AgroPages-Alta Seeds updates growers on herbicide tolerant sorghum development-Agricultural news

Multiple herbicide-tolerant grain sorghum traits are coming soon to growers across the country and Alta Seeds breeder Ben Beyer took the stage at Commodity Classic to provide an update on the development process. Speaking during the sorghum general session hosted by the National Sorghum Producers, Beyer discussed the types of herbicide-tolerant genetics Alta Seeds is bringing to market and how soon they will become available for planting.

"We've developed three hybrids with proven resistance to ALS herbicides," Beyer says. "These hybrids have been tested the last two years in field trials using twice the recommend herbicide application rate and they have demonstrated excellent performance with no yield drag."

Working under a joint agreement with DuPont Crop Protection, Alta Seeds herbicide-resistant hybrids will feature the Inzen™ herbicide-tolerance trait. Inzen was developed through traditional breeding techniques. The trait is non-transgenic and will not have any export restrictions. Beyer informed the audience that the release of hybrids with the Inzen trait is pending EPA registration which is expected by 2017.

Beyer announced Alta Seeds has multiple traits for herbicide tolerance in its R&D pipeline, including genetics resistant to Imidazolinone, often referred to as "IMI" herbicides.

"Post-emergent weed control is a major research priority for Alta Seeds and we've identified several proprietary traits that we are aggressively pursuing," Beyer says. "We're focused on delivering solutions to farmers' needs and herbicide tolerance is at or near the top for most sorghum growers."

Grassy weeds such as foxtail, barnyardgrass, crabgrass and Texas panicum are estimated to annually reduce U.S. sorghum yields by approximately 20 percent or an average of 13 bushels per acre. The introduction of herbicide-tolerant sorghum will enhance grower yields and profitability while also providing rotational flexibility.

Alta Seeds, the premium brand of global seed company Advanta, provides growers with the latest technology and advanced genetics in grain and forage sorghum.