Slater, Iowa
July 14, 2003

There has been an evolution at Garst Seed Company over the past two years. Garst has introduced 60 new corn products, with 12 of these new corn hybrids being added to the product range beginning this summer. Over the last two years, this group of new products includes 46 corn products (77 percent) that carry at least one value added trait.  Several of these products are G-STAC or gene stacked -- the combination of multiple traits being added to a single product.  This group of new products from Garst covers a wide maturity range from 83 to 120 days GRM (General Relative Maturity).

All new corn products are brought to the market under Garst’s “best product” strategy. This means that no new product will reach the market if it doesn’t offer growers a higher standard of performance over current products. In addition, new products are also developed to provide growers with new solutions to agronomic and management challenges.

“Utilizing our best product strategy ensures that our Garst customers are using hybrids that have been through many stages of research, development, testing and in-field evaluation trials,” said Jeff Sernett, corn product manager for Garst Seed Company.  “We are also excited because Garst will soon introduce the YieldGard® Rootworm (YG2) trait for the 2004 planting season.  We are in the final product evaluation stage and 2004 will be the first year that Garst has offered this technology in our commercial products.  Our goal with YieldGard® Rootworm technology is not to be first, but instead to build the best product offerings combining high performance genetics with this value added trait.  It is easy to be first; yet takes commitment to be the best.”

YieldGard® Rootworm offers growers in-plant protection against Northern, Western and Mexican Rootworms and is more convenient and safer than soil-applied insecticides for growers and the environment. In addition, the expanded 2004 product line offers a very broad array of other herbicide and insect protection traits. 

“Garst corn has a strong reputation, but our customers expect newer and better every day and that is what we strive to deliver,” said Sernett. “We have worked to make some very dramatic trait and product upgrades within the last two years. We have introduced excellent products with key traits and technology options.  All of these products have met our high performance standards especially within each of their respective trait sectors.”

During the past several years, Garst corn products have earned their reputation for late-season plant health and standability. This group of new products supports these high standards and these products continue to drive the yield performance bar higher and higher.

If you haven’t tried Garst corn lately, time to try it again. In August and September, Garst will be hosting “Garst Field Days” where growers can preview hybrids slated for next year’s planting season. For more information about a “Garst Field Day” near you, contact your local Garst DSM or call 1-888-GO GARST.

With corporate and research headquarters in Slater, Iowa, Garst, along with PSA Genetics, AgriPro Wheat, and Interstate Seeds are key components in Advanta’s worldwide seed technology network that includes research, development and breeding facilities in 14 U.S. states and in 26 countries around the globe. Together, Advanta is one of the top five seed companies in the world.

For more information about Garst’s new hybrids see the following list, contact your local Garst ProSeller or visit Garst’s website at .

Newest Garst® Corn Products

8994RR
83 Day GRM
High Yield Genetics for the 80-85 Day Maturity Acres
·         Provides the effectiveness, convenience and simplicity of Roundup Ready® system
·         Excellent plant health, with good stay green and ear flex
·         Exhibits some tolerance to MDMV and Gray Leaf Spot
·         Short statured hybrid with good stalk and root strength

8948RR
91 Day GRM
Racehorse Yield Potential with Roundup Ready® Technology
·         Excellent top-end yield potential combined with stability across environments
·         Widely adapted hybrid with excellent emergence and early vigor
·         Solid agronomic package allows good south of zone movement

8880YG1
96 Day GRM
Superb Top-End Yields, Solid Agronomics and YieldGard® Corn Borer Protection
·         Excellent top-end yield with superb root strength and solid agronomics
·         Widely adapted hybrid with stability across a broad range of environments
·         Outstanding performance both north and south of adapted zone
·         Attractive plant style and good grain quality

8583YG1/IT
108 Day GRM
Consistent Yielder, CLEARFIELD* Plus YieldGard® Corn Borer Stacked Hybrid
·         Superb late season plant health and integrity combined with good Gray Leaf Spot
tolerance
·         Good grain quality and test weight
·         Dependable yield stability across environments
·         Moderately fixed ear requires medium-high to high plant populations

8444IT
111 Day GRM
Broadly Adapted CLEARFIELD* Hybrid with Outstanding Yield Stability
Tall hybrid with solid agronomics that will wait for late harvest
·         Good plant health and consistent ear development provides stability across environments
·         Determinate ear requires medium to high plant populations
·         Best performance when used as an early hybrid south of zone
·         Excellent late season plant integrity

8451RR
111 Day GRM
Widely Adapted Yield Leader, Garst Stability and Roundup Ready® Technology
·         East to west adaptability with good plant health
·         Well adapted to high yield environments
·         Yield stability under heat and moisture stress
·         Moderate ear flex for plant population flexibility

8401YG1/IT
112 Day GRM
Yield Stability, CLEARFIELD* Plus YieldGard® Corn Borer and Superior Test Weight
·         YieldGard® Corn Borer trait provides season-long protection from European and
Southwestern Corn Borer
·         CLEARFIELD* Production System herbicide flexibility
·         Short statured hybrid with excellent stalk quality and standability
·         Well adapted to high plant populations and exhibits outstanding test weight

8332YG1/IT
114 Day GRM
Widely Adapted CLEARFIELD* Plus YieldGard® Corn Borer Stacked Hybrid
·         Very good emergence, early vigor and ear flex
·         YieldGard® Corn Borer trait provides season-long protection from European and
Southwestern Corn Borer
·         Best performance at moderate plant populations
·         Medium-tall hybrid with excellent stay green and late season plant integrity

8334
114 Day GRM
Excellent Yields and Food Use Grain Quality
·         Excellent grain quality characteristics, including high protein and test weight with regional food grade potential
·         Very good ear flex and best performance at moderate plant populations
·         Medium-tall hybrid with excellent stay green and late season plant integrity
·         Widely adapted hybrid with excellent emergence and early vigor

8204RR
117 Day GRM
Mid-South and Southeastern Style Roundup Ready® Yield Leader
·         Very good yield response to irrigation and high yield management practices
·         Good plant health and late season stay green
·         Outstanding ear flex under medium plant populations
·         Well adapted to grain or silage production

8292YG1
118 Day GRM
Top-End Yields and YieldGard® Corn Borer Protection
·         Excellent top-end yield across diverse environments
·         YieldGard® Corn Borer trait provides season-long protection from European and
Southwestern Corn Borer
·         Widely adapted from east to west
·         Tall plant with medium ear placement and superb test weight grain on a proprietary white cob
·         Solid agronomic package for ease of harvest

8119RR
120 Day GRM
Roundup Ready® Option for Grain or Silage
·         Excellent plant health, with good stay green and ear flex
·         Exhibits some tolerance for MDMV and GLS
·         Good choice for grain or silage production
·         Provides the effectiveness, convenience and simplicity of Roundup Ready® system