Bayer CropScience launches seven new cotton varieties for 2014

Bayer CropScience recently announced seven new FiberMax® and Stoneville® cotton varieties for the 2014 season that will help growers meet some of these difficult challenges. Four new varieties from FiberMax and Stoneville contain new TwinLink™ technology with two Bt genes for seasonlong protection against lepidopteran pests. All seven of the new FiberMax and Stoneville varieties incorporate stacked GlyTol® LibertyLink® technology for a wide window of over-the-top applications of Liberty® herbicide and glyphosate.

New FiberMax varieties available in 2014 include:

FM 1830GLT and FM 2334GLT offer the GlyTol, LibertyLink and TwinLink (GLT) trait package for full tolerance to both Liberty herbicide and glyphosate, and two proprietary Bayer Bt genes for effective management of major lepidopteran pests. Both varieties offer excellent yield potential and fiber quality with the added benefit of Verticillium wilt tolerance. Adapted for the High Plains, FM 1830GLT has an early-medium maturity, and FM 2334GLT has a medium maturity. FM 2334GLT has very similar characteristics to FM 2484B2F, with the added benefit of two herbicide modes of action and even better fiber quality.

FM 1320GL and FM 2322GL have the GlyTol LibertyLink (GL) traits for adaptation in areas of the High Plains. FM 1320GL has a very early maturity, the earliest offered from FiberMax, with excellent yield potential and good fiber quality. FM 2322GL is a medium-maturing variety with excellent yield potential and outstanding fiber quality.

New Stoneville varieties available in 2014 include:

ST 5032GLT and ST 5289GLT offer the GlyTol, LibertyLink and TwinLink (GLT) trait package for full tolerance to both Liberty herbicide and glyphosate, and two proprietary Bayer Bt genes for effective management of major lepidopteran pests. ST 5032GLT has an early-medium maturity with strong yield potential and excellent fiber quality. This variety complements ST 4946GLB2 and FM 1944GLB2 in the cotton-growing regions east of the Mississippi River. ST 5289GLT is a medium-maturing variety similar to ST 5288B2F, the No. 1 variety planted in the south Delta last season. ST 5289GLT has excellent yield potential, especially on marginal soil types, and good fiber quality.

ST 4747GLB2 has the GlyTol LibertyLink Bollgard II® trait package for full tolerance to both Liberty herbicide and glyphosate, and two Bt genes for effective management of major worm pests. ST 4747GLB2 has a broad adaptation with one of the earliest maturities in the Stoneville portfolio. With two years in the Cotton Agronomic Performance (CAP) trials, ST 4747GLB2 sets new yield standards in the Mid-South, Southeast, Carolinas and Virginia for an early season variety, with improved fiber length and micronaire in the Stoneville brand.

These new FiberMax and Stoneville varieties have been tested in CAP trials across the Cotton Belt against current and experimental Bayer CropScience varieties. CAP trials are planted on growers’ farms and managed with the same techniques used on their production acres. Bayer regional cotton agronomists use this on-farm data to determine which experimental varieties will be commercially available as FiberMax or Stoneville varieties.

“Every FiberMax and Stoneville variety we advance adds something to our current cottonseed portfolio,” Brehmer said. “Bayer CropScience was the first to bring double-stacked herbicide trait technology to the cotton market with GlyTol LibertyLink technology, and we’ve added to that trait package with GlyTol LibertyLink TwinLink. These new FiberMax and Stoneville varieties have better yield potential and improved fiber quality with the trait technologies that cotton growers need for the problems they experience on their farms.”