The product names for the next generation of traits in the Herculex™ Insect Protection family from Dow AgroSciences LLC and Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., will be Herculex RW and Herculex XTRA.  This family of traits will offer corn growers the broadest spectrum in-plant insect protection on the market.

Herculex RW will give farmers built-in protection against corn rootworm, the costliest insect pest in corn.  Herculex XTRA will combine the insect protection of Herculex I – broad-spectrum protection against corn borer, black cutworm, western bean cutworm and other destructive pests – with the corn rootworm protection of Herculex RW.

Introduction of corn hybrids containing Herculex RW and Herculex XTRA is anticipated for the 2006 growing season, pending regulatory approvals.

“Just as Herculex I gave growers a broad-spectrum alternative to corn borer Bt products, these new Herculex traits will give farmers more insect protection options,” says Wally Thingelstad, Traits Marketing and Communications manager at Dow AgroSciences.  “And Herculex XTRA will offer the most complete insect-protection package available for corn.”

The trait combination in Herculex XTRA will provide protection all season long against the most important corn insect pests, including western, northern and Mexican corn rootworm, first- and second-generation

European corn borer, southwestern corn borer, black cutworm, western bean cutworm and fall armyworm, along with intermediate suppression of corn earworm.  It also will provide tolerance to LIBERTY^® herbicide, which controls more than 100 grass and broadleaf weeds on contact.

“This new generation of traits will provide value to farmers by helping protect corn plants against yield-robbing pests, helping each seed reach its greatest genetic potential,” says Bob Iwig, vice president, Global Marketing, Pioneer.  “This will be good news for growers.”

The family of Herculex Insect Protection traits – a new generation of traits for corn – is being developed in a research collaboration between Dow AgroSciences, a global leader in providing pest management and biotechnology products, and Pioneer, a world leader in seed technology and seed products.

While Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer pooled their talents to research, develop and seek regulatory approval for the Herculex traits, they will continue to independently market and sell corn hybrids containing Herculex traits.  As with Herculex I, Dow AgroSciences also will have exclusive licensing rights for Herculex RW and Herculex XTRA. 

Corn products with built-in pest protection benefit farmers and agriculture by providing excellent protection against damaging pests, easing farm labor requirements and reducing traditional insecticide treatments.

Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is a global leader in providing pest management and biotechnology products that improve the quality and quantity of the earth's food supply and contribute to the health and quality of life of the world's growing population. Dow AgroSciences has approximately 5,700 people in more than 50 countries dedicated to its business, and has worldwide sales of US $3 billion. Dow AgroSciences is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. For more information about Dow AgroSciences, visit http://www.dowagro.com.

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont, is the world's leading source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics, crop protection solutions and quality crop systems to customers in nearly 70 countries. DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by solving problems and creating solutions that make people's lives better, safer and easier. Operating in more than 70 countries, the company offers a wide range of products and services to markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.

Herculex I, Herculex RW, Herculex XTRA Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred.
™Herculex is a trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC
^®Liberty is a registered trademark of Bayer AG.