Dupont Pioneer launches new A-Series line of soybeans

DuPont Pioneer announced today the introduction of Pioneer® brand A-Series soybean varieties, the highest yielding line of soybeans in its history. These new soybean varieties are the result of innovative soybean research programs and the DuPont Pioneer proprietary Accelerated Yield Technology 4.0 (AYT 4.0).

Available for 2017 planting, Pioneer is launching 54 new A-Series soybean varieties from maturity Groups 000 to 7 across North America. In 2016 on-farm Pioneer IMPACT™ plot tests, these varieties produced an average yield advantage of 2.3 bu/acre against 10,000 comparisons of elite competitors at 400 locations.

"This is a historic milestone for Pioneer," said Steve Reno, vice president, business director - U.S. and Canada. "This new soybean line is producing unprecedented step-change improvements in yields. A-Series will help soybean growers achieve higher yields no matter what their yield goal."

The Pioneer brand A-Series lineup has a broad range of trait options to fit each grower's unique needs. The North America soybean line consists of more than 30 varieties with Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® technology, 11 Glyphosate Tolerant varieties, a Pioneer brand Plenish® high oleic soybean variety plus conventional, LibertyLink® and DuPont™ STS® varieties. The letter "A" will be part of the Pioneer brand soybean variety names to help growers easily identify the new high-yielding lines.

Pioneer brand A-Series soybeans are developed by the industry's most extensive localized soybean breeding and testing network that is focused on developing high yielding varieties for local environments. Since 2011, Pioneer has increased its local research center network across North America by 30 percent to develop and rigorously test its experimental products in the areas where they will be grown.

Pioneer announced in July 2016 it had deployed a new breeding technology called AYT 4.0 across its entire soybean breeding program. The technology has more than doubled the rate of genetic gain of its soybean pipeline and cut the time it takes to bring new products to market. The majority of the A-Series soybean varieties were developed with AYT 4.0.

"The investments we have been making in research centers, soybean disease nurseries, innovative technologies and top-notch talent are paying off for growers in A-Series soybeans," said Reno. "These varieties and new experimental products are being developed and rigorously tested right where they are to be grown by our customers so they have the traits and defensive characteristics needed for local conditions."