Growers now have four seed-applied insecticide choices from Garst for early-season control of corn pests

Growers can get their corn crop off to a fast, vigorous start by protecting their seed from insects and diseases with Cruiser ExtremeTM Pak or Cruiser ExtremeTM Pak CRW, both available on select hybrids from Garst Seed Company for the 2005 growing season.

Cruiser Extreme Pak is a seed-applied combination of Cruiser® seed treatment insecticide and three proven fungicides -- Maxim® XL, Apron XL® and new DynastyTM. The fungicides provide protection against all four major fungal groups.

³Earlier planting dates and increases in no-till and minimum-till practices put seed at greater risk for insect and seedling diseases,² says Jeff Sernett, corn product manager for Garst. ³Cruiser Extreme Pak will help protect against both of these factors that can reduce emergence, stand, vigor, and ultimately, yield.²

Garst also continues to offer Poncho® 250 and Poncho® 1250 insecticide seed treatments on select Garst hybrids. ³The effectiveness and convenience of seed-applied insecticides (SAIs) compared to traditional insecticides make SAIs extremely popular with growers,² adds Sernett. ³Garst is dedicated to offering products growers need to maximize their production and protect their investment in Garst seed. Research shows that both Cruiser and Poncho add value and protect crops during the critical early stages of growth.²

Early-Season Insect Protection

Cruiser Extreme Pak provides contact and systemic protection of early-season pests, including wireworm, seed corn maggot, white grub, grape colaspis, flea beetle, southern corn leaf beetle, chinch bug and black cutworm. Cruiser Extreme Pak CRW has a higher insecticide rate, which adds control of billbug and corn rootworm.

Cruiser Extreme Pak will be available on 35 Garst brand hybrids with general relative maturities (GRM) ranging between 90 and 118. Cruiser Extreme Pak CRW will be available on 17 Garst hybrids that have a 95 to 118 GRM. Poncho 250 will be available on 49 Garst hybrids with GRMs ranging between 84 and 120. Poncho 1250 will be available on 25 Garst hybrids with GRMs ranging between 87 and 120.

Growers in all regions except the deep South have until Jan. 15, 2005, to place their order for select hybrids treated with Cruiser Extreme Pak CRW or Poncho 1250.

Cruiser Extreme Pak and Poncho 250 can be ordered until Dec. 15, 2004, by growers in the deep South. Growers in all other regions have until Feb. 1, 2005, to place their order for these SAIs.

Growers should check with their local Garst sales representative or area agronomist for more information about seed-applied insecticide options from Garst.

Cruiser Extreme Pak Cutworm Assurance Program

Syngenta, the manufacturer of Cruiser, is offering an assurance program to growers who plant seed treated with Cruiser Extreme Pak or Cruiser Extreme Pak CRW that they will have support for rescue treatments of cutworms (black, dingy, pale western, sandhills, glassy, dark-sided, spotted and army only). Under the program, if cutworms exceed local economic thresholds for the first 28 days after planting or up to three-leaf corn, whichever comes first, Syngenta will reimburse the grower for a Warrior® with Zeon TechnologyTM foliar treatment up to $4 per acre (product only/application not included).

³With this program, growers who plant Garst hybrids treated with Cruiser Extreme Pak can be assured of support against cutworms as local pest thresholds warrant,² says Sernett. ³The assurance program support and increased fungicide protection spectrum are key reasons why Garst added Cruiser Extreme Pak to our SAI lineup.²

Garst Seed Company, with brand headquarters in Slater, Iowa, provides seed solutions for growers across North America with high yielding corn, soybean, sorghum, alfalfa and sunflower products. For more information about Garst brand products, contact your local Garst ProSeller or visit Garst's Web site at www.garstseed.com.

Garst Seed Company is a business division of Syngenta, a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. Syngenta is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2003 were approximately $6.6 billion. Syngenta employs some 19,000 people in over 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT).

Cruiser®, Cruiser ExtremeTM, Maxim® XL, Apron XL®, DynastyTM, Warrior®, Zeon TechnologyTM are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.
Poncho® is a registered trademark of Bayer.