Deltapine Intends to Raise Yield Potential with the Class of 10
October 20, 2009 Monsanto intends to raise the yield potential with the Deltapine Class of 10 cotton varieties next season.
“Early results with the candidates for the Deltapine Class of 10, which will include genetic advancements and the best traits available in cotton, Genuity Bollgard II with Roundup Ready Flex, are showing outstanding potential for significant yield increases over existing popular commercial cotton lines such as DP 555 BG/RR,” said Dr. Dave Albers, U.S. Cotton Germplasm Manager. “We anticipate significant yield increases with varieties that fit not just the lower southeast and mid-south like DP 555 did, but also the upper reaches of the mid-south and southeast as well as in the southwestern markets. The new Deltapine Class of 10 variety candidates have shown high gin turnout without sacrificing desirable medium-to-large seed size – two characteristics that truly impact the bottom line for farmers.”
Thirteen variety candidates for the Deltapine Class of 10 are being evaluated this season by more than 140 commercial farmers across the Belt participating in the Deltapine New Product Evaluator program. Participating farmers were given elite new varieties to plant for evaluation on their farms, in their growing conditions and yield environments. By allowing the individual farmer to control all crop management aspects of the trial, the progressive producers are helping to identify the top-performing varieties for improved production and profitability in their region.
The commercialized Deltapine Class of 10 cotton varieties will be introduced by name in December 2009. The Class of 10 varieties will be the second lineup from Deltapine since the new variety naming system launched last year with the Class of 09. Seed production was put in place on all 13 candidates this year so limited supplies of planting seed for the Class of 10 varieties will be available in 2010.
“The Class of 09 and Class of 10 are different sets of genetics. The Class of 10 candidates is a new and diverse group of germplasm,” Albers said. “The combining of the large Deltapine germplasm pool and the advanced Genuity™ trait technologies from Monsanto has resulted in our bringing more diverse genetic cotton lines to market much more quickly. Both the Class of 09 and the upcoming Class of 10 cotton varieties are perfect examples of this and both will raise the performance bar in cotton.”
For 2010, Monsanto expects to have good supplies of seed for all five of the Deltapine Class of 09 varieties.
Albers continues, “Many of the farmers who participated in the Class of 09 trials were so impressed with the results, they planted those varieties on their farms this year. We anticipate the same response to the Class of 10 choices. Several Class of 10 candidates showed premium fiber qualities and a range of maturities and plant types in our tests last year. We anticipate promising results in this year’s test plots to show the ability to contribute to on-farm profitability. Understandably, excitement is brewing across the industry for the official launch in December.”
To see how a Deltapine Class of 10 candidate is performing in their area, farmers are encouraged to contact their Monsanto Territory Sales Manager. To learn what other farmers are saying about the new Deltapine cotton varieties, or to find out more about the New Product Evaluator program, go to www.cottoncommunity.com
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