NC+ Hybrids will have a wide range of new product options for 2001 as part of  their ongoing philosophy of giving producers the ability to make "independent" planting decisions.

"Developing a new product line for the upcoming growing season is a very detailed and well-defined process for us," stated NC+ President Larry Schuett. "We are an independent seed company that offers product options based on customer needs and not just company needs. That's why our new product lineup for 2001 includes a genetically diverse selection of both conventional and biotech seed choices."

The list of 2001 new product releases includes 22 corn hybrids, 10 soybean varieties, two grain sorghum hybrids and one new sorghum sudangrass.

A breakdown of the new corn products demonstrates the wide variety of options NC+  is offering. There are nine new conventional hybrids, two white corn hybrids, four  Roundup Ready® hybrids, three Liberty Link(tm) hybrids, two Bt hybrids with YieldGard®,  one Clearfield* hybrid, and one stacked trait hybrid with both the YieldGard Bt and Roundup Ready genes.

"We really listened to what producers were saying when we developed our list of new corn products for 2001," said Schuett. "Many of our customers wanted to have the option of using the latest technology to meet specific weed and insect control needs. We also understand that many farmers still want conventional hybrid options. That's why we added a wide variety of new conventional hybrids, including two for white corn."

For the first time, NC+ will have stacked trait soybeans, with two varieties containing both Roundup Ready and STS® resistance. Other new soybean varieties include four Roundup Ready, one STS and three conventional. Three of the new varieties also have resistance to Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN).

The new grain sorghum releases include a medium-early cream hybrid and a medium maturity, yellow hybrid with Biotype-K greenbug resistance.

More details about the entire NC+ product line can be found in the 2001 Product Catalog and Management Guide or by going to the NC+ web site at www.nc-plus.com .

Here are brief descriptions of the new product releases from NC+ for the 2001 growing season:

CORN
Conventional
* NC+ 0850: 85 days, earliest NC+ hybrid for northern and western growing areas.
* NC+ 1320: 95 days, top-yielding NC+ 90-100 day hybrid two years in a row.
* NC+1550: 98 days, white cob hybrid for western and northern environments.
* NC+ 2300: 100-day version of top-selling NC+ 4880.
* NC+ 3770: 108 days, outstanding grain quality, test weight and yields.
* NC+ 3820: High-yielding 108-day hybrid genetically similar to NC+ 4880.
* NC+ 5500: 114 days, high-yielding western irrigated hybrid. 
* NC+ 5660: 114 days, heat-driven hybrid with very good adaptation to southern environments.
* NC+ 6440: 117 days, excellent yields across all full-season environments.

White Corn
* NC+ 4950W: 112 days, outstanding test weight and kernel density, rapid drydown.
* NC+ 6990W: 118 days, excellent grain quality and gray leaf spot tolerance.

Roundup Ready® Corn
* NC+1490R: 97 days, high yielding Roundup Ready hybrid with excellent drouth tolerance.
* NC+ 3310R: Tremendous yields in a new 105-day Roundup Ready hybrid.
* NC+ 4650R: 111 days, Roundup Ready hybrid with excellent heat tolerance.
* NC+ 6960R: 118 days, Roundup Ready hybrid with outstanding drouth tolerance.

Liberty Link(tm) Corn
* NC+ 3450L: 106 days, excellent gray leaf spot tolerance, accepted in many export markets.
* NC+ 5020L: 112 days, export approved Liberty Link version of NC+ 5018.
* NC+ 6950L: 118 days, export approved Liberty Link with excellent drouth tolerance.

Bt Corn
* NC+ 4990B: 113 days, YieldGard® Bt version of high-yielding NC+ 4880.
* NC+ 5790B: 115 days, Bt yield leader at this maturity, excellent gray leaf spot tolerance.

CLEARFIELD* Corn
* NC+ 4890C: 112 days, CLEARFIELD version of high yielding NC+ 4880.

Roundup Ready®/Bt Stacked Gene Corn
* NC+ 4340RB: 111 days, excellent yield potential with Roundup Ready resistance and corn borer protection.

SOYBEANS
Roundup Ready®/STS®
* NC+ 3A83RRSTS: Late Group III, offers SU protection where growers want to plant Roundup Ready beans.
* NC+ 4N60RRSTS: Mid-Late Group IV, SCN resistance, very good stress tolerance.

Roundup Ready® Soybeans
* NC+ 1A33RR: Mid-Early Group I, exceptional in Western Minn. and S.D.
* NC+ 2A82RR: Top-yielding Late Group II in NC+ trials. * NC+ 3A72RR: Mid-Late Group III, tall and growthy with excellent stress tolerance.
* NC+ 4N48RR: Mid Group IV, strong defensive package including SCN resistance.

STS® Soybeans
* NC+ 3A85STS: Late Group III, excellent stress tolerance, Rps1k phytophthora resistance.

Conventional Soybeans
* NC+ 2A71: Late Group II, excellent stress variety with top-end yield.
* NC+ 3A21: Early Group III, great stress tolerance for tough growing conditions.
* NC+ 3N69: Mid-Late Group III, an SCN-resistant bean with outstanding yield.

GRAIN SORGHUM
* NC+ 6C21: Cream, medium-early maturity, 62 days to mid-bloom, strong adaptation to western dryland and lighter soils.
* NC+7Y57-K: Medium maturity, 70 days to mid-bloom, new yellow with genetic resistance to all known greenbug biotypes.

SORGHUM SUDANGRASS
* NC+ BMR44S: NC+'s first brown midrib sudan has improved palatability and reduced lignin content.

NC+ Hybrids, based in Lincoln, Neb., is one of the largest independent seed companies in the United States. Farmer-owned for over 40 years, NC+ nationally markets corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, forage sorghum, sudangrass and alfalfa. For more information contact their web site at
www.nc-plus.com. 

Company news release
N2888