Lubbock, Texas
October 10, 2007
USDA reports FiberMax,
Stoneville cotton seeds increase 2007 acreage share
Cotton growers increased the share of acres planted to FiberMax®
and Stoneville® cotton seed varieties from
Bayer CropScience LP
in 2007 to capitalize on the high yield, fiber quality and
profit potential consistently delivered by these leading brands.
The recently released U.S. Department of Agriculture acreage
report shows that cottonseed varieties from Bayer CropScience
account for the largest share of total planted acres at 44.4
percent. The flagship brands at Bayer CropScience — FiberMax,
Stoneville and AFD™ — represent 29.3 percent, 14 percent and 1.1
percent, respectively. The report, “Cotton
Varieties Planted — 2007 Crop,” is issued each September by
the USDA’s Agricultural
Marketing Service Cotton Program division in Memphis.
For the ninth consecutive year, FiberMax increased its
percentage of acreage share, moving up 3.1 percent from last
year. This ranking seats FiberMax as the second most planted
brand of cottonseed across the Cotton Belt for the fourth
consecutive year. In 2006, FiberMax varieties accounted for 26.3
percent of all acres.
“FiberMax attributes this continued growth directly to providing
growers with varieties that consistently deliver yield, quality
and profit potential,” says Jeff Brehmer, Western regional
marketing manager seeds and traits, FiberMax marketing manager.
“We continue to introduce new varieties to the market that bring
a premium for growers and will meet their demands in the coming
years.”
Stoneville also saw record growth capped by the largest increase
in acre share of all cottonseed brands with a 4 percent gain. In
2006, Stoneville varieties accounted for 10 percent of all
acres.
“Growers recognize the value of planting varieties from
Stoneville for their early season vigor and rapid stand
establishment, which leads to higher yield and profit
potential,” says Kyle Maple, Eastern regional marketing manager
seeds and traits, Stoneville marketing manager. “We link the
increase in share for 2007 to these features.”
Four of the top seven most planted cottonseed varieties in 2007
are from Bayer CropScience breeding programs. These varieties,
which account for 22.7 percent of all U.S. planted acres,
include ST 4554B2RF (8.14 percent), FM 9063B2F (5.80 percent),
FM 960B2R (5.11 percent) and FM 9058F (3.68 percent).
Bayer CropScience breeding programs focus on offering
top-performing varieties with the latest trait technologies. For
the second consecutive year, ST 4554B2RF was the most widely
planted Bollgard II® and Roundup Ready® Flex variety across the
Cotton Belt.
“Stoneville has demonstrated itself as a leader in the Bollgard
II/Roundup Ready Flex market, and growers have identified
varieties such as ST 4554B2RF and ST 4427B2RF as leading
varieties,” Maple says. “For 2008, Stoneville will expand its
portfolio of Bollgard II/Roundup Ready Flex varieties with ST
4498B2RF,
ST 4596B2RF, ST 4678B2RF, ST 5458B2RF and ST 6351B2RF.”
FiberMax varieties are also available with the latest trait
technologies, including LibertyLink®, which account for 2.5
percent of the total acres in 2007. The technology offers
growers a true alternative to the Roundup Ready system. Rotating
the two systems manages and reduces the likelihood of future
glyphosate-resistant weeds.
USDA compiles estimates of various cotton varieties planted in
the United States for 2007 from informal surveys made by the
Cotton Program Classing Offices of ginners, seed dealers,
Extension agents and other knowledgeable sources. The full
report can be accessed at:
www.ams.usda.gov/cottonrpts/MNPDF/mp_cn833.PDF.
For more information on FiberMax cotton seed visit
www.FiberMax.com; for information on Stoneville cotton seed
visit www.Stoneville.com.
Bayer CropScience LP is the U.S. business of Bayer
CropScience AG, which has its global headquarters in Monheim,
Germany. Bayer CropScience AG, a subsidiary of Bayer AG with
annual sales of about EUR 5.7 billion (2006), is one of the
world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas
of crop protection; non-agricultural pest control, including
consumer lawn and garden; 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 AG has a global
workforce of about 17,900 and is represented in more than 120
countries, ensuring proximity to dealers and consumers.
Bollgard II and RoundupReady Flex are trademarks used under
license from Monsanto Company. Certain stewardship guidelines
are provided for Bollgard II cottons at
www.monsanto.com.
Always read and follow label instructions. |
|
