Lubbock, Texas
December 4, 2006
Continuing R&D efforts result in better options
High yields and high quality fiber are two must-haves for any
cotton producer who wants maximum profits. Because of continued
research at the FiberMax® cotton seed breeding stations in
Leland, Mississippi, Sellers, South Carolina, and Lubbock,
Texas, FiberMax will offer new cottonseed varieties in 2007 that
have the potential for high yields and high lint quality.
“These three breeding stations allow us to select, develop and
evaluate new varieties for optimal performance in widely
variable soil types and environmental conditions,” said Steve P.
Nichols, U.S. agronomic manager for FiberMax. “In the Southeast,
we have a number of new varieties for 2007 that have been
developed specifically for the environmental and growing
conditions of that area.”
Nichols said the Southeast production region has become a hotbed
of glyphosate resistance issues in recent years. Many cotton
growers face glyphosate-resistant strains of pigweed and
horseweed, plus volunteer corn and soybeans. These growers have
an alternative with LibertyLink® technology. Growers who choose
FiberMax LibertyLink varieties can use Ignite® herbicide
season-long for broad-spectrum control of more than 100 weed
species, including glyphosate-resistant weeds.
In particular, Nichols noted the following new FiberMax
varieties for 2007 that are adapted for areas in the Southeast:
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FM 955LLB2 is
an early-maturing variety with LibertyLink® and Bollgard II
technology. It does not require large amounts of growth
regulators. It produces very large bolls and excellent fiber
quality, and it performs best on sandy and silty loam soils
with irrigation.
-
FM 965LLB2
sets many bolls quickly later in the season. It produces a
higher-than-average percentage of total yield on the second-
and third-position bolls. It has a semi-tight boll and
above-average fiber length, excellent fiber strength and
premium to high-base micronaire that is rarely discounted.
-
FM 1800LL is a
medium to full-season variety that produces large bolls.
Plants are tall and vigorous, and bolls produce a long,
strong fiber that has high length uniformity.
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FM 9063B2F is
an early-medium maturing variety Bollgard® II and Roundup
Ready Flex technology. It is easy to manage with low amounts
of plant regulators and has a large boll type with excellent
fiber quality. It performs consistently across sandy and
silt loams with irrigation.
-
FM 1880B2F is
a full-maturing variety with Bollgard II and Roundup Ready
Flex technology. Management will require plant regulators
early in growthy soil types. It produces medium-open bolls
and has a good fiber quality package.
Nichols noted that new varieties
that will be released in limited testing quantities include FM
1735LLB2, FM 1835LLB2, FM 1740B2F and FM 1840B2F. “Watch for
them in 2007 and beyond,” he said.
New FiberMax varieties must meet standards for high yield and
quality potential before they are commercially released, Nichols
added.
“The profit equation for cotton growers includes yield and
quality,” he said. “Yield generates revenue, and fiber quality
pays a premium. A new variety needs to meet these standards
before we put it in a FiberMax bag.”
Nichols also noted that the market share for FiberMax has
increased for eight consecutive years. According to a newly
issued U.S. Department of Agriculture acreage report, FiberMax
varieties accounted for 26.7 percent of all U.S. cotton acreage
in 2006. The report, “Cotton Varieties Planted – 2006 Crop,” was
issued in September by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service
Cotton Program division in Memphis.
For more information on FiberMax cotton seed, visit
www.cottonexperts.com.
Bayer CropScience
LP is the U.S. business of Bayer CropScience, which has its
global headquarters in Monheim, Germany. Bayer CropScience, a
subsidiary of Bayer AG with annual sales of about EUR 6 billion,
is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies
in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control,
seeds and plant biotechnology. The company offers an outstanding
range of products and extensive service backup for modern,
sustainable agriculture and for non-agricultural applications.
Bayer CropScience has a global workforce of about 19,000 and is
represented in more than 120 countries, ensuring proximity to
dealers and consumers. |
