Garst gives corn growers convenience and safety with yield performance through Poncho® SAI

As a further advantage of using Garst seed corn, the Slater, Iowa seed company has announced that it will offer Poncho® seed-applied insecticide (SAI) on select corn products for 2004. Garst will offer the Poncho® SAI at two rates: 250 and 1250.

Poncho® 250 offers growers early-season insect protection against cutworms, wireworms, white grubs, seed corn maggots, grape colaspis, flea beetles, chinch bugs and other early season pests. Results from 471 comparisons with untreated seed over the last three years have shown that Poncho® 250 treated seed produced an average of 8.4 bushel yield improvement per acre, according to Gustafson, the manufacturer of the insecticide. Poncho® 250 coupled with Garst’s latest YieldGard® Corn Rootworm products provides growers with new ways to protect against a variety of yield-robbing pests.

“For growers in places like Illinois where wireworms have been a significant pest, Poncho® 250 can provide great protection and improve yield capabilities,” said Lonne Fry, Garst agronomist for west central Illinois. “We’re excited to offer the safety, efficiency and seed protection Poncho® can give our growers.”

With a higher rate of insecticide treatment in Poncho® 1250, Garst offers seed protection against the same pests as Poncho® 250, but the higher rate of insecticide will also deliver corn rootworm control comparable to traditional soil applied insecticides. Poncho® 1250 also has elite protection against Southern corn billbug, a significant pest for Southeast corn growers. Poncho® 1250 has an excellent cost-to-benefit ratio relative to soil-applied products. Gustafson’s research says that in 84 head-to-head trials with non-treated seed, Poncho® 1250 has been proven to improve yields by a remarkable 12.3 bushels per acre.  

“Garst is very pleased to offer Poncho® 1250 to our customers on a select group of elite genetics for 2004,” said Jeff Sernett, corn product manager for Garst.  “Poncho® 1250 offers not only outstanding protection again corn rootworm and billbugs, but is also offers an excellent option for refuge management.”

The use of Poncho® SAI eliminates time-consuming steps so growers can plant more acres per day. The professionally treated seed comes treated in the bag, improving efficiency by eliminating several time consuming tasks for the grower. These benefits coupled with the greater level of safety SAI’s offer compared to soil-applied insecticide make Poncho seed treatment an attractive option for growers.

Garst will offer Poncho® SAI as an option on select corn products for the 2004 growing season. Garst will also participate in Gustafson’s “Try 10 Free Program.” Gustafson, the manufacturer of Poncho® SAI, is offering growers who purchase 100 bags of Poncho® 250 protected seed corn a refund for the cost of the Poncho® treatment on 10 of a 100 bags of treated seed if purchased by November 30th, 2003.

In addition, Gustafson will offer a refund for the treatment cost on five bags of Poncho® 250 treated seed if the grower purchases between 50 and 99 bags of seed by November 30th, 2003. Contact your local Garst dealer for more information on the Gustafson “Try 10 Free Program.” This offer applies only to the Poncho® 250 seed treatment.

Growers are encouraged to contact their local Garst dealer or visit Gustafson’s Web site for more information about Poncho® SAI treatment at www.gustafson.com.

With corporate and research headquarters in Slater, Iowa, Garst Seed Company, 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.

Poncho® is a trademark of Bayer AG, Germany.
YieldGard® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC.