Matching Genetics, Technology & Management Practices Critical to Meeting Strong Demand for Ag. Crops

DuPont Leader says “Right Product, Right Acre” Key to Top Productivity

GRAND FORKS, N.D.– As seed technologies advance, matching specific genetic technologies to individual management practices and fields will become increasingly important to growers, William S. Niebur, vice president -- DuPont Crop Genetics Research and Development, will tell agricultural leaders today at the Prairie Grains Conference in Grand Forks, N.D.

“For farmers looking to achieve the optimal income per acre, it is not a question of which products have the most traits, but which products have the specific characteristics – genetics and traits – they need in their fields,” Niebur said.

Niebur is attending the Prairie Grains Conference to talk about new technologies in the seed industry and their role in increasing productivity for growers. DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred is developing products for specific cropping systems – combinations of genetics, technologies, management and the local environment.

“Pioneer is partnering with farmers to get the right products positioned on the right acres where they will do the most good,” said Niebur. “Increasing productivity of existing acres is critical to meeting growing global demand for grain used in livestock feed, food, fiber materials and fuel.”

From 1998 to 2008, the average yield for corn and soybeans increased about 20 percent. Pioneer is committed to doubling the rate of gain in its seed products over the next decade by achieving a 40 percent yield gain in corn and soybeans. Through complex trait improvement, Pioneer scientists are working to solve growing challenges related to temperature, wind, water and nutrients, as well as insects, diseases and weeds. Further, they are seeking to enhance output traits such as protein, starch, oil, fiber and nutritional content.

“Achieving strong yields and quality outputs in near-perfect growing conditions is more and more routine,” Niebur said. “Achieving industry-leading yields and output in the face of too much or too little moisture, short growing seasons, extreme insect, disease or weed pressure, late season wind storms and lower fertilizer application rates is really the feat.

“Pioneer advances in overall product performance and standability, combined with superior disease resistance have resulted in industry-leading yield levels for our products – even in the most difficult growing seasons like those we experienced in 2008,” Niebur said.

Initial 2008 corn yield comparisons have Pioneer® brand products showing a 2.9 bushel per acre yield advantage versus similar competitive products across 13,000 on-farm trials. Pioneer “triple stacked” seed corn products are delivering very competitive yields and the most diverse genetics on the market. Its “double stacked” seed corn products are averaging 5.5 bushels per acre better than competitive “double stacks.” Pioneer® brand hybrids with herbicide tolerance are averaging 7.1 bushels per acre better than competitive hybrids with herbicide tolerance. On-farm soybean yield trials are showing an overall Pioneer advantage of 1.3 bushels per acre. Key soybean products, which include the new Pioneer® Y Series soybeans, are demonstrating as much as a 3.8 bushel advantage over competitors.

“The responses we are seeing from existing Pioneer customers in the form of early seed orders for 2009 is proof that our leading technology, superior agronomic performance and unmatched customer service are the real triple-stack of the day,” said Niebur. Customer orders to date are up more than 15 percent over the same period last year.”