Corn hybrids in the Syngenta product development pipeline out-yielded competitive brands, including DeKalb and Pioneer, in 69 percent of the U.S. corn market, in nearly 7,000 head-to-head field evaluation trials during the 2006 growing season. Additionally, corn hybrids with Agrisure™ traits resistant to European corn borer and corn rootworm, and with tolerance to glyphosate and glufosinate herbicides, are proving they have the outstanding yield and agronomic performance growers seek.

Corn hybrids with the Agrisure™ CB/LL trait (protection against European corn borer with tolerance to LIBERTY® herbicide) were big winners in the 2006 field trials, outperforming Pioneer hybrids with corn borer protection by more than 4 bushels per acre. Syngenta plans to make many of these same corn hybrids available with corn rootworm resistance for the 2007 planting season, as regulatory approval of the Agrisure™ CB/LL/RW stack is anticipated in early 2007. For 2008 planting, these same hybrids will be available with more stacked traits, including Agrisure™ GT/CB/LL/RW (tolerance to glyphosate and glufosinate herbicides with control of European corn borer and corn rootworm).

“Outstanding yield and agronomic performance like this strongly indicates that corn growers can look forward to increasing their corn productivity with hybrids from NK® Brand, Garst®, Golden Harvest®, and other seed companies offering hybrids with Agrisure traits,” said Kevin Turnblad, head of corn marketing, Syngenta. “Our high-performing corn genetics, along with Agrisure traits, and CruiserExtreme 250® or Cruiser Extreme® 1250 seed treatments, can help growers achieve higher yields to really capitalize on the strong corn market they are experiencing."

New strength for NK Brand Soybeans in maturity groups III and IV

In 24,000 soybean trials in 2006, NK Brand Roundup Ready® Soybeans out-yielded all competitive brands. Strongest performance was in maturity group III, where NK Brand soybeans out-yielded competitive varieties by an average of 1.1 bushels per acre and won 56 percent of head-to-head field trials.

In all maturities, NK Brand soybean varieties yielded more than either Pioneer or Asgrow. The best NK Brand performance compared to Pioneer was in early maturities, Groups 0 and I, where NK Brand soybeans had a 1.9 bushels per acre advantage in group 0, and 1.6 bushels per acre in group I. Compared to Asgrow, strongest NK Brand advantage was in groups II and III – more than a bushel per acre in each maturity group.

“The strength of the Syngenta portfolio has always been in early maturities, and now we are experiencing breakthrough performance in our new portfolio of late maturity Group III through mid-Group IV,” said Dan Dyer, global head of soybean product development. “This is great news for growers who are considering planting fewer soybean acres in favor of corn, because they will be looking to maximize the yields on the soybean acres they do plant.”

Syngenta is releasing 30 new high performing NK Brand Roundup Ready soybean varieties through its Garst, Golden Harvest and NK branded seed businesses. Fourteen of these, all in maturity Groups 0-III, are now in the lineup for planting in 2007.

Growers who have not planted NK soybeans previously, or current NK soybean customers who increase their order by at least 200 units over last year, are eligible for the Syngenta AgriEdge™ Grain Premium Program, which pays cash premiums of up 21 cents per bushel on 2007 yields. For more information on how the Syngenta AgriEdge Soybean Grain Premium Program will pay for increased soybean yields, contact a Garst, Golden Harvest or NK Brand seed dealer.

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 2005 were approximately $8.1 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.

Agrisure™, AgriEdge™, Cruiser®, Cruiser® Extreme, NK® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.
Garst® is a trademark of Garst Seed Company.
Golden Harvest® is a trademark of Golden Harvest Seeds, Inc.
LIBERTY® is a registered trademark of Bayer Crop Science.
Roundup ReadyÒ is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC.