Product Performance to Fuel 2010 Share Gains for DuPont Seed Business

Yield Advantage in Soybeans Against Newest Competitor Varieties Especially Dramatic

DES MOINES, Iowa, On-farm yield comparisons and early orders suggest continued strong growth for DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred in 2010.

“Based on what we are hearing from growers this fall, we believe we can extend our soybean market share leadership and gain 1 to 2 points of global seed corn share next year,” said Paul E. Schickler, president -- Pioneer Hi-Bred.

North America
“The data coming in from North American on-farm soybean yield comparisons is showing a significant difference between Pioneer® brand soybean varieties and our competitors’ new varieties with the latest technology,” said Schickler.

In 11,692 comparisons, the data shows Pioneer® brand soybeans, including Pioneer® Y Series soybeans, have a 1.3 bushel per acre yield advantage on average against all competitive varieties. Pioneer® brand soybeans with the Roundup Ready® gene have on average a 2.7 bushel per acre yield advantage against varieties from competitors with the new Roundup Ready 2 Yield® technology.

This year’s U.S. corn harvest is the latest of the past 25 years, but initial information coming in from growers indicates another year of strong performance from Pioneer® hybrids.

“We are delivering both yield and income advantages over hybrids from competitors, including DeKalb,” said Schickler. “In addition to those advantages, this season has clearly shown growers how Pioneer® brand hybrids can deliver better disease resistance, grain quality and test weights than products from competitors.”

Specific yield comparisons from growers are available at www.pioneer.com/yield. The site is updated daily. An overall summary of Pioneer® brand corn hybrid performance will be available once harvest is more complete.

“North America’s success this fall will be a strong contributor to the global 1 to 2 points of corn share increase we expect in 2010,” said Schickler.

Around the world
Strong product performance in Europe is expected to drive sales growth for Pioneer. In nearly 8,500 comparisons across Europe in 2009, Pioneer® brand corn hybrids have on average a 4.5 bushel per acre yield advantage over competitors.

Pioneer expects around 7 points more market share in Argentina from the 2009 planting season due to strong product performance. That strong product performance is expected to further increase share with the 2010 planting.

In Brazil, Pioneer is positioned to continue to increase its position in the high value biotech corn market. Just two years since biotech traits were approved in Brazil, more than 60 percent of the Pioneer corn product line there is sold with the new insect protection traits. Pioneer is the leading provider of Herculex® I insect protection, which provides a broader spectrum of protection than the alternative trait for Brazilian corn growers. Sales of corn with insect protection are expected to continue to grow to more than 80 percent in 2010.

“The strong product performance and demand for Pioneer products around the world is a testament to research and sales teams that are focused squarely on delivering the best products for growers everywhere,” said Schickler.

“Our approach of bringing traits to the market in a wide variety of genetics and then working with customers to get the right product on the right acre continues to pay off for growers.”

Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, is the world’s leading source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics in nearly 70 countries.