DuPont Recognizes Kip Cullers for World Record-Breaking Soybean Yield

15/11/06 Kip Cullers of Purdy, Mo., established a new world record in soybean production at 139 bushels per acre, well above the U.S. average soybean yield of 43 bushels per acre. Cullers achieved the record with Pioneer brand soybean variety 94M80 in his Missouri Soybean Association yield contest plot this season.

"We congratulate Mr. Cullers on demonstrating the yield potential that exists with today's elite soybean varieties," said Dean Oestreich, DuPont vice president and president of DuPont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.

"Combining effective management practices with the latest soybean genetics is key to ensuring we are able to meet the growing demand for soybeans as food and fuel," said Oestreich. "We are excited about the opportunity to see what we can learn from Mr. Cullers that can help other growers increase their productivity."

With cutting-edge crop genetics technology, DuPont subsidiary Pioneer has delivered high-yielding soybean varieties for many years. Pioneer has been the market share and brand leader in U.S. soybeans for the past 17 years. In the last five years, higher performing varieties have helped improve the market share of Pioneer soybeans in the United States by six points in the last five years.

"While Mr. Cullers' achievement is astounding, Pioneer knows the yield potential of its soybean genetics," Oestreich said. "This year, a treated plot of Pioneer brand 93B36 soybeans broke the 100-bushel mark in an internal Best Management Practices (BMP) study, which provides data for Pioneer researchers to increase soybean yield. The BMP study, conducted at the York, Neb., Research Center, surfaced some additional high-hitters with several plots yielding more than 90 bushels, and five of the six varieties in the study averaging 88 bushels or above."

The BMP study was a small plot, replicated-research study, with four rows of the top-selling Pioneer brand commercial varieties replicated four times within the field. Initiated two years ago by Jim Trybom, a Pioneer research scientist in Champaign, Ill., the purpose of the study is to improve yield and seed quality.

For the 2007 planting season, Pioneer is adding 20 new soybean varieties to its lineup. These high-yielding varieties offer growers protection against yield-robbing pests such as soybean cyst nematode, Phytophthora root rot, sudden death syndrome and brown stem rot.

"Soybean growers are approaching an exciting time where different sectors are competing for soybeans," said Oestreich. "We're excited to see this demand from our customers, and we'll continue to deliver a research pipeline with products and traits that not only hold great value for farmers, but also for processors, food companies and consumers."

Pioneer currently characterizes its soybean varieties for oil content to determine impact on biodiesel production. It is committed to providing soybeans that will help fulfill the growing demand of biofuels.