Mycogen Seeds today announced its intent to be one of the top three brands in select crops, a strategic redirection that positions the company well for the future. The change focuses Mycogen's resources on key product lines and market segments where it has a demonstrated
competitive edge, and aligns its operations with those of Dow AgroSciences.

According to Tim Kroenke, Mycogen Seeds' director of sales and marketing, the company will focus its research, production and marketing efforts on a core product line: grain corn, Silage-Specific(TM) corn, nutritionally enhanced corn, sunflowers and canola. Mycogen Seeds' sales effort will target the Cornbelt, key dairy areas and the eastern United States. The company will continue to offer a full line of soybeans, sorghum and alfalfa.

Kroenke says Mycogen customers have been very pleased with the performance the company's grain corn genetics have delivered on their farms.

"1999 marks our second year of increased sales of seed corn in the central Corn Belt,'' he says. "In addition, our Totally Managed Feedstuffs(TM) (TNM) Silage-Specific corn hybrids have generated tremendous success, helping Mycogen Seeds establish itself as the number one supplier of Silage-Specific hybrids to dairy producers.

"Mycogen sunflower genetics also lead the market, capturing roughly one third of the sunflower acres planted annually,'' he says.

Mycogen Seeds and Dow AgroSciences will continue to build their presence in the expanding U.S. canola market, building on strengths already established in the Canadian market.

Kroenke adds that the company is evolving its sales and distribution channels to address changing customer needs.

"We will continue to rely upon and enhance our established sales network to sell seed, but will expand into additional outlets, as well,'' he says. "We also will be adding resources that will allow us to better market our TMF product line directly to large dairy producers.

"Agriculture is going through a period of dramatic change, and we must respond to meet the needs of our customers to remain competitive,'' Kroenke continues.

"By aligning with Dow AgroSciences, complete with its resources and technology discovery capability, and focusing on core products and geographies where we have established research and production facilities, Mycogen is in a position to establish itself as a top-three brand in key market segments.''

Kroenke adds that Dow AgroSciences is committed to developing a strong retail seeds business to deliver novel input and output traits in high-performing hybrids and varieties.

"With its current portfolio of traits, coupled with a significant gene and trait discovery engine, Dow
AgroSciences is poised to become a primary source of traits and technology for the industry,'' he says. "Dow AgroSciences is looking to Mycogen to provide a retail outlet for these products. Collectively, we will maximize this opportunity as it positions Mycogen as a key provider of high-performing genetics and technologies to farmers and industry partners.''

Mycogen Seeds, based in Eagan, Minn., is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. Mycogen markets grain corn, silage corn and nutritionally enhanced corn seed, as well
as sunflower, canola, soybean, alfalfa and sorghum seed through a distribution system of sales representatives, distributors and retail outlets in the Cornbelt, the eastern United States and in major dairy areas throughout the country. Mycogen Seeds is an acknowledged leader in bringing to market technology-based products to control agricultural pests and improve food and fiber production.

Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Ind., is a global leader in providing pest management and biotechnology products that improve the quality and quantity of the earth's food supply and contribute to the safety, health and quality of life of the world's growing population. The company employs more than 4,000 people in over 26 countries and has worldwide sales of more than $2 billion. Dow AgroSciences is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company.

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