Lincoln, Nebraska
August 13, 2003

In its continuing effort to stay on the forefront of new seed technologies, NC+ Hybrids is offering newly approved YieldGard^® Rootworm seed corn and Poncho^® seed-applied insecticide for the 2004 growing season.

“As a large independent seed company we are able to secure partnerships with many of the major players in the seed technology industry,” NC+ President Larry Schuett said.  “This allows us to stay aggressive as a company to offer our customers all the latest technology tools that assist them in producing crops more efficiently and cost effectively.”

Heading the list of new product offerings from NC+ are four new YieldGard Rootworm corn hybrids that carry the Bt gene that resists corn rootworm, one of the most damaging insects to corn in the United States.

“YieldGard Rootworm gives growers a tool that is the most effective rootworm control they have ever had access to,” NC+ Products Manager Doug Gloystein said.  “Research shows that this product is much more effective in controlling rootworm than soil applied insecticides, especially in areas where there are heavy infestations.  Other big factors are the additional safety and convenience this product offers compared to using soil-applied insecticides.”

In addition to new YieldGard corn hybrids, NC+ is also offering the new seed-applied insecticide from Gustafson called Poncho, which will be available in two rates.  “The lower rate, Poncho 250, will protect the corn crop against cutworm, wireworm, seed corn maggots, white grubs, chinch bugs, flea beetles and numerous other pests,” said Gloystein.  “With the higher rate, Poncho 1250, you will get all of these insects, plus you get rootworm control comparable to soil-applied insecticides.  Poncho 1250 will also be an excellent product to use on corn hybrids that will be planted as part of the required 20-percent refuge for YieldGard Rootworm fields.”

Poncho 250 and Poncho 1250 are replacements for Gaucho and Prescribe treatments previously used on corn.  Gaucho will continue to be used as the seed-applied insecticide for grain sorghum.

Also in the NC+ new product lineup for 2004 are six new YieldGard Corn Borer corn hybrids, three new Roundup Ready corn hybrids, a YieldGard Corn Borer with Roundup Ready hybrid, and two conventional corn hybrids.  In addition, NC+ is introducing seven new Roundup Ready soybean varieties and one new grain sorghum hybrid.

Here are brief descriptions of the new product releases from NC+ for the 2004 growing season:

CORN

YieldGard^® Rootworm Corn

·         NC+ 3504D: 106 days, new rootworm resistant hybrid with excellent yield and drydown, blocky uniform ears, well adapted to high plant populations.

·         NC+ 4824D: 112 days, exceptional top end yield potential, tremendous ear flex, target to well drained, high-fertility fields; YGRW version of NC+ 4822.

·         NC+ 4834RD: 112 days, Rootworm and Roundup resistance in the same hybrid, improved gray leaf spot tolerance, top yield potential; YGRW/RR version of NC+ 4822.

·         NC+ 5174D: 113 days, excellent stress tolerance, test weight and grain quality; highly rated for gray leaf spot tolerance, achieves top yields at moderate-to-high plant populations; YGRW version of NC+ 5169.

YieldGard^® Corn Borer Corn

·         NC+ 4413B: 111 days, excellent early growth and seedling vigor, tolerant to high-pH soils, superior root system for exceptional standability.

·         NC+ 4573B: 112 days, use as early to mid-season corn in full season areas, long, flexible ears maximize yield at low-to-moderate populations, works well in high heat environments.

·         NC+ 4783B: 111 days, good emergence and early growth, excellent stay green for easy harvest, good tolerance to gray leaf spot, stable performer over many field conditions.

·         NC+ 4823B: 112 days, breakthrough hybrid with exceptional high end yield, excellent emergence and early growth, tremendous ear flex, requires only moderate plant populations; YGCB version of NC+ 4822.

·         NC+ 5193B: 113 days, works well in stressful environments, requires medium-to-high plant populations for top yields, excellent test weight and grain quality.

·         NC+ 5423B: 114 days, YieldGard Corn Borer version of yield champion NC+ 5411, outstanding heat tolerance, superior starch extractability for wet milling.

YieldGard Corn Borer with Roundup Ready Corn

·         NC+ 5433RB: 114 days, YieldGard Corn Borer and Roundup Ready^® version of NC+ 5411, outstanding heat tolerance, superior starch extractability for wet milling.

Roundup Ready^® Corn

·         NC+ 1593R: 96 days, high-yielding Roundup Ready version of NC+ 1592, features strong roots for good standability, very large uniform ears.

·         NC+ 3903R: 109 days, high-yielding Roundup Ready version of NC+ 3902, excels under high plant populations, the leader for high-pH soils in the Western Corn Belt.

·         NC+ 5413R: 114 days, Roundup Ready version of yield champion NC+ 5411, outstanding heat tolerance, superior starch extractability for wet milling.

Conventional Corn

·         NC+ 3503: 106 days, excellent yield for maturity, good seedling vigor, excellent for no-till and high residue environments.

·         NC+ 6533: 117 days, full-season dual-purpose grain and silage hybrid, good disease tolerance, consistent ear size adapted to high populations.
 

SOYBEANS

Roundup Ready^® Soybeans

·         NC+ 1A73RR: Late Group I, good emergence in no-till situations, consistent stand and yield even under difficult conditions, Rps1k phytophthora root rot resistance.

·         NC+ 2A33RR: Early Group II, excellent emergence and stress tolerance, Rps1k phytophthora root rot resistance, excellent yield record and good score for iron deficiency chlorosis.

·         NC+ 2A44RR: Mid Group II, Rps1k phytophthora root rot resistance for poorly drained soils, above average scores for brown stem rot, tolerance to white mold, SDS, and iron chlorosis.

·         NC+ 2A73RR: Mid Group II, ranked #1 in yield of 50 Mid Group II entries in research trials, Rps1k phytophthora root rot resistance, excellent for all row widths.

·         NC+ 2A93RR: Late Group II, excellent tolerance to high-pH solids, Rps1k phytophthora root rot resistance, superior emergence in no-till environments, good standability.

·         NC+ 3A53RR: Mid Group III, R3, MR14 SCN resistance, Rps1k phytophthora root rot resistance, good stress tolerance in poor soils, great emergence and uniform plant type.

·         NC+ 3A84RR: Late Group III, excellent emergence and standability, good stress tolerance in poor soils, Rps1k phytophthora root rot resistance, very good SDS tolerance.

GRAIN SORGHUM

·         NC+ 6B73: Bronze, 65 days to mid-bloom, consistent performance in all environments, semi-sparse leafy canopy, tolerates cool temperatures (excellent for higher elevations), finishes fast when planted late (excellent for double cropping).

NC+ Hybrids, based in Lincoln, Neb., is one of the largest independent seed companies in the United States.  Farmer owned for 45 years, NC+ nationally markets corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, forage sorghum, sudangrass, alfalfa and sunflowers.