"As an independent company, we have the ability to select the very best genetics from both the public sector and our own in-house breeding program. We combine those with the best technologies being offered in the marketplace," NC+ President Larry Schuett said. "For example, we have three new Roundup ReadyÒ /YieldGardÒ Corn Borer stacked-gene corn hybrids for 2003. Those are the kinds of choices we offer that not every company is able to. Ultimately it gives our customers more options when making cropping decisions."

In addition, NC+ has five new YieldGard Corn Borer, four new Roundup Ready, one new CLEARFIELDÒ , and one new Liberty LinkÒ corn hybrid for 2003.

"While the technology products are a very important part of the new corn lineup, we also understand how important it is to continue to offer improved genetics in our conventional hybrids." Schuett said. "Through our extensive corn breeding and testing program, we have been able to improve such genetic traits as yield potential, drouth tolerance and gray leaf spot resistance."

NC+ has seven new conventional hybrids for 2003. They include maturities of 98, 100, 103, 106, 107, 109 and 112 days. There is one new white corn hybrid available as well.

"We have a long-standing reputation for being one of very best grain sorghum and forage sorghum seed companies in the United States," Schuett said. "Our sorghum breeders have lived up to that reputation again this year by developing five new hybrids that offer genetic packages that will greatly benefit our customers."

NC+ also has six new Roundup Ready and two new conventional soybean varieties for 2003. Maturities include Early Group II, Mid Group II, Late Group II and Late Group III. The new varieties offer everything from improved yield potential, to increased SCN resistance to improved standability.

Here are brief descriptions of the new product releases from NC+ for the 2003 growing season:

Conventional

• NC+ 1592: 98 days, conventional yield leader for the 95 to 100 day maturity zone, tassels early for its maturity.
• NC+ 2162: 100 days, unique genetics provide outstanding yields and quick drydown, may be an option in "early corn planted early" areas.
• NC+ 2882: 103 days, improved genetics result in a six percent yield improvement over NC+ 2395, good southern adaptation.
• NC+ 3542: 106 days, new western conventional related to the top-yielding NC+ 5411, outyields NC+ 2919 by seven percent in NC+ research trials.
• NC+ 3672: 107 days, new genetic combination offers the option of a slightly later companion to NC+ 3448 for eastern corn growers.
• NC+ 3902: 109 days, high-pH breakthrough for western corn growers, tassels earlier than NC+ 2919 and delivers an eight percent yield gain over NC+ 3869.
• NC+ 4822: 112 days, breakthrough conventional hybrid with outstanding yield potential, improved gray leaf spot tolerance, stay-green, and fall health versus NC+ 4880.

YieldGard^® Corn Borer Corn

• NC+ 1912B: 99 days, unique genetic background from other one-series NC+ Bt hybrids, impressive gains in both yield and drydown.
• NC+ 2572B: 102 days, Bt replacement for NC+ 2399B, better ear girth and tip fill, five percent better yields than NC+ 2399B.
• NC+ 5172B: 113 days, corn borer resistant version of NC+ 5169, top yields and outstanding gray leaf spot tolerance, proven to work well in many stressful situations.
• NC+ 5202B: 113 days, new Bt hybrid that will compare to NC+ 5411 for top end yield, draws upon the genetic backgrounds of NC+ 5411 and NC+ 4990B.
• NC+ 6362B: 117 days, corn borer resistant version of NC+ 6359 with higher yield potential, compact plant style with a top rating for tolerance to drouth stress.

Roundup Ready^® Corn

• NC+ 1502R: 98 days, improved version of NC+ 1490R with six percent higher yields, improved ear type exhibits more girth and better tip fill.
• NC+ 2922R: 104 days, high-yielding Roundup Ready version of western favorite NC+ 2919, high test weight grain on a small red cob.
• NC+ 4882R: 112 days, Roundup Ready version of proven performer and customer favorite NC+ 4880, works well in 108 to 110 day areas.
• NC+ 6962R: 118 days, improved version of NC+ 6960R with higher yield potential, outstanding heat/drouth tolerance for the southern Corn Belt.

Roundup ReadyÒ /YieldGardÒ Corn Borer Stacked-Gene Corn

• NC+ 1492RB: 97 days, new Bt version of NC+ 1490R, excellent drouth tolerance, high quality grain.
• NC+ 3722RB: 107 days, stacked-trait version of NC+ 3709, NC+ 3701R and

• NC+ 4992RB: 112 days, stacked-trait version of NC+ 4880, NC+ 4990B and NC+ 4882R, works well in 108 to 110 day areas.

CLEARFIELD^® Corn

• NC+ 2562C: 102 days, better ear girth and tip fill help produce five percent better yields than NC+ 2398M.

Liberty LinkÒ Corn

• NC+ 4192L: 109 days, unique genetic companion to NC+ 4891L, solid agronomics including above-average tolerance to gray leaf spot.

White Corn

• NC+ 5642W: 114 days, new high yielder with desirable food grade characteristics, improved stalk strength and standability over NC+ 5633W.

Roundup Ready^® Soybeans

• NC+ 2A11RR: Early Group II, outstanding three-year yield record, stress tolerant.
• NC+ 2A22RR: Early Group II, R3 and R14 SCN resistance, excellent emergence for no-till.
• NC+ 2A53RR: Mid Group II, excellent stress tolerance, excellent emergence scores.
• NC+ 2A92RR: Late Group II, R3 and MR4(14) SCN resistance, excellent standability.
• NC+ 2A98RR: Late Group II, higher yielding version of NC+ 2A97RR.
• NC+ 3A92RR: Late Group III, R3 and MR14 SCN resistance, great standability.

Conventional

• NC+ 2A41: Mid Group II, improved yield performance over NC+ 2A43.
• NC+ 2A86: Late Group II, improved yield performance over NC+ 2A99.

Sorghum Hybrids

• NC+ 6R32: Red, 63 days, an upgrade to NC+ 6R30 with improved test weight, smut resistance and yield; strong stalks hold together under extreme post-flowering stress.
• NC+ 7Y32-K: Yellow, 68 days, only tan plant hybrid with genetic resistance to all known greenbug biotypes; grain is well adapted to all sorghum-use applications.
• NC+ 7C22: Cream, 69 days, new generation of sorghum genetics with outstanding pre-flowering stress tolerance; strong adaptation to western dryland environments.
• NC+ 7W92: White, 75 days, the first true white/tan food grade hybrid from NC+, outstanding yields, grain is NGSPA food grade certified; well-adapted to all sorghum-use applications.

Forage Sorghum

• NC+ NUTRI-TONÔ II: Fertile forage hybrid, 80-90 days to bloom, 110-120 days to harvest, improved version of original NUTRI-TONÔ ; consistently high yields of grain-rich ensilage, moderately tall (eight foot to 12 foot) with high leaf-to-stalk ratio.