Landec Ag, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Landec Corporation (NASDAQ National Market Symbol: LNDC), reports that due to the unique growing conditions this season, yield reports are confirming the value of using Intellicoat^® Early Plant^® seed coating technology.

“Yield reports this season have validated the importance of the technology and timely planting,” says Tom Crowley, Landec Ag president and CEO. “We have seen record corn yields this year. In parts of the northern Corn Belt, farmers have seen corn with Intellicoat Early Plant out-yield late-planted corn by considerable margins. These differences really show the value of the Intellicoat technology.”

During a year when cold, wet early spring conditions caused many farmers in the northern Corn Belt to miss their optimum planting dates, farmers who used Intellicoat Early Plant could easily see the rewards of getting a portion of their corn planted earlier than normal.

Additionally, the lack of heat units this spring and summer has caused corn to develop slower than normal, magnifying the differences in yield and dry-down between early-planted corn and corn planted after the optimum period.

2004 was the first year of widespread use for Intellicoat Early Plant. The unique technology allows farmers to plant corn from a few days up to four weeks earlier than normal without risk of chilling injury to the seed. For many farmers with busy spring schedules, a few extra days of planting during the early spring can translate into bigger yields on all their acres.

Chris Jefferies, president of Ohio-based seed company Seed Consultants, said, “We initiated a planting date study five years ago. Our data shows that Intellicoat Early Plant can mean as much as 43 more bushels versus late-planted corn.” Jefferies added, “Getting a few extra days of planting by using Intellicoat can move up a farmer’s whole planting schedule 7-10 days. For some farmers that means the difference between getting everything planted on time or suffering yield loss from late planting.”

Steve Ottilie, president of Ottilie Seed said, "We set up a early plant corn study versus late planting. The Intellicoat Early Plant corn averaged 38 bu. more per acre versus corn that was planted on May 25th. When you add on extra drying costs for late planted corn, you can experience a $125/acre added value on a $14/acre investment for the protection with Intellicoat. Intellicoat is an excellent management tool for farmers to help manage their risks."

The patented Intellicoat Early Plant coating is unique because it effectively controls seed germination in cold, early spring soils. When the soil temperature is too cold for healthy seedling growth, the coating protects the seed and restricts it from taking in enough water to germinate. Once the soil temperature warms, the coating becomes permeable, allowing water to permeate the seed. This regulation of water permeation promotes germination under optimum conditions.

Intellicoat Early Plant seed coating is currently marketed through ten seed partners including:  Beck’s Hybrids, Atlanta, Indiana; Dyna-Gro of Greeley, Colorado; Fielder’s Choice Direct, Monticello, Indiana; Horizon Genetics LLC, Mason City, IL; Hubner Seed Co., Inc., West Lebanon, Indiana; Legend Seeds, DeSmet, South Dakota; Ottilie Seed, Marshalltown, Iowa; Seed Consultants, Inc., Washington Court House, Ohio; and Southern States, Richmond, VA.

Over thirty seed companies involved in the production of hybrid seed corn are already using another Intellicoat technology, known as Pollinator Plus^®. In this application, the coating delays germination of the male inbred seed. This widens the pollination window to increase yields, minimize risks and reduce production costs in the production of seed corn. Seed companies are rapidly increasing their use of this technology. 

Also on the commercial horizon is another Intellicoat application, Relay^™ Intercropping of wheat and Intellicoat coated soybeans. This application enables central and northern Corn Belt farmers, whose growing season is normally too short for double cropping, to successfully inter-plant coated soybeans into wheat and gain more revenue by harvesting two crops off the same field in the same year. This Intellicoat application is in its third year of successful commercial on-farm trials.

To find out more about Intellicoat Early Plant technology and the seed brands that will offer the technology for the 2004 growing season, call toll-free 1-800-241-7252 or visit www.intellicoat.com. In addition, you can receive a free Intellicoat Early Plant information kit that includes a technical brochure, a complete report on Intellicoat research trials and a reference guide to help growers optimize the use of Early Plant hybrids.

Landec Ag’s parent company Landec Corporation designs, develops, manufactures and sells temperature-activated and other specialty polymer products for a variety of food, agricultural and licensed partner applications. The company’s temperature-activated polymer products are based on its proprietary Intelimer^® polymers, which differ from other polymers in that they can be customized to abruptly change their physical characteristics when heated above or cooled below a preset temperature switch.