Crop developers attempt to cover all bases and phases

The Drought of 2012 served as a sort of trial by fire for major crop developers.

Martin Ross

Published: Oct 26, 2012

“What a year to test a drought-tolerant hybrid!” quipped Pioneer’s Janelle Buxton, whose company is preparing for a third planting season with its drought-tolerant Optimum AQUAMax corn.

While AQUAMax was introduced for use in “water-limited environments” across the western U.S.; 2 million acres were planted this season. Buxton told FarmWeek the company will expand plantings nationwide in 2013.

In 700-some on-farm trials last year, Pioneer noted a 7 percent average per-bushel yield increase in water-stressed areas and a 3 percent bump under normal growing conditions.

Meanwhile, following successful 2012 trials with 105-day and 112-day maturities, Syngenta plans to significantly boost supplies of its Agrisure Artesian 4111 varieties next year for growers in both the Western Plains and the Midwest.

Syngenta agronomist Randy Kool recognizes farmers can’t anticipate what the 2013 season may bring. His company thus has focused on “maximizing yield when it rains and minimizing stress when it doesn’t.”

Both the Pioneer and Syngenta products take a “multi-phase” approach to drought/yield protection. Buxton noted “there’s no silver bullet solution for drought,” and reported AQUAMax was designed to offer stronger root development, more prolific silking, and improved kernel fill.

Syngenta focused on 13 different genes to “protect the plant from beginning to end,” Syngenta’s Kool told FarmWeek.

Monsanto’s entry in the 2013 drought tolerance derby, DroughtGard, was planted this year on a limited basis in the Western Plains, where commercial release is planned. DroughtGard hybrid lead Mark Edge suggested the product could reach Illinois or Iowa in 2014.

Because DroughtGard contains a new GMO water use trait derived from soil bacteria, “we need to keep it out of (Midwest) export markets until we get all the regulatory approvals we need,” Edge told FarmWeek.

Current Syngenta and Pioneer drought traits are non-GMO: No international approvals were needed prior to release even of varietal “stacks” such as Artesian 4111, which include approved GMO insect resistance/herbicide tolerance traits.

Permalink: Click here

Comments

Read comments from others and share your own thoughts.

Please provide the answer to the following question:

=

Search this site:

Read More Stories

Memorial Day holiday closures

Grain markets will be closed Sunday night and Monday for Memorial Day (May 27th) and will re-open Monday night at 7:00pm CDT. Livestock futures will be closed Monday and resume trading Tuesday morning.

Read this story


Prairie Farms to host 75th anniversary events

Prairie Farms will be hosting events free to the public in honor of their 75th anniversary as well as June Dairy Month.

Read this story


NPPC fear COOL rule retaliation

The U.S. pork industry fears possible trade retaliation in two of its major markets, after USDA issued a final rule on country of origin meat labeling. We have a report from RFD Radio's Matt Kaye.

Read this story

Prairie Farms to host 75th anniversary events

NPPC fear COOL rule retaliation

Rainy week ahead for Illinois farmers

Memorial Day holiday closures

Immigration: The conversation

Ag groups seek to knock down EU barriers

Federal aid approved for 14 more counties

Illinois farmland values keep going higher

Southern Illinois wheat crop in generally good shape

Cash soybean basis levels fall for third day

Top 50 Tags