ST. LOUIS, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- While the U.S. harvest season
is tracking slightly behind the national historic average, preliminary yield
results reveal that corn seed products offered by Monsanto's DEKALB and
American Seeds Inc. (ASI) brands are delivering opportunities for greater
productivity and profitability to farmers than leading competitive products.
"A farmer's investment in our business demands that we discover and
deliver higher-yielding products, which create a strong economic return to
their farm and their bottom line," said Robert T. Fraley, Ph.D., executive
vice president and chief technology officer at Monsanto. "New data collected
from the 2008 season underscores that our corn seed brands are doing just
that."
Monsanto recently completed a preliminary review of its yield trials
conducted throughout the Corn Belt. This year's data set, which is generated
by third parties as well as the company, highlight that:
-- Farmers planting DEKALB corn seed products realize greater
profitability, productivity per acre: Research generated at more than 12,800
head-to-head comparisons validate that farmers who use DEKALB corn seed and
trait products are seeing higher yields and better harvest moisture. The 2008
data underscores that farmers who use DEKALB corn seed realized $25 to $65 in
additional value per acre when compared with the leading national competitive
seed offerings.
-- DEKALB and ASI corn seed products deliver more yield to the farm:
-- Data collected from more than 12,800 research comparisons
demonstrate that nationally, the five leading DEKALB corn seed products
outyielded national competitive corn seed products by 9.8 bushels per acre.
Monsanto's DEKALB brand also outyielded Pioneer's competitive corn seed
products by 8.8 bushels per acre in data collected from 9,870 head-to-head
comparisons throughout the Corn Belt.
-- Preliminary data collected from 418 locations throughout the Corn
Belt demonstrate that the five leading ASI corn seed products are delivering
more than 7 bushels per acre than leading national competitors. ASI's yield
advantage was most striking in the 110-day and 115-day relative maturity (RM)
zones. The ASI products delivered a yield advantage of more than 11 bushels
per acre in the 110-day RM zone and 10 bushels per acre in the 115-day RM
zone.
Monsanto reports its yield trial data annually so that farmers benefit
from a pre-season guide to the on-farm value proposition of the company's
products. This approach ensures that all seed products are thoroughly tested
and delivering on their potential prior to a farmer ever planting a new hybrid
in the field.
In conjunction with today's announcement, Monsanto posted a related
presentation to the Investor section of its web site at
http://www.monsanto.com/investors.
Growing yield for a growing world
With growing demand for grain globally, enabling farmers to increase their
productivity on each acre of farmland is critical. Yield represents not only
profitability on farm, but is also a means to support our world's growing
food, feed and fuel needs.
Earlier this year, Monsanto announced an ambitious three-point commitment
aimed at producing more on each acre of farmland, conserving more of our
natural resources and improving the lives of the farmers it serves. As part of
this effort, the company announced its intent to double the crop yields of
corn, soybeans and cotton by 2030 compared to a base year of 2000 in countries
where it is able to offer its technology to farmers. The compilation of data
collected from the 2008 season underscores the yield advantage that Monsanto's
products are already providing to U.S. corn and soybean farmers.
Monsanto's investment in breeding and biotechnology are just two ways the
company is actively working to increase productivity on each acre of farmland.
The St. Louis-based company spends more than $2.6 million per day to discover
and deliver better seed products to both large-scale and small-holder farmers
throughout the world.
About Monsanto Company
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based
solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food
quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and
large- scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of
our world's natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about
our business and our commitments, please visit: http://www.monsanto.com. To
learn more about this year's harvest season, please visit Monsanto harvest
videos.
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information:
Certain statements contained in this release are "forward-looking
statements," such as statements concerning the company's anticipated financial
results, current and future product performance, regulatory approvals,
business and financial plans and other non-historical facts. These statements
are based on current expectations and currently available information.
However, since these statements are based on factors that involve risks and
uncertainties, the company's actual performance and results may differ
materially from those described or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, among
others: continued competition in seeds, traits and agricultural chemicals; the
company's exposure to various contingencies, including those related to
intellectual property protection, regulatory compliance and the speed with
which approvals are received, and public acceptance of biotechnology products;
the success of the company's research and development activities; the outcomes
of major lawsuits; developments related to foreign currencies and economies;
successful operation of recent acquisitions; fluctuations in commodity prices;
compliance with regulations affecting our manufacturing; the accuracy of the
company's estimates related to distribution inventory levels; the company's
ability to fund its short-term financing needs and to obtain payment for the
products that it sells; the effect of weather conditions, natural disasters
and accidents on the agriculture business or the company's facilities; and
other risks and factors detailed in the company's most recent periodic report
to the SEC. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking
statements, which are current only as of the date of this release. The company
disclaims any current intention or obligation to update any forward-looking
statements or any of the factors that may affect actual results.
Note to editors: DEKALB is a trademark of Monsanto Company and its wholly
owned subsidiaries. Pioneer is a registered trademark of Pioneer Hi-Bred
International, Inc.
