Winnipeg, Manitoba
January 2, 2004

Roundup WeatherMAX(TM) with Transorb® 2 Technology - a new Roundup® formulation from Monsanto Canada - will be available to western Canadian growers prior to the 2004 growing season.

Roundup WeatherMAX is a next generation formulation of Roundup Transorb. The product received its registration certificate last October after six years of research and development work and field testing across various regions in Canada.

The key reason for developing Roundup WeatherMAX with Transorb 2 Technology relates to the one factor farmers can't control - the weather.

"Roundup WeatherMAX will give farmers improved weed control, plus greater flexibility to spray under less-than-ideal application conditions," said Carolin Chambers, Canadian Roundup marketing manager. "Farmers need the ability to spray in a variety of situations, not just when conditions permit. Historical data shows that 84 per cent of the time conditions for spraying are not good. This is a herbicide that addresses the reality of spraying."

Since Monsanto introduced the first Roundup formulation close to 30 years ago, its goal has been to bring new Roundup products to market that offer producers, real, significant benefits over currently available products. Roundup Transorb, launched in 1998, was a well-received product that offered farmers excellent weed control. But after completing more than 44,000 evaluations on nearly 18,000 plots Monsanto is bringing to market a product with new attributes comparable to the significance of those introduced with Roundup Transorb.

"Rapid penetration into and out of the weed's leaf is one of the most important factors in determining herbicide performance, especially in difficult application conditions," explained Rob Neyedley, Monsanto's research and development lead for chemistries. "What Transorb 2 Technology does is drive the active ingredient in Roundup WeatherMAX into the leaf within minutes. This ensures the required dose of herbicide gets past the leaf surface before weather conditions can affect it and reduce its potency. As a result of this rapid uptake, Roundup WeatherMAX will be backed by the first ever 30-minute rainfast guarantee."

In addition to increased weed control in tough conditions, a 30-minute rainfast guarantee, and proven crop safety for use over the top of Roundup Ready crops, Roundup WeatherMAX is also more concentrated so growers will store, handle, and ultimately apply 33 per cent less product.

Both Roundup WeatherMAX and Roundup Transorb will hit retailers' shelves early in 2004 and be available to growers in western Canada this spring. Roundup Transorb will remain on the market in western Canada while quantities last.

Roundup, Roundup Transorb, Roundup WeatherMAX and Transorb are registered trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC.Monsanto Canada Inc. Licensee.