NK® Brand Seeds offers 36 new corn hybrids and 17 new soybeans for 2006, building on more than 100 years of providing innovative products and solutions to the agricultural industry.  The new NK Brand products further expand growers’ trait and conventional seed choices, and provide more yield through the strong genetics they have come to expect.

“NK Brand is adding a total of 53 new product choices to meet nearly any rotation and management need - from corn borer protection to disease resistance and from glyphosate tolerance to LibertyLink® technology,” said Jeff Jorgensen, NK Brand Seeds corn product manager. “Our research efforts to bring these products to the field are second to none.”

NK Brand is backed by Syngenta, which invests $750,000 a day in seed breeding and biotechnology research. NK Brand works with more than 330 researchers and has access to 2.3 million research plots to effectively screen for the best new products.

36 New Corn Hybrids Provide More Yield and Better Choices

NK Brand corn genetics and traits consistently give growers a yield advantage.
 Based on 10 years of research and more than 3,000 corn borer (CB)-rated trials, NK Brand hybrids with Agrisure™ CB delivered more than a 7 bu/A average yield advantage.

Among the 36 new hybrids, 24 include the added traits of Agrisure CB, Agrisure GT (glyphosate tolerance) or both. Plus, five are characterized as Extra Edge™ High Extractable Starch hybrids, suitable for wet-mill processing. NK Brand Extra Edge corn hybrids have been characterized so growers and processors can better identify a portfolio that will have strong agronomic performance on the farm and excel in specialty processing, such as high fructose, wet-mill applications and dry-grind ethanol. In addition, two Zimmerman™ Brand white corn hybrids have been added to the 2006 seed portfolio, further expanding choices for growers interested specialized food markets.

“NK Brand provides better choices with a broad product and technology offering, including hybrids with Agrisure GT, Agrisure CB and Agrisure stacks, as well as LibertyLink technology for effective pest and herbicide management choices,” Jorgensen explained.  “The combination of NK Brand hybrids with Agrisure CB, plus Cruiser Extreme^® Pak CRW seed treatment provides an excellent option for protection from up to 15 pests, including corn rootworm and many secondary pests.”

These new hybrids expand NK Brand’s portfolio of trusted genetics, which 89 percent of growers reported as equal to or better than competitive seed brands in a 2004 survey.

17 New Soybeans Join the NK Brand Lineup

Proven genetics resulting from more than 37 years of proprietary research, plus rigorous screening and selection processes allow NK Brand to offer top-notch seed, available with trait, seed treatment and bulk delivery choices.

“We are focused on providing the yield and choices growers want,” said Kurt Sieren, NK Brand Seeds soybean product manager. “NK Brand soybeans average a five-year 1.3 bushels-per-acre yield advantage above Pioneer and Asgrow, in more than 12,500 trials. Plus, the addition of Cruiser®Maxx® Pak or ApronMaxx® performance-enhancing seed treatments protect soybeans from the start.  And for added convenience, the industry leading TruBulk^® delivery system is one of the complete seed packaging choices NK Brand provides growers.”

Four of the new varieties have been designated Extra Edge High Protein soybeans, five are Extra Edge High Oil soybeans, and one is both a High Protein and High Oil soybean. The Extra Edge soybean portfolio characterizes varieties that offer High Oil and High Protein, and all Extra Edge soybeans meet recommendations from the United Soybean Board, which encourages growers to choose soybeans that fit processor needs.

“Overall, we have a strong product lineup in corn and soybeans,” said Sieren. “As always we start with superior genetics and then add key choices, such as traits for herbicide flexibility and end-use characterization. The 53 new NK Brand products demonstrate our desire to provide growers with corn and soybeans that deliver more yield and better choices for the way they farm.”

NK Brand Seeds is a trusted hybrid corn, soybean and alfalfa seed supplier, providing innovative products and solutions to the marketplace for over 100 years.  Located in Golden Valley, Minn., NK Brand Seeds is a business division of Syngenta.

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). Further information is available at www.syngenta.com.

LibertyLink^® is a registered trademark of Bayer CropScience.

Summary of 53 new NK® Brand products for the 2006 season

36 New NK^® Brand Corn Hybrids

N16-M1                   Added Traits: Agrisure™ CB, LibertyLink^®                           Relative Maturity: 82
High-yielding and widely adapted, this hybrid boasts excellent stalks, high test weight and very fast dry down.

