West Bend, Wisconsin
March 18, 2003

The world's first hybrid alfalfa now has a companion. Dairyland Seed has announced the release of HybriForce™-420/Wet, a hybrid alfalfa that carries the unique branched-rooted trait.

HybriForce-420/Wet has the same branched-root trait of Dairyland Seed's popular Magnum V-Wet alfalfa, with the additional hybrid benefit of increased vigor and more resilient plants. HybriForce-420/Wet is designed for poorly drained soils or fields subject to heaving. The secret behind HybriForce-420/Wet is the plant's ability to adjust to moisture stresses. Plant roots branch out, staying above the water level, and make HybriForce-420/Wet an excellent choice for producers with low-lying or poorly drained soils.

"Further advances with our patented msSUNSTRA hybrid alfalfa technology have helped our researchers develop this next new hybrid alfalfa product," says Tom Strachota, chief executive officer of Dairyland Seed. "This new technology will continue to bring hybrid alfalfa products with specific traits and growing characteristics."

Dairyland Seed researchers have taken the key characteristics of Magnum V-Wet alfalfa and incorporated those branched-root traits into HybriForce-420/Wet. "Hybrid alfalfa technology along with a prolific branched-root system will allow HybriForce-420/Wet to persist and be productive in both wet and well-drained soils," says Mike Velde, alfalfa plant breeder at Dairyland Seed.

The root system of HybriForce-420/Wet hybrid alfalfa has been designed with a greater degree of the branched-root trait, which helps keep more of the root system above the water level and better anchors the plant in the ground when freezing and thawing occurs.

Strengths of HybriForce-420/Wet include its aggressive forage yield capabilities, high forage quality, distinctive rapid regrowth after harvest, solid persistence and excellent winter survival abilities.

HybriForce-420/Wet is rated highly resistant to Phytophthora Root Root, bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, stem nematode, and northern root knot nematode. It is rated resistant to anthracnose (race 1), verticillium wilt, and Aphanomyces root rot (race 1).

State trial data as well as Dairyland Seed trial data have shown an average yield advantage of 9 percent over conventional alfalfa varieties. "Trial data indicates that HybriForce-420/Wet will be a strong performer," Velde says.

Hybrid alfalfa, introduced by Dairyland Seed in 2001, ushered in a revolution in alfalfa.

HybriForce™-400, the world's first hybrid alfalfa, continues to show increased vigor and stronger plants compared to non-hybrid alfalfa varieties. More aggressive growth of the hybrid alfalfa stand means yields that are 8 percent to 15 percent higher over the life of the stand. On-farm strip plot and side-by-side field trials have shown yield advantages of 15 percent to 20 percent. "We believe that a significant reason for the increased yield is the increased vigor of the hybrid alfalfa plant. Our research has noted that the plant greens up faster, and shows more vigorous regrowth after cutting," says Dr. Paul Sun, vice president of research for Dairyland Seed. "HybriForce-420/Wet will perform equally as well as our first hybrid."

Dairyland Seed's HybriForce-420/Wet hybrid alfalfa will be marketed this year in limited quantities. It joins a growing list of seed innovations in alfalfa from Dairyland Seed. In addition to HybriForce-400, Magnum V alfalfa has established itself as one of the premier alfalfa product on the market. In state trials, Magnum V has consistently proven itself as one of the best yielding products on the market, finishing first or not significantly different than first in 84 percent of the state trials it has been entered in across the country.

"Our elite products are backed by more than 30 years of solid research," Strachota says. "Growers have always been able to count on Dairyland Seed for superior performing alfalfa varieties."

Dairyland Seed Co., Inc., is a family owned seed company with research programs in hybrid alfalfa, alfalfa, soybeans and hybrid corn. Its breeding programs, established in 1962, includes company breeding and nursery facilities in Clinton, Wis., Gibson City, Ill., Otterbein, Ind., Gilbert, Iowa, and Sloughhouse, Cal. Dairyland Seed also owns and operates an alfalfa seed
conditioning facility in Homedale, Idaho.