In a 2002 University of Georgia trial conducted across 14 locations, stacked-gene cottons demonstrated the ability to return to the grower more total crop value than non-Bt varieties in high-yield environments.

"My data shows that, in a lower-yielding environment when you have to spend any money at all on worm control, stacked varieties offer the better value," Jost says. "And most of the times in Georgia, cotton farmers have to spend money to control the budworm/bollworm complex."

The Results from the Georgia tests are similar to findings in an annual Delta and Pine Land Company (D&PL) Technical Services trial comparing Bollgard/Roundup Ready varieties to Roundup Ready varieties.

"For the third year in a row, over all regions and maturity classifications we tested in 2002, Bollgard/Roundup Ready cotton varieties out yielded Roundup Ready varieties," says Dr. Ken Lege, technical services director for D&PL’s eastern region. "And regardless of worm pressure in the various regions we tested, stacked-gene cottons still returned on average more dollars per acre than Roundup Ready varieties."

An average of 43 locations across Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia shows a $53 net-return advantage for stacked-gene varieties. The net returns were calculated using a 52-cents-per-pound USDA loan price, plus or minus discounts or premiums received. The seed, technology and insecticide application costs were figured in the net return as well.

In the Lower Southeast test region, which consists of Georgia, Florida and South Alabama, Bollgard/Roundup Ready stacked-gene varieties tested out yielded Roundup Ready varieties by an average of 98 pounds per acre and held a net-return advantage of $43.75 per acre. In Mississippi, stacked-gene varieties yielded an average of 92.4 pounds per acre more, and held an average net-return advantage of $74.05 per acre.

D&PL is the leader in stacked-gene cotton varieties today with nine BG/RR picker varieties and three stacked stripper cottons to choose from. The company offers stacked-gene cotton varieties to fit many growing environments. DP 555 BG/RR is one of a new family of cotton genetics to rise from the D&PL breeding stock that combines the potential for both good yield and fiber quality with the leading stacked-gene technology.

"This variety showed extremely good yield potential in University OVTs and D&PL tests during the 2002 season," says Lege.

PM 1218 BG/RR has become a standard early-season variety for many farmers in the Midsouth. It has excellent seedling vigor and has consistently demonstrated the ability to perform well in a variety of growing systems.

SG 215 BG/RR is an early-maturing stacked-gene variety that has demonstrated good yield potential and storm resistance. This variety proved in parts of the Mississippi Delta in 2002 that it could hold up against heavy rains during harvest time and still produce a good yield.

Delta and Pine Land Company is a commercial breeder, producer and marketer of cotton planting seed, as well as soybean seed in the Cotton Belt. For almost 90 years, the company has used its extensive plant breeding programs, drawing from a diverse germplasm base, to develop improved cotton varieties. Delta and Pine Land Company (NYSE: DLP), headquartered in Scott, Mississippi, has offices in eight states and facilities in several foreign countries.