Ovid, Michigan
July 28, 2003

Germplasm variability leads to better hybrid performance

Production of corn and soybean products starts with research. With the industry’s third-largest research program and one of the widest bases of proprietary germplasm in the world, Great Lakes Hybrids and their patent company AgReliant Genetics LLC, can create unique hybrids to fit individual needs.

When AgReliant Genetics was formed in 2000, the world’s two largest farmer-owned corn breeding companies (KWS AG and Limagrain) combined their very different proprietary germplasm bases. This wide range of genetics has a high degree of variability due to the different breeding philosophies of the two sources. Great Lakes Hybrids and all the AgReliant brands will benefit in the future from a much deeper pool of resources to test for new hybrid combinations. For example, this year in the U.S., their research breeders will plant more than 330,000 plots and test more than 40,000 different hybrid combinations.

One key to producing better hybrids, now and in the future, is the genetic variability of the germplasm base. Many of the larger companies have a wide amount of proprietary germplasm, but it is very narrow in scope. As the corn market progresses and patents limit company’s ability to cross lines with other industry germplasm, the performance of its hybrids could be sacrificed.

These new top performing inbred lines are also being combined with the latest value-added technologies, including YieldGard® Rootworm, Roundup Ready®, YieldGard® corn borer, Clearfield* and stacked versions of these traits.

Moving the research to the field

With 26 breeding projects in Corn Belt maturities and a germplasm base as big as, and with more genetic variability than, any competitor, Midwestern farmers can expect superior hybrids from Great Lakes Hybrids and AgReliant Research.

Their research program has proven itself year in and year out in the elite National Corn Yield Contest, where farmers using Great Lakes products have won more often than any other seed company in the Midwest. Since 1985, nearly one out of every five farmers harvesting a Great Lakes entry has won a national or state award.

For the upcoming planting season, Great Lakes Hybrids is pleased to announce the introduction of 25 new corn hybrids and seven new soybean lines.

New Corn Hybrids for 2003-04

3551 – New 85-day release that has very good yield for its early maturity. Super late season plant intactness and very good drydown highlight 3551. This hybrid also is great in no-till and corn-on-corn situations. Very good natural tolerance to corn borer.

4256Bt – Super yielding early hybrid with YieldGard® corn borer.Girthy ear with 18 rows of high test weight grain. Great at high populations and in high-yield situations. Good staygreen and disease tolerances. Was XP22156Bt in last year’s testing.

4262RR – 92-day Roundup Ready® hybrid that sets up fast for good northern mobility. Consistent performing medium-tall plants that have a uniform ear size. Very good yield potential in continuous corn and no-till situations.

4297BtRR – New 92-day YieldGard® corn borer plus Roundup Ready® stacked hybrid with excellent yield performance. Tall plant with good standability and test weight. Was XP22297BtRR last year.

4297RWRR – New 92-day YieldGard® Rootworm plus Roundup Ready® stacked hybrid with excellent yield performance. Tall plant with good standability and test weight.

4521RR – High-powered 95-day Roundup Ready® hybrid. Super yield and high test weight plus great standability and fast drydown. Very good tolerance to heat and drought stress. Was XP22221RR last year.

4888RR – Roundup Ready® version of 4788 with super yield punch and excellent stress tolerance. This 98-day hybrid does well in any environment. Excellent stalk and root strength. Very good grain quality and test weight.

4979RWRR - YieldGard® Rootworm with Roundup Ready® corn stacked hybrid version of our popular 4979. Consistent yield and standability performance at 99-days. Great for continuous corn and stressful conditions. Very good natural tolerance to corn borer.

5088Bt – YieldGard® corn borer version of 4788 with super yield punch and excellent stress tolerance. This 100-day hybrid does well in any environment. Excellent stalk and root strength. Very good grain quality and test weight.

5377RW – Excellent overall performance in this YieldGard® Rootworm hybrid based on our popular 5377. Superior stress tolerance, great stalks and roots and it moves South well for its maturity. Very good natural tolerance to corn borer. A super choice at 103 days.

5377RWRR – YieldGard® Rootworm with Roundup Ready® corn stacked hybrid version of our popular 5377. Superior stress tolerance, great stalks and roots and it moves South well for its maturity. Very good natural tolerance to corn borer. A super choice at 103 days.

