Pioneer Applauds Kip Cullers On World Record-Breaking Soybean Yield

“We congratulate Mr. Cullers on demonstrating the yield potential that exists with today’s elite soybean varieties,” says Pioneer President Dean Oestreich. “Combining effective management practices with the latest soybean genetics is key to ensuring we are able to meet the growing demand for soybeans as food and fuel. We are excited about the opportunity to see what we can learn from Mr. Cullers that can help other growers increase their productivity.”

With cutting-edge crop genetics technology, Pioneer has delivered high yielding soybean varieties for many years. Pioneer has been the market share and brand leader in U.S. soybeans for the past 17 years. In the last five years, higher performing varieties have helped improve the market share of Pioneer soybeans in the United States by six points.

94M80 is a late Group IV soybean variety with excellent harvest standability and tolerance to soybean sudden death syndrome. The variety is also resistant to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and contains the Roundup Ready® gene. The SCN resistance was developed using Pioneer’s proprietary marker-assisted selection technology to more efficiently identify and develop such traits.

Breaking 100-Bushel Yield
While Cullers’ achievement is astounding, Pioneer knows the yield potential of its soybean genetics. This year, a treated plot of Pioneer brand 93B36 soybeans broke the 100-bushel mark in an internal Best Management Practices (BMP) study, which provides data for Pioneer researchers to increase soybean yield. The BMP study, conducted at the York, Neb., Research Center, surfaced some additional high-hitters with several plots yielding more than 90 bushels, and five of the six varieties in the study averaging 88 bushels or above.

The BMP study was a small plot, replicated-research study, with four rows of the top-selling Pioneer brand commercial varieties replicated four times within the field. Initiated two years ago by Jim Trybom, a Pioneer research scientist in Champaign, Ill., the purpose of the study is to improve yield and seed quality.

20 New Varieties for 2007
For the 2007 planting season, Pioneer is adding 20 new soybean varieties to its lineup. These high-yielding varieties offer growers protection against yield-robbing pests such as soybean cyst nematode, Phytophthora root rot, sudden death syndrome and brown stem rot.

“Soybean growers are approaching an exciting time where different sectors are competing for soybeans,” says Oestreich. “We’re excited to see this demand from our customers, and we’ll continue to deliver a research pipeline with products and traits that not only hold great value for farmers, but also for processors, food companies and consumers.”

Pioneer currently characterizes its soybean varieties for oil content to determine impact on biodiesel production. It is committed to providing soybeans that will help fulfill the growing demand of biofuels.

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont , 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, crop protection solutions and quality crop systems to customers in nearly 70 countries. DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

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11/14/06

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® Registered trademark used under license from Monsanto Company.

Contact:
Jerry Harrington
800-247-6803, ext. 6908