Slater, Iowa
August 14, 2002

Garst Seed Company announces three new alfalfa products for the 2003 crop year. As with the rest of the Garst alfalfa lineup, this year¹s new products boast high yields and persistence with added bonuses.

"We¹re prepared to bring on three new products for 2003. The three demonstrate our broad range of products to fit the alfalfa markets," says Phil Kunz, Garst alfalfa product manager.

First, a new fifth-generation PLH variety, Garst 6325, has the highest potato leafhopper resistance level in the industry. Its excellent winter survival and forage quality mixed with its ability to withstand most diseases make it an outstanding variety for customers looking for high performance.

The ability to withstand the high amount of traffic that many fields face is the newest quality built into Garst 6400HT alfalfa. The new variety has a high tolerance to wheel traffic. Kunz notes the growing interest in the area of alfalfa varieties with higher levels of tolerance to wheel traffic.

"Universities have begun picking this up in their trials, which signifies the reality that there isn¹t a field out there without traffic on it. Garst 6400HT is designed to withstand traffic, making it a good choice for growers with wheel traffic concerns," Kunz notes.

Garst 6530-variety alfalfa is a new semi dormant variety that produces high yields for Western and Southern markets. When compared to other semi dormant alfalfas, it is unequaled in winter survival and persistence. It guarantees higher yields with less risk due to its resistance to seedling diseases,
lesions, pea aphids and stem nematode along with its fast recovery time.

"We are very excited about the current alfalfa product interest. Grower demand this past year has been very good, and with hay prices hanging in there, we hope demand hangs in there too," comments Kunz. "I¹m also excited about the release of these three new Garst alfalfa varieties. The release of the new products reaffirms our position and the strength of our lineup that we offer our customers. They also illustrate that we are committed to bringing out Œleading edge¹ products that our customers demand."

Following is the complete list of new alfalfa varieties from Garst for the 2003 crop year. Contact your local Garst ProSeller for more information, or visit the Web site at www.garstseed.com for more information about each new variety.

New Garst Alfalfa Varieties for 2003

Garst 6325
New Fifth Generation PLH Variety
FD: 3 DRI: 30/30
- Excellent disease package, including resistance (R) to Aphanomyces Race 2
- No spraying for leafhoppers needed after first cutting in spring seedings
- Highest level of leafhopper resistance available in the industry
- Excellent winter survival and forage quality

Garst 6400HT
High Tolerance to Wheel Traffic
FD: 4 DRI: 30/30
- High resistance to seven diseases, including Phoma Crown Rot
- Larger, deeper set crowns that maintain higher reserve energy levels
- More stems and leaves per crown
- Excellent persistence; maintains high yields and high quality longer into its stand life

Garst 6530
Higher Yields with Less Risk
FD: 5 DRI: 30/30
- Enhanced resistance to seedling diseases Phytophthora and Aphanomyces Root Rots, including Race 2 Aphanomyces
- Resistance to lesion and stem nematode and high resistance to pea aphids
- Unequaled winter survival and persistence compared to all other semi dormant alfalfas
- High yield and fast recover designed for professional hay growers