Use Data to Make ’09 Purchasing Decisions
April 14, 2009 Cotton growers want varieties that are proven performers, and university Official Variety Trials (OVTs) provide reliable third-party data to help them select top-performing cottonseed in their area. The 2008 OVT data shows several Stoneville cotton varieties yielding at or near the top of the trials across all major production regions.
“We were extremely pleased with how well Stoneville varieties performed in both the external OVTs and internal Bayer Cotton Agronomic Performance (CAP) trials,” said Steve Nichols, U.S. agronomic manager, Bayer CropScience. “Several varieties demonstrated the ability to deliver 3-bale cotton and even 4-bale cotton in some instances.”
The mid-maturity variety ST 5458B2RF was arguably one of the strongest individual performers in the 2008 trials. It delivered exceptionally high lint yields in three states ― Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri ― and ranked high throughout the rest of the Cotton Belt.
“We are pleased, but not surprised, by the ST 5458B2RF OVT results,” Nichols said. “Our CAP trials also concluded favorably for this variety. It had the No. 1 yield average across 46 Mid-South CAP trials and the No. 2 yield average across 15 Southeast CAP trials.”
Nichols said that two new Stoneville varieties, ST 4288B2F and ST 5288B2F, also fared well in multiple trials. For instance, ST 5288B2F yielded an average of 1,787 pounds per acres across four Georgia later-maturity irrigated OVT trials ― second only to DP 555 BG/RR by 26 pounds per acre.
“With the transition to Bollgard II varieties beginning in earnest this year, growers should take a closer look at top-performing Bayer CropScience Bollgard II/Roundup Ready Flex and LibertyLink/Bollgard II varieties,” Nichols said.
For more information on the full lineup of Stoneville cotton varieties, talk with your local Bayer CropScience field representative, or see: www.Stoneville.com.
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