DuPont Reports Strong 2011 North America Harvest Results

"Pioneer customers are reporting solid harvest performance across North America this harvest," said Paul E. Schickler, president, Pioneer Hi-Bred. "Those results are strong testimony to our 'right product, right acre' approach to the marketplace.

Nov 18 2011 --- DuPont announced strong seed product performance results for the 2011 North America harvest. Farmers planting seed from DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred experienced another year of consistent corn and soybean yields across North America.

"Pioneer customers are reporting solid harvest performance across North America this harvest," said Paul E. Schickler, president, Pioneer Hi-Bred.  "Those results are strong testimony to our 'right product, right acre' approach to the marketplace.

"In addition to providing seed products with exceptional genetics and agronomics, we are uniquely positioned to deliver trusted advice and important services to our customers.  Our understanding of their operations enables us to help them manage the growing complexity of farming while increasing their productivity and profitability, Schickler added.  "We have to innovate every year to win the right to serve our customers.  Early 2012 sales progress tells us our momentum continues to be strong."

In a year of challenging growing conditions, Pioneer brand corn seed leader products continued to demonstrate strong yields when compared to competitor products.  In more than 60,000 comparisons of on-farm trials across the United States and Canada, Pioneer had an approximate 2.6 bushel per acre (bu/ac) advantage on average.*

The 2011 season highlighted strong Optimum AcreMax 1 (AM1) product performance and convenience.  Across all maturities, AM1 yielded 1.3 bu/ac more than competitor refuge-in-a-bag products in approximately 150 comparisons.*  Growers experienced the convenience of AM1 first-hand on the more than 4 million acres planted.

The Optimum AcreMax family of products continues to gain momentum. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved Optimum AcreMax and Optimum AcreMax Xtra insect protection products in August.

Optimum AcreMax is the industry's first U.S. approval of a single-bag integrated refuge product that targets only above-ground insects.  Both Optimum AcreMax and Optimum AcreMax Xtra products integrate all of a Corn Belt grower's refuge needs into single-bag convenience.  Large area on-farm trials confirmed these products had equivalent performance compared to their Herculex 1 and Herculex XTRA counterparts across growing environments.  These products are available in 16 hybrid platforms across a broad range of maturities for 2012 planting.

"Growers increase their productivity and convenience when they plant Pioneer brand products," said Schickler.  "The early success of Optimum AcreMax 1 tells us growers are eager to simplify their refuge management with an integrated solution and trust Pioneer to deliver the products to do so."

A new generation of drought-tolerant corn hybrids, Pioneer's Optimum AQUAmax products delivered 6.1 bu/ac advantage on average across all yield levels and growing environments in over 8,000 comparisons on-farm trials across the United States.*
"Optimum AQUAmax products pollinated well during extreme heat and water stress, and then proved their stability through strong yields this fall," said Schickler.  "Based on 2011 performance, growers can expect continued yield potential, stability and strong agronomics as we ramp up in 2012."

Optimum AQUAmax products will expand their reach in the 2012 season across the Corn Belt with increased volumes.  These hybrids contain a collection of native corn traits developed with the proprietary tools of the Accelerated Yield Technology (AYT) system that helps maximize water access and utilization to deliver top-end yield potential under normal growing conditions and improved yield stability under drought stress.

The top 10 Pioneer brand soybean products by sales volume showed a 1.4 bu/ac yield advantage on average compared to all competitive varieties.  These results came from more than 2,300 comparisons throughout North America.* 

While 2011 season can be characterized as a low soybean disease year, customers look to Pioneer brand soybeans to deliver strong agronomic performance and protection against pests such as soybean cyst nematode, sudden death syndrome, Phytophthora root rot, white mold and iron chlorosis in addition to consistently solid yields.  Pioneer has been making significant investments in the local development and testing of soybean varieties to deliver products that perform in these environments.

For 2012, Pioneer has added 33 new soybean products to its lineup to provide growers improved traits and yield-boosting qualities.  New Pioneer brand soybean products range from Group 00 through mid-Group V.  New varieties with resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and brown stem rot lead the soybean product lineup.

"Farmers continue to demonstrate their confidence in Pioneer brand products by their purchase decisions," said Schickler.  "When farmers purchase seed from Pioneer, they get more than yield – they also receive management suggestions and a suite of services to help ensure their productivity.  We are honored to be part of their farming operations and work with them to help ensure their seed investments provide them with a strong return."