DuPont received registrations for two insect protection products

DuPont received two U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registrations for products that will help maximize corn yields, simplify regulatory compliance for growers and help preserve in-plant insect protection technology.

DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred has approval from the U.S. EPA for Optimum® AcreMax® and Optimum® AcreMax® Xtra insect protection products in corn. Optimum® AcreMax® marks the industry's first U.S. approval of a single-bag integrated refuge product that targets only above-ground insects. Both Optimum® AcreMax® and Optimum® AcreMax® Xtra products integrate all of a Corn Belt grower's refuge needs into a single bag. 

"We are excited to offer corn growers the broadest line-up of simplified, integrated refuge products in the industry," said Paul E. Schickler, president of Pioneer. "Optimum® AcreMax® and Optimum® AcreMax® Xtra products from Pioneer will not only help growers maximize corn yields but preserve valuable in-plant insect protection for the future."

Optimum® AcreMax® products integrate 95 percent of a trusted, high-yielding Pioneer® brand hybrid containing Herculex® I insect protection combined with YieldGard® Corn Borer insect protection and 5 percent of a similar non-Bt herbicide tolerant hybrid to serve as the integrated corn borer refuge. 

Optimum® AcreMax® Xtra products integrate 90 percent of a trusted, high-yielding Pioneer brand hybrid containing Herculex® XTRA insect protection combined with YieldGard® Corn Borer insect protection and 10 percent of a similar non-Bt herbicide tolerant hybrid to serve as the integrated corn borer and corn rootworm refuge.  Optimum® AcreMax® and Optimum® AcreMax® Xtra products offer built-in refuge compliance in the Corn Belt.

Pioneer will conduct a commercial launch of Optimum® AcreMax® and Optimum® AcreMax® Xtra products across multiple hybrid platforms for the 2012 selling season.

"Our business approach is to work closely with growers to understand their individual needs and help maximize productivity by placing the right product on each acre," said Schickler. "Optimum® AcreMax® and Optimum® AcreMax® Xtra products further expand our offerings of new insect protection control solutions to benefit U.S. corn growers and deliver on that commitment."

Pioneer's complete line of simplified refuge products consists of:

•Optimum® AcreMax® 1 insect protection – the industry's first integrated corn rootworm refuge solution.
•Optimum® AcreMax® RW rootworm protection – the industry's first integrated single-bag refuge solution for corn rootworm.
•Optimum® AcreMax® insect protection – the industry's first U.S. approval of a single-bag integrated refuge product targeting only above-ground insects.
•Optimum® AcreMax® Xtra insect protection – single-bag integrated refuge product targeting above and below-ground insects.