Corn producers who plant Golden Harvest^® brand hybrids now have another option to protect their crops from insects. The advanced trait technology of Herculex™ I Insect Protection from Dow AgroSciences will be available in Golden Harvest hybrids for the 2005 growing season, providing an additional in-plant trait option for protection against a broad spectrum of pests.

“This addition to our technology offering is the first outside technical commercialization agreement since our new Syngenta partnership and we’re really excited about the potential for corn growers,” according to Dennis Bracht, Golden Harvest, head of product management. “Based on the research we’ve done, Herculex I give farmers another option on making sure their Golden Harvest hybrids have the best shot at reaching their full yield potential, especially those in areas where a broader spectrum of pest control is essential. This is another example of the Golden Harvest commitment to bring choices to growers irregardless of the technology owner.”

The Herculex I genetic trait makes use of the Cry1F gene to prevent insect feeding and protect plant health throughout the growing season. Herculex I effectively protects against:

• European corn borer (first and second-generation)
• Southwestern corn borer
• Black cutworm
• Fall armyworm
• Western bean cutworm

Backed by university and third-party efficacy trials, Herculex I offers tolerance to glufosinate ammonium herbicides such as LIBERTY^® from Bayer CropScience when applied in accordance with label directions. Golden Harvest brand grain from hybrids containing Herculex I Insect Protection is fully approved for food and feed use in the United States and Japan, however, it is not yet approved in the European Union. For more information on grain market options, producers can consult the American Seed Trade Association Web site, www.amseed.org or call their local Golden Harvest seed dealer/sales representative.

Although producers will not find Herculex I listed in their Golden Harvest product catalog for planting in 2005, six hybrids, performance tested in 2004, will be available on a limited basis
(H-7283Hx, H-7935Hx, H-8823Hx, H-9190Hx, H-9205Hx and H-9323Hx). Also, Golden Harvest will offer a full technology lineup with additional products accessed from Syngenta with glyphosate tolerance in corn, YieldGard^® insect protection, LibertyLink^® technology (Bt11), and stacked combinations.

Golden Harvest Seeds, Inc., a Syngenta affiliated company, is one of the nation’s fastest-growing agricultural seed brands focusing on hybrid corn, soybeans, hybrid sorghum and alfalfa. Genetics First^SM, Agronomy Up Front^® and Service Always^SM have helped to increase the profitability of its customers in the United States since 1973.

Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. The company is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2004 were approximately $7.3 billion. Syngenta employs some 19,000 people in over 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT).

© 2005 Golden Harvest Seeds, Inc.
Golden Harvest and Agronomy Up Front are trademarks, and Genetics First and Service Always are service marks of Golden Harvest Seeds, Inc. Herculex is a trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC. YieldGard is a trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC. Liberty and LibertyLink are trademarks of Bayer.