First Line Seeds' commitment to research and innovation has yielded 15 new soybean varieties and an expanded First Line Express® bulk delivery program.

For 2004, growers will have an opportunity to plant 10 new First Line® brand Roundup Ready® soybean varieties from 2500 to 3250 heat units, including the first Roundup Ready food varieties and new Roundup Ready/Nemecys® varieties with resistance to soybean cyst nematode. Also new for 2004 planting are five NutriLine® food grade varieties that offer high value for identity preserved production. Growers can also look to First Line Express®, the company's bulk delivery program, for access to more varieties and more flexible delivery.

"The consistent high-yielding performance that growers see year after year from First Line is a product of our commitment to research," says First Line Seeds President Peter Hannam. "By combining First Line's extensive Canadian research with Monsanto's global research efforts, our genetic backbone continues to grow even stronger. There's no better evidence of this than our 2004 seed line-up which includes a total of 15 outstanding new top performing varieties."

Hannam says meeting growers' needs continues to be the company's primary focus. "With access to Monsanto genomic research and molecular-marker assisted technology, First Line's plant breeding team is now more productive than ever and we are bringing better varieties to Ontario growers faster," says Hannam.

New varieties for 2004 include:

• Roundup Ready 25-02R, 25-03R, 26-02R, 29-02R and 31-03R;

• Roundup Ready/Nemecys 30-04R and 32-03R;

• Roundup Ready food soybeans Arctic (2650 HU), Chinook (2975 HU) and Breeze (3175 HU); and

• conventional soybeans Polar (2550 HU), Ion (2725 HU), Diamond (2850), Jade (3000) and Satin (3000 HU).

First Line Express adds varieties, flexibility

Beginning this fall, growers who purchase bulk soybean seed through the First Line Express program will be able to choose more varieties and take advantage of more flexible delivery options.

First Line Express delivers fully conditioned certified Roundup Ready soybean seed directly to a grower's gravity wagon, bin or truck. Grower savings and convenience have made the revolutionary bulk delivery system a tremendous success ever since First Line Seeds launched the program in 2000. Savings depend on the preferred delivery method and timing.

For 2004, First Line Express will expand the number of varieties available to growers. These include: 2601R, 2702R, 2802R, AG1901, DKB20-10, Nemecys® 26R and 3201R.

Changes to First Line Express order deadlines mean growers also have more time to order their seed requirements and realize maximum savings.