N19-D3                   Added Traits: Agrisure CB, LibertyLink                                Relative Maturity: 85
This widely adapted hybrid offers dependable performance with excellent emergence, drought tolerance and stalk strength.

N22-C2                   Added Traits: Agrisure GT/CB, LibertyLink                          Relative Maturity: 87
This Bt hybrid is glyphosate-tolerant and offers high yields for its maturity. It responds very well to drought conditions and provides excellent emergence, strong roots and very fast drydown.

N29-G7                   Added Trait: LibertyLink                                                      Relative Maturity: 92
A LibertyLink-only hybrid, it is high-yielding and widely adapted, making it excellent for refuge acres. This hybrid also features very good stalks and roots.

N33-P2                   Added Trait: Agrisure GT                                                      Relative Maturity: 94
Strong, dependable yields, solid agronomics and glyphosate tolerance make this hybrid a valued choice in its adapted area. The medium-height hybrid with fixed ear performs best at higher populations.

N33-Z7                    Added Traits: Agrisure GT/CB, LibertyLink                           Relative Maturity: 94
A solid, consistent yield performer with added herbicide flexibility, this fixed-ear hybrid has fast drydown for an early harvest option.

N34-D6                                                                                                               Relative Maturity: 94
A high-yielding, conventional hybrid with wide adaptability, it is a strong Bt refuge choice in its maturity. It also boasts very good stalk and root strength and excellent drought tolerance.

N34-F1                    Added Traits: Agrisure CB, LibertyLink                                Relative Maturity: 94
This hybrid features very good stalk and root strength and high yields, as well as excellent drought tolerance. It also offers wide west-to-east adaptability in its maturity.

N38-B4                   Added Traits: Agrisure GT/CB, LibertyLink                           Relative Maturity: 97
Top yield response enhanced with corn borer protection and herbicide flexibility make an attractive combination in this hybrid. It also has very good emergence and standability with excellent roots.

N38-H9                   Added Trait: Agrisure GT                                                      Relative Maturity: 97
Dependable agronomics and consistency give this glyphosate-tolerant hybrid strong, season-long performance. It works well with most soils, tillage and crop rotations.

N41-D8                   Added Trait: Agrisure GT                                                      Relative Maturity: 98
This fast-drying hybrid fits most soils, tillage programs and crop rotations, and offers strong grain performance.

N41-R9                   Added Traits: Agrisure GT/CB, LibertyLink                           Relative Maturity: 98
With corn borer protection and herbicide flexibility, this hybrid works best with some tillage to enhance root growth.

N41-P1                   Added Traits: Agrisure GT/CB, LibertyLink                           Relative Maturity: 99
Top-notch corn borer protection with added herbicide flexibility makes N41-P1 a strong, dependable grain choice that works well in most soils, tillage and crop rotations.

N45-M2                   Added Traits: Agrisure GT/CB, LibertyLink                         Relative Maturity: 101
This glyphosate-tolerant Bt hybrid boasts very good emergence, drought tolerance and high yields. In addition, exceptional roots and strong stalks compliment its high test weight and very fast drydown.

N46-H4                   Added Trait: LibertyLink                                                    Relative Maturity: 102
Ideal for refuge acres, this hybrid delivers excellent standability, drought tolerance and fast drydown.

N48-B1                   Added Traits: Agrisure CB, LibertyLink                              Relative Maturity: 103
With strong yield and consistency, this hybrid offers very good stalks and excellent roots to support strong season-long standability. It also is characterized as an Extra Edge™ High Extractable Starch hybrid for wet-mill production. 

N48-U7                   Added Trait: LibertyLink                                                    Relative Maturity: 103
A LibertyLink-only hybrid, N48-U7 makes a good fit for refuge acres or herbicide rotation programs. It also features very good stalks and excellent roots.

N48-Y3                    Added Trait: Agrisure GT                                                    Relative Maturity: 103
A strong grain choice for growers who want added herbicide flexibility, this hybrid tolerates drought and works well with most tillage programs and crop rotations.

N50-A3                   Added Traits: Agrisure CB, LibertyLink                              Relative Maturity: 104
With outstanding plant health, roots and stalk strength, this high-yielding hybrid allows for a flexible harvest schedule.

