Dow AgroSciences completed new soybean facility at Iowa

Dow AgroSciences announced the completion of its soybean breeding facility at the Dow AgroSciences Central Iowa Field Research site located in rural Ames. In June 2011, Dow AgroSciences opened a research facility at this site to accommodate the company’s growing corn and soybean breeding programs.

The new soybean facility is approximately 12,000 square feet and will allow for continued growth opportunities to meet the research needs of the soybean breeders.

Daniel R. Kittle, Ph.D., vice president of Research and Development at Dow AgroSciences, said, “The need for accelerating soybean advancement is evident within the agricultural industry. This expansion to the Ames, Iowa, location will allow our scientists to deliver the improved solutions farmers need faster, and will help them overcome many of their growing challenges.”

As the demand for new corn and soybean breeding technology continues to increase, the investment in the expansion of the Ames location was a necessity to manage the growth objectives of the company’s Seeds and Traits business. The research station houses corn and soybean breeding programs which supports Dow AgroSciences products like SmartStax®, Enlist™ Weed Control System and other emerging technologies coming to corn and soybeans.

"Having a new soybean facility provides support for our growing soybean program,” said Jason Neus, Soybean Breeder and Site Leader at the Ames site. "It will also improve our efficiency by having a state-of-the-art facility that is set up specifically for soybean breeding.”