5668RW –The YieldGard® Rootworm version of our very successful NCGA yield champion 5668. 106 days.

5722 – Super performing 107-day hybrid for medium and lighter soils. Moderate ear flex and fast drydown add to the features of 5722. Super standability and stress tolerance round out the package. Was XP22422 last year.

Quad-5BtRR – The name says it all. The super performance and characteristics of Quad-5 with the added protection of YieldGard® corn borer resistance and the Roundup Ready® corn technology. Quite simply, it’s the best 108-day stacked hybrid you can buy today.

5873 – A unique, medium-short but high yielding hybrid with excellent stalks and roots. Great plant health and harvest intactness along with a semi-flex ear with 14-16 rows of deep kernels. Use for no-till or continuous corn on any soil type.

5961BtRR –5961 dominated the corn belt in the 109-day maturity with super top-end yield. Adapts well to all soil types and responds best to moderate to high populations and late nitrogen applications. This stacked YieldGard® corn borer and Roundup Ready® version is sure to do the same.

5961RW – This is the YieldGard® Rootworm version of “The Dominator” 5961.

6192RW – One of our top sellers last year was 6192. This is the YieldGard® Rootworm version of that top performing 111-day product. Excellent yield with standability and drydown.

6192RWRR – We’ve also added Roundup Ready® to the YieldGard® Rootworm version of 6192. Same excellent yield with standability and drydown, with added herbicide tolerance.

6192BtCL – Here’s the YieldGard® corn borer version of 6192 with the added herbicide flexibility of the Clearfield* production system.

6234 – Super new 112-day yielder that tops P67 and is nearly 2% drier at harvest. Wide range of adaptation. Solid stalks and roots. Great yield with high test weight from 20 rows of kernels. Very good natural tolerance to corn borer and leaf diseases.

6259BtCL – Here’s the YieldGard® corn borer version of the super stress tolerant 6259 with the added herbicide flexibility of the Clearfield* production system. Super test weight and grain quality to boot.

6279Bt – A top performing YieldGard® corn borer hybrid for Iowa and West. Tall plant with excellent tonnage for silage. Flexible ears of deep kernels. Keep at moderate populations for best results.

6405 – New 114-day performer with excellent test weight and grain quality. Strong yield potential at higher populations. Improved standability and test weight over 6344. Stands great with good natural tolerance to corn borer and gray leaf spot.

6631CL – The 116-day Clearfield* version of the two-time National Corn Yield Contest winner, 6631.

New Soybeans for 2003-04

GL2009RR – Fulfills the northern farmer’s needs with cyst protection, good tolerance to iron chlorosis, the Rps1K gene for phytophthora and good white mold protection. “Just buy it” is our best recommendation. 2.0 maturity.

GL2201RR – Features a very good iron chlorosis score along with strong white mold tolerance. There are clusters of pods at every node, which translate to outstanding yield potential. 2.2 maturity.

GL2525RR – GL2525RR will be known as the “Secretariat of soybeans”. This racehorse bean will return the most yield available when put on your best ground. 2.5 maturity.

GL2819RR – This new 2.8 maturity bean will replace our popular GL2919RR’s. East to west movement will help this soybean perform like a champion.

GL3009 – New conventional soybean line in the 3.0 maturity that features awesome yield along with protection from cyst nematodes.

GL 3701RR – Showed impressive yield as XP2536RR last year. This bean has very good tolerance to cyst nematodes and will yield with or without cyst pressure.

GL4009RR – Combines outstanding yield with a very good defensive package – including cyst protection, good tolerance to SDS and frogeye leaf spot. GL4009RR will hold its height and yield under stressful conditions. Use this bean in those marginal fields and maximize your yields.

Great Lakes Hybrids is the largest Michigan-based seed corn supplier and a brand of AgReliant Genetics, LLC. With the industry’s third largest research program, Great Lakes Hybrids and AgReliant Genetics have been able to produce top-performing conventional genetics for incorporation of new transgenic traits. Great Lakes Hybrids has also produced more winners per entry of any other Midwestern seed company in the National Corn Grower’s annual Corn Yield Contest. For the latest information or to find your local dealer, visit www.greatlakeshybrids.com or call 1-800-257-SEED (7333).