New DuPont Innovation to Deliver Corn Yield

New DuPont Innovation to Deliver Corn Yield

Commercially available hybrid (left) and Optimum® AQUAmax™ hybrid (right) in 2010 Kansas on-farm, water-limited trial.

DuPont recently launched a new generation of corn hybrids developed and tested to help deliver a yield advantage in water-limited environments, allowing growers to minimize risk and maximize productivity.  These hybrids will be offered to growers under the Optimum® AQUAmax™ brand name through DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred.

These hybrids, introduced for planting in 2011, contain a collection of native corn traits that improve water access and utilization and deliver greater yields in water-limited conditions.  The initial class of Optimum® AQUAmax™ innovations will include five hybrid platforms across a range of maturities and technology packages.  While the 2011 launch size is limited and primarily targeted in the western Corn Belt (U.S.), the technology advancement is an important milestone toward the longer-term objective of bringing breeding and biotechnology solutions to drought-prone environments.

“The Optimum® AQUAmax™ products are another example of Pioneer’s right product, right acre strategy, which focuses on optimizing productivity and profitability to our growers,” said Paul Schickler, president – Pioneer Hi-Bred.  “This further demonstrates the research that Pioneer has dedicated to drought tolerance for more than 50 years.”

Paul Schickler

“Drought is a complex issue and can affect crops differently depending on the geography and stress factors of each environment,” Paul said.  “There is no single gene or ‘silver bullet’ solution for the drought complex.  Managing crops in drought-stressed environments is critically important to achieving performance results, and Pioneer continues to partner with growers to offer the best management suggestions to help maximize profit while minimizing risk.”

Optimum® AQUAmax™ hybrids are being marketed under the Optimum® brand name of the Pioneer family of traits, products and accompanying programs that enable growers to be more productive with choices to meet their individual needs. 

View the press release.

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