Farmer Excitement Building Around Soybean Economic and Yield Opportunities

ST. LOUIS, April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The enthusiasm around soybeans has increased substantially as the 2008 planting season approaches. Higher commodity prices are driving increased soybean acres, and soybean farmers are optimistic about the economic prospects from their bean acres. The optimism looks to remain strong for upcoming seasons based on positive economic outlook and the opportunity for increased yields.

"Farmers are encouraged about the positive economics around soybeans and are eager to learn more about higher yield opportunities," said Dion McBay, Monsanto U.S. Soybean Traits Marketing Lead. "We are excited to introduce Roundup Ready 2 Yield(TM) soybeans to help increase yield potential in 2009. This next generation Roundup Ready(R) soybean technology delivers the flexibility and convenience of the Roundup Ready system and provides higher soybean yield potential."

More than 400 farmers across the Midwest will plant production seed this season to support the anticipated strong demand for Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans when they become commercially available this fall. A limited commercial release is planned on up to 2 million acres for the 2009 growing season, with a full-scale Roundup Ready 2 Yield product launch scheduled for 2010.

Farmers Experience Higher Yield Performance

Farmers who grew Roundup Ready 2 Yield production seed last season were enthusiastic about the performance they experienced.

"In terms of yield, the Roundup Ready 2 Yield beans were some of our best beans," said Mike Olson, of Shirley, Illinois. "We were very happy with the way they yielded. When they are introduced in 2009, we'll be 100 percent Roundup Ready 2 Yield because we now know that they are going to outyield the regular Roundup Ready beans by far."

"The more beans we can yield, it's more money we can put in our pocket," said Traer, Iowa farmer, Dave Brezina. "The technology is there, and if you can make more money per acre, that's what we're all out here for."

"My Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans came in at 8 1/2 percent over my Roundup Ready soybeans," said Beason, Illinois farmer Dave Sasse. "There's definitely a yield advantage to them."

McBay noted that Roundup Ready 2 Yield will provide farmers with the same flexibility, dependability and crop safety that they enjoy today with the Roundup Ready soybean system, and deliver top-end yield potential. He cited several reasons why farmers can look to the Roundup Ready 2 Yield system to enable higher yield potential:

-- Location, location, location -- Roundup Ready 2 Yield was developed
through extensive gene mapping that allows Monsanto to identify
specific DNA regions in soybeans that have a positive impact on yield.
Using advanced insertion and selection technologies, the Roundup Ready
2 Yield gene is situated in one of these DNA regions that provide
higher yield potential.
-- Proven high-performance -- Four years of Monsanto research trials
comparing near isogenic lines have demonstrated a consistent yield
advantage of 7 to 11 percent for Roundup Ready 2 Yield technology
compared with Roundup Ready soybeans. The 4-year average yield
increase of Roundup Ready 2 Yield over Roundup Ready was 9 percent.
-- Power in the pod -- In over 200 observations including 120 comparisons
by Monsanto, Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean plants produced
significantly more 3-bean pods per plant compared to Roundup Ready
soybeans. This higher number of 3-bean pods contributes to more beans
per plant and therefore higher yield performance.

Farmers will get a firsthand look at this advanced soybean technology when Monsanto hosts tours of Roundup Ready 2 Yield Showcase Plots across the Midwest this summer, and during the 2008 Farm Progress Show in August. Showcase Plot tour information will be announced later this season.

When introduced in 2009, Roundup Ready 2 Yield will be offered in high-performing genetics from Asgrow(R) as well as American Seeds Inc. (ASI) and other leading regional soybean seed brands.

In 2009, Roundup Ready 2 Yield varieties will be available primarily in maturity groups 2 and 3. These maturity groups are planted where more than 50 percent of U.S. soybeans are grown. This includes all of Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio and Pennsylvania; most of Illinois and Indiana; portions of northern Missouri, Kansas and Maryland; and portions of southern Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and South Dakota.

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. For more information about Roundup Ready 2 Yield, visit: http://www.monsanto.com/rr2y/default.asp

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: malane@monsanto.com

Source: Monsanto Company

CONTACT: Geri Berdak, +1-314-694-4717, for Monsanto Company

Web site: http://www.monsanto.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/114341.html

2008-04-22 18:09:07 0342604 PRNEWSWIRE