Deltapine NPE Program Kicks Off Variety Evaluation for the Class of ’26
May 6, 2025 
Eric Best (Photo: Deltapine)
The Deltapine New Product Evaluator (NPE) Program kicks off its 18th season with growers evaluating 13 candidates for the Class of ’26 cotton varieties.
“For 110 years, the Deltapine cotton breeding program has delivered improved genetics and traits that have set the bar high on variety performance throughout the decades,” says Eric Best, Deltapine Cotton Product Manager.
“The Class of ’26 variety candidates represent an intersection of the NPE Program and 110 years of cotton breeding, bringing elite germplasm together with leading trait platforms,” he adds. “This class has the potential to offer step-change performance, and NPE growers will have a chance to prove that on their farms this season.”
NPE growers will plant and evaluate 10 Bollgard 3 ThryvOn cotton with XtendFlex Technology (B3TXF) variety candidates for the Class of ’26. Growers in West Texas markets will also evaluate three variety candidates with XtendFlex Technology.
“If you are growing products like DP 2333 B3XF, DP 2127 B3XF, DP 2038 B3XF or DP 1822 XF, you will want to pay attention to the Class of ’26 cotton variety candidates being evaluated this season in the NPE Program,” says Best.
The Class of ’26 candidates feature a range of maturities with native traits, including some with tolerances to reniform or root-knot nematode.
NPE growers across the Cotton Belt will plant and manage variety candidates in their own growing systems and conditions. Their feedback throughout the season and final yield and quality results help determine which candidates have the proven performance worthy enough for the Deltapine Class of ’26.
The NPE Program began in 2008 as a new way to identify the best genetics for a Deltapine bag. The program is a premier cotton variety commercialization partnership between cotton growers and the Deltapine brand.
The NPE growers’ commitment to evaluating pre-commercial cotton varieties is key to the success of this program, according to Best.
“We are grateful to have such outstanding cotton producers in the NPE Program,” he notes. “Together, we have improved the way varieties are commercialized. We look forward to working with the NPE growers this season to evaluate for the Deltapine Class of ’26 cotton varieties, and we thank them for their cooperation and dedication to this effort.”
For more information about the Deltapine NPE Program, visit Deltapine.com.
Information from Deltapine
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