Garst Seed Company announces the introduction of 18 new Garst® brand soybean varieties for the 2006 growing season. This outstanding lineup includes: 15 new varieties with the Roundup Ready1 trait — seven of which also offer resistance to soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) and one variety that offers the Roundup Ready trait and the new CystX2 technology. Three new conventional varieties also are available.

A total of 77 Garst brand soybean varieties offering top yields, exceptional agronomics and proven performance are available to growers for the 2006 season. Garst will also offer 43 NK brand soybeans in 2006.

“Garst offers high-performance soybeans that combine high yields and the resistance that producers need,” says Mike Schaefer, soybean product manager for Garst.  “Our soybean breeding program is dedicated to providing more varieties so ultimately customers will have more options.”

SCN continues to be the No. 1 yield-robber of soybeans and can cause up to 30 percent yield loss on susceptible varieties that show no visible signs of nematode damage.  

Garst offers more than 30 soybean varieties with SCN resistance. Those varieties are trademarked: SCN SOLUTIONS: A PRESCRIPTION FOR SUCCESSTM.  In addition, one new variety 3236RR/N provides CystX technology for complete genetic resistance to all known U.S. races of SCN. Many of these varieties offer additional traits such as Iron Deficiency Chlorosis tolerance and superior disease resistance for a complete package of traits.

“Our varieties offer growers more options and better protection to help them manage specific production challenges,” Schaefer adds. “Our goal at Garst is to help farmers achieve maximum return per acre.”

Seed Treatment Options

Garst is again offering yield protection options including Cruiser®Maxx® Pak seed treatment which protects the genetic yield potential and enhances stand establishment by providing defense against a broad spectrum of early-season insects and diseases. CruiserMaxx Pak is a combination of Cruiser® seed treatment insecticide and ApronMaxx® brand seed treatment fungicide from Syngenta.

All Garst soybeans treated with CruiserMaxx Pak are also treated with ProCoat®, a seed treatment available only from Garst. ProCoat delivers added protection against all major soil-borne diseases and several seed-borne diseases.

Garst Seed Company, with headquarters in Slater, Iowa, provides seed solutions for growers across North America with high yielding corn, soybean, sorghum, alfalfa and sunflower products.
 
Garst Seed Company is affiliated with Syngenta, a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology.  Syngenta is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2004 were approximately $7.3 billion. Syngenta employs some 19,000 people in over 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT).

® Garst brand is a trademark of Garst Seed Company.
TM SCN SOLUTIONS: A PRESCRIPTION FOR SUCCESS is a registered trademark of Garst Seed Company.
®ProCoat is a registered trademark of a Garst Seed Company
®ApronMaxx and Cruiser ®Maxx® Pak are registered trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.
1 Roundup Ready® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology, LLC
2 CystX is a registered trademark of ACCESS Plant Technology, Inc.