Corn growers whose marketing plans include sales to ethanol plants now have an expanded selection of hybrids with higher ethanol yields from Fielder’s Choice Direct.

The hybrids – which are designated as Processor Preferred – have been characterized and selected to meet grower and processor needs, according to Dennis Schlott, vice president of sales and product management for Fielder’s Choice Direct.

“We are pleased that 17 of our hybrids have been identified as Processor Preferred High Fermentable Corn (HFC) hybrids,’ Schlott explains. “The ethanol industry has grown by leaps and bounds in the last 20 years. Production capacity is expected to double by 2005, when the ethanol industry is expected to demand about a billion bushels of corn.”

Schlott says the HFC hybrids deliver higher levels of fermentable starch, which allows dry mill ethanol plants to generate greater ethanol yields for improved profit margin.

“Fewer than a third of all hybrids on the market today qualify for the Processor Preferred designation,” Schlott notes. “These hybrids must be equally productive for the grower and the ethanol plant to make the list.”

Schlott says Fielder’s Choice Processor Preferred hybrids are available in maturities from 93-110 days, and can be ordered with a full range of technology traits such as Roundup Ready, YieldGard Corn Borer and YieldGard Rootworm.

By 2012, Schlott notes, ethanol production could use fully 20% of U.S. corn production. “The Processor Preferred program is an excellent opportunity for corn growers to get maximum productivity on their farms and help the ethanol plants improve their productivity at the same time,” he says. “And, because of our direct-to-the-customer pricing system, Fielder’s Choice Direct hybrids cost about a third less than other seed corn brands.”

Based in Monticello, Indiana, Fielder’s Choice Direct is the leading direct marketer of seed corn and other crop inputs to American farmers. Fielder's Choice Direct is a member of the Landec Ag group of companies, subsidiaries of Landec Corporation, which is traded on NASDAQ as LNDC.  

Fielder’s Choice Direct is a registered trademark of Landec Corporation.
Processor Preferred, Roundup Ready and YieldGard are registered trademarks of Monsanto.