Stoneville Pedigreed Seed Company increased its share of the cottonseed market in the area
from 27.56% in 1997 to a walloping 44.12% according to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. Stoneville now has the largest market share of any cottonseed company in the Mid-South. Stoneville market share by state is as follows:

• Missouri 62.03%
• Tennessee 46.16%
• Arkansas 62.79%
• Mississippi 24.70%
• Louisiana 21.04%

Stoneville also had the top two varieties planted in the Mid-South with BXN 47 at 18.88% and ST 474 at 16.87%.

How does a company increase share in a shrinking market? According to Stoneville president Thomas F. "Bud" Hughes, it's a matter of sticking to basics while leading the charge toward change. "The cottonseed market has always been driven by yield," Hughes explains. "So our breeders concentrate on producing varieties that have the stability to produce top yields under almost any kind of conditions.

"In 1994 we introduced the variety, ST 474, that is now the most popular traditional picker variety in this market. In 1997, we introduced BXN 47 to use the popular BXN® System[TM] and it has now become the most popular transgenic variety in the Mid-South. And our linked gene variety, BG 4740, shows promise of capturing a large share of the acreage in areas where growers need the protection of BXN and Bollgard®.

"We will maintain our focus on traditional seed breeding, and we will vigorously pursue partnerships with suppliers of new technology," Hughes concluded. "Following that strategy we are convinced that whatever happens with the cotton market, the majority of growers who choose to grow cotton will choose Stoneville seed."

Company news release
N2202