INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 30, 2003 – Mycogen Seeds will now offer selected sunflower hybrids with Cruiser® seed treatment as a result of a recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration.

Applied by Mycogen Seeds during conditioning, Cruiser helps protect both germinating seed and young plants from damage and stand loss caused by wireworm, pale striped flea beetle, sunflower beetle and other secondary soil pests.

“We’re excited about this announcement because it will give sunflower growers an improved insect control option,” says Keith Porter, marketing specialist for Mycogen Seeds. “When sunflower hybrids are treated with Cruiser, growers can be confident they will get a good stand and their seed investment will be protected.”

The added protection of Cruiser allows sunflower hybrids to get off to a good start by providing an important window of early season protection. The improved stand establishment, improved plant health and vigorous plant growth will help ensure growers optimum yield potential.

In extensive field trial testing, plots of Mycogen Seeds’ sunflower hybrids treated with Cruiser seed treatment insecticide averaged 10 to 15 percent more plants per acre than those plots with non-treated seed.

“The feedback from the field has been great,” says Porter. “We’ve had very positive comments from growers. As the sunflower market leader, we are pleased to help bring this important technology to sunflower growers.”

Mycogen Seeds will be offering eight hybrids treated with Cruiser seed treatment insecticide. Growers will be able to choose from traditional, NuSun™ and high-oleic offerings, giving them maximum hybrid flexibility along with outstanding insect protection.

“Our new CLEARFIELD® hybrid 8N429CL, just introduced this spring, will be among those that receive Cruiser seed treatment insecticide,” adds Porter. “We wanted to make sure to include this outstanding new performer as one of the treated hybrids, giving growers a more comprehensive weed and pest control package.

We’ll have a good supply of these hybrids for the upcoming growing season, but it is not unlimited, so we are encouraging growers to place orders early,” explains Porter.

“Next year we hope to expand our offering, both in units available and in treated hybrids offered.”

Cruiser does not significantly impact plantability, however, it is still important for growers to calibrate their planters prior to planting. Producers should follow their planter manufacturer recommendations on talc and graphite when using treated hybrids.

Mycogen Seeds is an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences LLC. Mycogen Seeds is the leader in Silage-Specific™ corn, the largest sunflower seed producer, and a leading producer of seed corn, alfalfa, soybeans and sorghum.

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Contact Information
Name: Greg Cannon
Phone: 317-337-7568
Email: [email protected]

Name: Jordanna Smida
Phone: 262-784-7200
Email: [email protected]