Monsanto offers more GM soybean varieties to US farmers

Now in its third season, Monsanto’s Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean technology is continuing to gain rapid farmer adoption. Citing more beans per pod and higher yield opportunity, many growers say they have increased or even converted all of their soybean acres this season to these advanced, second-generation soybeans.

Loyal Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield farmers say these soybeans are superior to the older Roundup Ready soybean technology, which was introduced in 1996. “On our farm, we have been getting a lot better yields with Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield, and there are a lot more beans per pod out there from top to bottom,” said Dixon, Ill., farmer Ryan Appelquist, who planted Channel® brand Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans on 100 percent of his soybean acres this season.

Steve Mumma, who farms in New Carlisle, Ohio, is also pleased with the benefits of Asgrow® brand Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans. “They’ve given us amazing yields, and it’s been fun for my son, step-son and me to search for five-bean pods each fall,” he said. “We also find more three- and four-bean pods. I haven’t planted any other soybeans because I’ve been so satisfied.”

Higher yield performance is driving broad farmer acceptance in all soybean-growing geographies, said Lisa Flynn, Monsanto soybean traits marketing manager. “Last season, Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans achieved a 3.8 bushel per acre yield advantage compared with original Roundup Ready® soybeans,” she noted. “And, with favorable soybean commodity prices, that yield advantage can add up to significantly higher profit opportunity as well.”

One factor helping to drive higher performance is the expanded number of Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield varieties, giving farmers more choice in selecting genetics best suited for their farms. Last season, there were 80 varieties, and for 2011 farmers had the opportunity to select from more than 230 varieties.

For 2012, more than 300 Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean varieties will be offered by Monsanto’s national and regional seed brands, as well as by more than 100 independent seed companies.

Romney, Ind., farmer Roger Verhey more than doubled his Specialty™ brand Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean acres this season, to about 70 percent, after seeing the technology outperform a competitor soybean technology. “The Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans were quite a bit better across the board,” he said. “We saw a lot more four-bean pods, compared with only three-bean pods and a few fours with the other product.”

The technology is not only offering higher yield opportunity to farmers today but also will deliver increased value in the future. “Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield will be the trait technology for future Genuity soybean innovations in Monsanto’s new product pipeline,” explained Roy Fuchs, the company’s global oilseed technology lead.  He said these include Dicamba-tolerant soybeans, which give farmers another option for controlling tough broadleaf weeds; higher-yielding soybeans through the insertion of key genes; and soybeans that deliver improved oils for consumer food products.