N51-B3                   Added Trait: Agrisure GT                                                    Relative Maturity: 104
This top-yielding hybrid boasts a solid agronomic package and herbicide flexibility. It fits well in all tillage programs and crop rotations.

N51-C1                   Added Traits: Agrisure CB, LibertyLink, CLEARFIELD^®       Relative Maturity: 104
This hybrid expands herbicide options with LibertyLink technology and the CLEARFIELD production system. It offers good roots, high yield, excellent drydown and good drought tolerance.

N51-N4                                                                                                            Relative Maturity: 104
A top-end yielding conventional hybrid for Insect Resistance Management (IRM) refuges, it fits well in rotation with soybeans and offers fast drydown, good emergence and early growth. This Extra Edge hybrid is characterized for High Extractable Starch.

N51-V9                   Added Traits: Agrisure GT/CB, LibertyLink                         Relative Maturity: 104
A high-yield choice, this hybrid works well in a variety of tillage practices and crop rotations, and features corn borer protection and herbicide flexibility.

N60-J3                    Added Trait: LibertyLink                                                    Relative Maturity: 107
An early flowering hybrid ideal for IRM refuges, it features outstanding emergence, root and stalk strength and gray leaf spot protection. It also is characterized as an Extra Edge™ High Extractable Starch.

N65-C5                   Added Traits: Agrisure CB, LibertyLink                              Relative Maturity: 109
A widely adapted, top-yielding hybrid that provides consistency, along with fast early growth, superior drought tolerance and excellent ear flex. This Extra Edge hybrid is characterized for High Extractable Starch.

N67-D6                   Added Traits: Agrisure GT/CB, LibertyLink                         Relative Maturity: 109
This stacked hybrid displays outstanding yield potential with good emergence and early growth. It excels in highly productive soils, but is adaptable to many soil types.

N69-P9                                                                                                             Relative Maturity: 110
A well-built hybrid, it boasts great stalk strength, root strength and gray leaf spot protection – plus excellent grain quality.

N70-C7                   Added Traits: Agrisure GT/CB, LibertyLink                         Relative Maturity: 112
A glyphosate-tolerant hybrid, N70-C7 provides top yield potential and solid agronomics over a wide range of growing conditions and soil types.

N72-B2                   Added Traits: Agrisure CB, LibertyLink                              Relative Maturity: 112
Very good drought tolerance and good ear flex helps this hybrid adapt to a wide range of growing conditions. Its fast emergence and early seedling growth promote rapid, early stand establishment.

N72-G8                                                                                                             Relative Maturity: 112
This high-yielding, conventional hybrid features excellent roots and stalks, and good drought tolerance. Adapted to the most of the Corn Belt, this Extra Edge hybrid is characterized for High Extractable Starch and offers protection against gray leaf spot and other key diseases.

N76-D3                   Added Traits: Agrisure CB, LibertyLink                              Relative Maturity: 113
A superior-yielding Bt hybrid, N76-D3 is best adapted to the central and southern Corn Belt and works well in corn-on-corn programs or in rotation with soybeans.

N76-M5                   Added Traits: Agrisure CB, LibertyLink                              Relative Maturity: 115
This hybrid features very high yields with excellent roots, gray leaf spot resistance and good stalk quality.

N76-Y4                    Added Trait: CLEARFIELD                                                  Relative Maturity: 114
Primarily targeted for the CLEARFIELD production system, this hybrid fits well in the Mid-South. It has good yield potential with good standability and plant health.

N85-F3                                                                                                              Relative Maturity: 118
A dual-purpose hybrid, it features both good standability and good silage quality traits. It has a silage maturity of 114.

1713W                                                                                                              Relative Maturity: 114
This Zimmerman™ Brand white corn hybrid offers medium-sized kernels and excellent characteristics for the food grade market, alkaline cooking and export.

1863W                                                                                                              Relative Maturity: 118
A great choice for IP, milling, alkaline cooking or feeding, this Zimmerman Brand white corn hybrid boasts high density, large kernels with an above average protein level. It also has good color and a medium-hard endosperm.

17 New NK Brand Soybeans

S01-T5                          Added Trait: Roundup Ready^®                                     Relative Maturity: 0-1
High yielding and versatile, this very early maturity soybean offers above-average protein content and is characterized as an Extra Edge High Protein variety.

