Syngenta, a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. The company is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2005 were approximately $8.1 billion. Syngenta employs more than 19,000 people in over 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT). Further information is available at www.syngenta.com.

Garst® is a trademark of Garst Seed Company.
NK®Brand and AgriEdgeTM are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.
Roundup Ready® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC.
Asgrow® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC.
Pioneer® is a registered trademark of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.