Garst Seed Company is introducing 25 new soybean varieties with high yield potential and key defensive traits for the 2007 planting season. Leading the way are varieties with resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and Phytophthora root rot and tolerance to sudden death syndrome (SDS), iron chlorosis and brown stem rot (BSR).

Garst will offer growers both Garst® brand soybeans and NK® brand soybeans from its parent company Syngenta.

“Backed by the resources and research of Syngenta, our soybean research program has 800,000 yield plots across the United States so growers can be assured our soybean lineup has been field tested for nearly every farming condition,” says Mike Schaefer, soybean product manager for Garst. “Our 2007 offerings fill the need for exceptional yields plus the need to manage today’s insect and disease challenges.”

Growers will have the choice of selecting seven new Garst varieties and 18 new NK brand varieties. The Garst brand lineup includes five new varieties with the Roundup Ready1 trait. Of these five, three varieties have resistance to SCN, one has the CystX2 technology and one is a triple stack with the Roundup Ready trait, STS3 trait for resistance to sulfonylurea herbicides and a gene for SCN resistance. There are also two conventional varieties with one offering resistance to SCN.

The entire NK brand lineup offered by Garst has the Roundup Ready trait. Ten of the varieties also offer resistance to SCN and another one contains the STS trait.

One of the top-performing soybeans being offered by Garst is S12-P4, an early Group I variety with stable high-end yields across many environments. This NK brand variety is a medium-high plant with excellent standability, making it a good choice for narrow rows. It also has good Phytophthora root rot protection with the Rps1c gene.

Another top choice is S19-L7, a late Group I variety that delivers outstanding yield and protection from SCN. While it offers unsurpassed protection from SCN, it yields well even in fields where SCN is not present. This NK brand soybean has good iron deficiency chlorosis tolerance and excellent standability.

S21-N6 is a high yielder with consistent performance across a wide geography. This early Group II NK brand soybean has excellent protection against Phytophthora root rot with the Rps1k gene and is a strong fit for poorly drained soils. It also delivers excellent standability throughout the growing season.

For protection against SDS and BSR, growers should choose S27-L4. This late Group II NK brand variety offers top-end yields and excellent stress tolerance. This variety is broadly adapted from Nebraska to eastern Ohio.

S32-E2 is a high-performing early Group III variety that is a proven performer on all soil types. This NK brand variety has excellent emergence and good iron deficiency chlorosis tolerance. It also has excellent defensive traits with solid protection from Phytophthora root rot and SCN and good SDS tolerance.

A mid-Group III variety, NK brand S36-C7 delivers superior disease protection from Phytophthora root rot, SDS and Sclerotinia white mold. In addition to high yields, it has excellent emergence for early planting and is widely adapted and especially suited for acres where medium-short varieties are planted.

Garst Seed Company, with headquarters in Slater, Iowa, provides innovative seed solutions for growers across North America with high yielding corn, soybean, sorghum, alfalfa and sunflower products.   

Garst Seed Company is affiliated with Syngenta, a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. The company is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2005 were approximately $8.1 billion. Syngenta employs more than 19,000 people in over 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT). Further information is available at www.syngenta.com.

® Garst brand is a registered trademark of Garst Seed Company.
® NK brand is a registered trademark of a Syngenta Group Company.
1 Roundup Ready is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology, LLC.
2 CystX is a registered trademark of ACCESS Plant Technology, LLC.
3 STS is a registered trademark of DuPont.