Mycogen seeds: creating value, profit for growers. (View From The Top).Editors Note: Tim Kroenke serves as the local business unit leader and general manager of Mycogen Seeds, the Indianapolis-based affiliate of Dow AgroSciences LLC. Its successful consolidation with Cargill Hybrid Seeds created the third-largest seed corn company in the U.S. AM: What's new at Mycogen Seeds with regard to launching of new traits TRAITS - Travel Reservations Accounting Information and Ticketing System and the company's efforts in the area of input vs. output traits for your seed products? TK: We are setting the stage for a successful Mycogen Seeds commercial launch of Herculex I Insect Protection for corn. This is the next generation of Bt corn, developed by Dow AgroSciences in collaboration with Pioneer Hi-Bred International. Herculex I controls European corn borer borer, name applied to various animals that are injurious because of their ability to penetrate plant or animal tissues. Among insects, some borers are beetles, e.g., the flatheaded apple-tree borer, a serious pest of many shade and fruit trees; the roundheaded apple-tree borer; and the bronze birch, locust, elm, shot-hole, and poplar borers. Other boring insects are moths that are harmful in the larval stage, e.g., but also protects corn from other important pests such as southwestern corn borer corn borer or European corn borer European corn borer: see corn borer., common name for the larva of a moth of the family Pyralidae, introduced from S Europe into the Boston area in 1917. The corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, has steadily spread southward into the Gulf States and northward and westward across the continent to the Rocky Mts. It also still occurs in most of Europe and parts of Asia. The full-grown larva is about 1 in. (2., black cutworm cutworm, name for the larvae of many moths of the family Noctuidae (owlet moths). These larvae, or caterpillars, feed at night on the stems and roots of young plants, often cutting them off near the surface of the ground. They hide in soil by day. They attack a wide variety of field crops in low-lying areas; an average cutworm feeding on corn consumes 65 sq in. (410 sq cm) of foliage during its development. Most species pupate (see insect) underground., fall armyworm armyworm, larva of a moth, Pseudaletia unipuncta, found in North America E of the Rocky Mts. When numerous, armyworms move in hordes, traveling by night and devouring grasses, young grains, and some leguminous crops. The full-grown larva is about 2 in. (5 cm) long, dark gray with yellow and green stripes. There are usually two generations in a season, the larvae hatching from eggs in late spring and again in late summer. and corn earworm. Additionally, our silage-specific product lines--FullTime Forage and TMF hybrids--offer specific output traits that benefit dairy producers by delivering a feedstuff with higher nutritional value. Focusing on output traits is the standard in our sunflower business. We lead the market in high-oleic, midoleic, linoleic and confection sunflowers. And we constantly work with processors and end-users to better understand consumer preferences as we undertake new product concepts. We are also excited about offering elite corn hybrids with proprietary corn rootworm control technology by 2004-2005. Our product pipeline holds even more promise for bringing increased value to our customers and our affiliation with Dow AgroSciences is enabling us to bring the products growers want to the market in a timely, efficient and environmentally responsible manner. AM: From a marketing standpoint, how is Mycogen working with Dow AgroSciences to create synergies between seed and crop protection products, and how is that benefiting the customer? TK: All of our efforts begin with our channel partners and customers in mind. We serve our customers through various channel partners like ag retailers and farmer/dealers, and our marketing strategy is aligned at the customer level. We offer our customers targeted solutions for a given acre--crop performance and crop protection. For the customer, this is an assurance that products will perform as promised and have the backing of a leading company committed to agriculture. The breadth of knowledge and experience that exists at Dow AgroSciences is a great resource for Mycogen Seeds. While growers benefit from quality products and services, it is the job of everyone at Mycogen Seeds to translate that into value and profit for each and every customer. In addition, our ongoing research and development activities are focusing more and more on providing crop solutions for our customers, not just elite seed products, herbicides or insecticides, but solutions that address the needs of today's and tomorrow's crop producers. AM: Tell us about marketing challenges and environmental considerations you face as you get ready to introduce a Bt product to the market? TK: The market environment has changed significantly since Mycogen Seeds introduced the first Bt technology to the market in 1995. In 2002, more than 20 percent of corn acres are projected to be Bt corn. Launching a new insect protection trait into a market with several options may seem challenging, however, through their purchase behavior growers have demonstrated that they value technology. In addition, differentiating Herculex I Insect Protection from other Bt traits in corn will not be difficult. Herculex I will offer growers superior insect protection, and growers are looking for alternatives to current insect protected corn. We have paid particular attention to grain channel stewardship throughout the pre-launch phase and worked closely with various industry associations throughout the grain channel while formulating launch plans. In partnership with associations throughout the industry, we also have made conscious decisions to delay our U.S. launch until we receive all appropriate U.S. and Japanese approvals. In addition, environmental stewardship has been a key focus. Adherence to the IRM requirements mandated by the EPA is an important factor for preventing the development of resistance to Bt in key corn insect pests such as the European corn borer. Preserving the effectiveness of this technology will allow U.S. corn growers and consumers to continue to enjoy the economic and environmental benefits of Bt corn. |
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