Bayer’s Seed Brands Consistent, But Not Complacent

From Cotton Grower Magazine – November 2016

With two traditional, popular cotton seed brands under their corporate umbrella, Bayer continues to bring value to growers across the Cotton Belt. Based on the 2016 Varieties Planted report issued by USDA, the FiberMax and Stoneville brands combined for 25% of the cotton acres in the U.S. this year.

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Some seed companies may consider that a successful season. But with a portfolio of high performing varieties, proprietary trait technologies and strong geographic loyalties, Bayer isn’t sitting still.

The company has just completed a new state-of-the-art cotton research station on the east side of Lubbock for breeding and trait development. This West Texas station will house Bayer’s largest breeding program worldwide. And, coupled with the company’s expansive greenhouse in Memphis for trait integression, Bayer is well positioned to keep new, potential cotton varieties in the pipeline for testing and, ultimately, commercialization.

Yet, it’s the regional strengths of the Bayer brands that drive the company’s success.

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Filling Niches

In the Southeast, Bayer has continued to see performance from the Stoneville short season and full season varieties.

“We continue to see more acceptance for ST 4946GLB2 on acres with deeper sand where root knot nematodes are a problem,” says Josh Mayfield, Bayer regional agronomist in the Southeast. “ST 4747GLB2 has also been a strong early season performer. It doesn’t require extensive PGR management and can push three bale potential where it’s fertilized and watered well.

“We also had a lot of movement this year with ST 6182GLT, our first full season variety with the TwinLink technology.”

Looking ahead, the increase in bacterial blight across Georgia over the past two years may become a significant driver in variety selection.

“Some consultants and growers have said they are going to shift varieties next year according to susceptibility or resistance to bacterial blight,” states Mayfield. “Both ST 6448GLB2 and ST 5115GLT have shown resistance to the disease in University of Georgia trials. They have looked strong in the fields this year, just as they have for the past two seasons and would be our varieties of choice for those bacterial blight acres.”

Building on Strong Foundations

In the Mid-South, ST 4946GLB2 continues to be a top performer, garnering 9.5% of the region’s acres in 2016.

“It has found a place in this area and has become a foundation variety for many growers,” explains Steve Lee, Bayer regional agronomist for the North Delta. “It works well across soil types and fits across a lot of geographies. And, in this area, the nematode tolerance is a big advantage.”

Lee also notes that ST 4747GLB2 has found a home on cotton acres north of I-40.

“It looks like that’s going to be the best adapted area for this variety,” adds Lee. “It has some Verticillium wilt tolerance and can make a real difference in areas with the disease.”

Two newer varieties – ST 4848GLT and ST 4949GLT – have both proven to be pleasant surprises for growers this year. Both provide earlier maturity, which growers in the North Delta need. Both also have a more erect growth type without a thick canopy, which could be an advantage when it comes to insect and irrigation management. ST 4949GLT also provides tolerance to Verticillium wilt.

“There will be some similarities between these two varieties,” says Lee. “They won’t look a lot different in the field. But when you pull them back and look at the boll numbers, you’ll get really excited.”

High Yield, High Quality

Bayer’s FiberMax brands were planted on 26% of cotton acres in the Southwest. That’s no surprise, considering the brand’s history and fit across the region.

“FM 1830GLT is probably the widest adapted FiberMax variety across Texas,” says Kenny Melton, Bayer Western Region agronomic manager. “It has really premium fiber quality – some of the best fiber on the market today. It’s tolerant to bacterial blight and Verticillium wilt. Under irrigation, yield has been really good with the variety, but fiber quality is its real hallmark.”

Melton notes that FM 2334GLT is out of the same cross as FM 1830GLT, but is a later selection with a better fit in the southern Rolling Plains. It performs on both irrigated and dryland acres and delivers the same outstanding fiber quality.

For the High Plains, FM 2322GL provides growers an option for irrigated and dryland production, good fiber quality and excellent tolerance to Verticillium wilt. “Yield potential is really wonderful,” points out Melton. “It actually has a little Acala in its background, which makes it a great fit here in the west.”

In dryland and limited irrigation conditions, FM 2007GLT fits well in south Texas, the Rolling Plains and southern High Plains. And a new addition to the portfolio for 2016 – FM 1911GLT – is generating excitement among growers in the High Plains area, even under a limited launch.

“It’s out of the FM 2011GT background,” says Melton. “Growers have been asking for that background with Liberty tolerance and TwinLink. We also have great tolerance to bacterial blight, Verticillium wilt and root knot nematodes. It’s not too often you get all three of those in one variety.”

Melton also points out that ST 4946GLB2 has a fit in Texas, especially in areas with root knot nematode problems. It’s a traditionally strong yielder on irrigated and dryland acres, with good storm tolerance and solid fiber quality. ST 4848GLT has also shown good potential in south Texas.

Good supplies of all of these Stoneville and FiberMax varieties are expected to be available in 2017. Evaluations continue on potential new variety offerings, with decisions coming in early January.

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