Scott, Mississippi
November 5, 2004
Source:
Delta Farm Press via
Checkbiotech
The improved fiber characteristics
and higher average yields of DP 393 could earn growers an
average of $31 per acre in loan value over a competitor variety
of comparable maturity, according to test results.
As cotton farmers bask in the glow
of another record-breaking crop,
Delta and Pine Land Co.
is preparing to roll out several new varieties that promise to
produce higher yields and even higher fiber quality.
Among those is DP 393, a conventional variety with high-yield
potential for growers who face less insect and weed pressure
than in other areas. The lineup also includes DP 432 RR, DP 434
RR, DP 494 RR and DP 488 BG/RR.
All will have fiber quality equal to or greater than DP 444
BG/RR, Delta and Pine Land’s new standard-setting variety.
“Fiber quality has become a primary issue for U.S. cotton
producers,” says Dave Albers, D&PL’s director of technical
services for the western United States and Mexico. “The
increasing export market demands quality, but U.S. cotton
producers need yield with quality.”
Speaking at a media event in Phoenix, Albers said D&PL believes
its new varieties — the results of several years of aggressive
plant breeding and testing in on-farm and university trials —
will meet both those criteria.
“We’re trying to get the word out that more than one company has
quality fiber,” said Albers. “These new varieties have a
combination of yield, uniformity and fiber quality.”
DP 393 represents something of a departure from the breeding
efforts of most companies in recent years.
“None of our competitors are releasing any more conventional
varieties,” he said. “This variety may not go on a large number
of acres, but growers still want a choice. We think this will be
an outstanding product for them.”
An early maturity, smooth leaf variety, DP 393 has produced an
average staple length of 37.1, strength of 32.3 grams per tex
and micronaire of 4.3-4.5 in fiber quality tests conducted in a
number of locations across the Cotton Belt.
The improved fiber characteristics and higher average yields of
DP 393 could earn growers an average of $31 per acre in loan
value over a competitor variety of comparable maturity,
according to test results.
The new variety is widely adapted to conditions ranging from the
Southeast to Arizona, according to Albers. It has produced an
average of 1,211 pounds of lint per acre in tests across the
Cotton Belt.
DP 432R is an early maturity, hairy leaf variety with storm
resistance, improved fiber quality and high yield potential.
Along with DP 434 RR, it will replace DP 436 RR, Sure-Grow, 521
RR and Paymaster 1199RR.
Albers said the variety consistently produces a staple of 36,
strength of 31 grams per tex and micronaire of 4.4 and yields
around 1,200 pounds in tests across the Cotton Belt. Its fiber
package and higher yields give growers a loan value of $36 an
acre above that for one competing variety and $62 an acre over
another.
DP 434 RR, on the other hand, is an early maturity, smooth leaf
variety with reduced micronaire average of 3.97, staple of 36.9
and strength of 29.9 grams per tex. It has averaged 1,106 pounds
of lint in 84 U.S. trials.
“DP 434 RR has fiber quality similar to DP 444 BG/RR,” said
Albers. “With its fiber package, it has a 1.5-cent higher loan
value than competing varieties and could provide $27 to $75 per
acre in higher returns than competing varieties.”
DP 494 RR is a mid to full maturity, semi-smooth leaf with a 37
staple, 32 grams per tex strength and 4.4 micronaire. It has a
yield average of 1,075 pounds of lint per acre across 88 tests.
It also has an average loan value about 1.5 cents higher than
competing varieties and could return growers from $24 to $41
more per acre than the other varieties.
“Its strength average of 32.6 grams per tex is a pretty strong
step up over this many locations,” said Albers referring to the
88 sites in which 494 RR was compared with other varieties.
DP 488 BG/RR is also a mid to full maturity, semi-smooth leaf
variety with an average staple of 37, strength of 31 grams per
tex and micronaire of 4.3. It has produced an average of 1,147
pounds of lint per acre in 88 comparisons with other varieties.
“This variety is stronger by about 1 gram per tex than
competing, full-season varieties,” says Albers. (31.4 vs. 30.5
in one set of tests and 31.7 vs. 30.5 in another.)
“We believe this variety has outstanding performance potential
in full season environments such as south Texas, the south Delta
and the southern Southeast,” he noted.
If it reaches that potential, DP 488 BG/RR will be following in
the footsteps of D&PL’s DP 444 BG/RR, which appears to be widely
adapted to a number of environments across the Cotton Belt.
DP 444 BG/RR is expected to be the leading variety in most of
the Cotton Belt east of California in 2005, according to Delta
and Pine Land officials.
“We think DP 444 BG/RR will make a lot of friends for us next
year,” says Jim Willeke, vice president of sales for the Scott,
Miss.-based company.
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