Pioneer Hi-Bred, Asoyia Expand Ultra Low Lin Soybean Agreement

Des Moines and Iowa City, Iowa . – Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, and Asoyia, Inc., have expanded their 2008 agreement to make Pioneer® brand 1 percent ultra low linolenic soybean varieties with the Roundup Ready® trait eligible for participation in the Asoyia Identity Preserved soybean program.

The expanded agreement will serve a broader geography of growers and offer more Pioneer brand Y series soybean varieties for the 2010 growing season, including 92Y71 (RR), 93Y14 (RR) and 93Y50 (RR). Pioneer and Asoyia recently announced the premium for growers planting Pioneer 1 percent ultra low linolenic soybeans at $0.55 per bushel.

“Food companies and consumers are looking for healthier oil products and soybean growers are looking to be a part of the solution,” said John Muenzenberger, Pioneer business manager for specialty oils. “With the additional Pioneer Y series soybean varieties and the expanded agreement between Pioneer and Asoyia we can work with growers in a larger geographic area on this healthier solution.”

New for the 2009 harvest is an expansion of delivery locations of the ultra low lin soybeans to numerous elevators in Illinois and Iowa, in addition to Cargill processing facilities located in Des Moines, Iowa, Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Bloomington, Illinois.

“With the help of Pioneer’s growers we have more than exceeded our acres goal for the 2009 growing season,” said Brett Maxwell, Asoyia vice president of operations. “Growers will benefit from the strong collaboration of Asoyia and Pioneer as we expand our marketing agreement for the 2010 season.”