S08-V7                         Added Trait: Roundup Ready                                       Relative Maturity: 0-8
A wider plant canopy makes this broadly adapted variety a good Western fit. Its strong disease package works well in stressful environments.

S08-C3                         Added Trait: Roundup Ready                                      Relative Maturity: 0-8
This widely adapted, short-season soybean provides good tolerance to iron deficiency chlorosis and moderate resistance to white mold. It also is designated as an Extra Edge High Oil soybean.

S11-L2                          Added Trait: Roundup Ready                                        Relative Maturity: I-1
Good tolerance to iron deficiency chlorosis makes this medium-tall variety ideal for soils with a history of chlorosis problems, and it is characterized as an Extra Edge High Protein soybean.

S12-B9                         Added Trait: Roundup Ready                                        Relative Maturity: I-2
An early Group 1 maturity soybean, this variety boasts resistance to white mold, high yields and above-average protein content. This Extra Edge soybean is characterized for High Protein.

S13-Y3                          Added Trait: Roundup Ready                                        Relative Maturity: I-3
An early soybean cyst nematode soybean, S13-Y3 produces a medium-tall plant with a strong disease resistance package and is an Extra Edge High Protein variety.

S14-K6                         Added Trait: Roundup Ready                                        Relative Maturity: I-4
With very strong emergence, this variety gets off to a fast start and finishes with high yields. This Extra Edge soybean is characterized for Extra Edge High Oil

S17-A1                         Added Trait: Roundup Ready                                        Relative Maturity: I-7
This variety combines strong resistance to soybean cyst nematode with resistance to brown stem rot and white mold for broad adaptability outside iron deficiency chlorosis areas and is identified as an Extra Edge High Protein and High Oil soybean.

S22-A2                         Added Trait: Roundup Ready                                      Relative Maturity: II-2
A high-yielding, medium-tall choice, S22-A2 is designated as an Extra Edge High Oil soybean and offers Phytophthora root rot resistance, even in heavily infested areas.

S23-Z3                          Added Trait: Roundup Ready                                      Relative Maturity: II-3
This variety provides good emergence and can adapt to wide or narrow rows. It delivers stable high yields due to excellent stress tolerance.

S25-B9                         Added Trait: Roundup Ready                                      Relative Maturity: II-5
With brown stem rot and white mold resistance, this top-yielding variety is a good fit for narrow rows and offers excellent plant health and standability. This Extra Edge soybean is characterized for High Oil.

S28-G1                         Added Trait: Roundup Ready                                      Relative Maturity: II-8
Phytophthora resistance and good tolerance to iron deficiency chlorosis, plus excellent stress tolerance, adds to this Extra Edge High Oil variety’s adaptability. It fits well in all row widths and excels in 30-inch rows or narrower.

S29-J6                          Added Trait: Roundup Ready                                      Relative Maturity: II-9
A medium-tall plant that delivers soybean cyst nematode and sudden death syndrome protection along with excellent stress tolerance, it fits well in all row spacings.

S30-D4                         Added Trait: Roundup Ready                                      Relative Maturity: III-0
This medium-height soybean’s intermediate canopy fits well in all rows, especially narrow ones. Its resistance to Phytophthora and brown stem rot add to its high-yielding ability.

S49-T1                          Added Trait: Roundup Ready                                      Relative Maturity: IV-9
Adapted primarily for the Coastal Bend of Texas, this soybean offers good stress tolerance, good resistance to shattering and performs well in 30-inch rows.

S65-M3                         Added Trait: Roundup Ready                                      Relative Maturity: VI-5
This narrow-row soybean features very high yield potential with excellent standability, as well as soybean cyst nematode and Frogeye leaf spot resistance.

S80-P2                         Added Trait: Roundup Ready                                   Relative Maturity: VIII-0
Primarily adapted to South Carolina and Georgia, this soybean cyst nematode variety boasts high yield potential and a strong disease package.

NK^®, For The Way You Farm^®, Agrisure™, Extra Edge™ and Zimmerman™ are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.
Roundup Ready^® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC.
LibertyLink^® is a registered trademark of Bayer CropScience.
CLEARFIELD^® is a trademark of BASF.