Dow AgroSciences Advances Corn Seed Performance in the Americas

Investments paying off with higher performing products

MIDLAND, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fueled by robust investments in global plant breeding programs, Dow AgroSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW), has captured a greater share of the North and South American corn seed market. This is the fourth consecutive year of corn share gains in the Americas for Dow AgroSciences.

“What we’re after at the end of the day is yield. Improved genetics, insect control and reduced refuge – all of those things are components of high yield that SmartStax brings to us”

“Our considerable investments in corn research and development are delivering strong germplasm and trait innovations that corn growers demand,” says Antonio Galindez, president and CEO, Dow AgroSciences. He says farmers are taking notice of the powerful performance and yield-enhancing technology provided by Dow AgroSciences corn hybrids.

“Dow AgroSciences seems to be one of the front runners in the technology scene and helping you get better yields,” says Steve Carroll of Pontiac, Ill., who farms 1,600 acres in the heart of the Corn Belt.

Current-year yield results reinforce the vigor of the company’s comprehensive corn breeding program. Dow AgroSciences hybrids with SmartStax^® trait technology outyielded competitor hybrids by nearly four bushels per acre in U.S. trials which, at today’s grain prices, translates to a significant boost in potential income for farmers. This was the third season for SmartStax, a corn trait combination developed by Dow AgroSciences that brings growers broad-spectrum insect protection and high-yielding genetics.

“What we’re after at the end of the day is yield. Improved genetics, insect control and reduced refuge – all of those things are components of high yield that SmartStax brings to us,” says Mark Guy, a 3,000-acre farmer from Iowa Falls, Iowa, who planted more than half his acres to Dow AgroSciences hybrids this year.

Water utilization also is top of mind with many growers, particularly after the record-setting drought in the central United States last summer. Dow AgroSciences continues to invest in both native and genetic drought tolerance research, with the goal of building corn hybrids with more consistent yield under moisture stress. Corn hybrids from Dow AgroSciences either matched or exceeded yields of competitive drought-tolerant products in 2012 U.S. trials.

“Our corn research and development efforts continue to pay dividends, as we work together to bring solutions that maximize yield potential and return on investment for growers throughout the Americas and the world,” Galindez says.

Galindez points out that Dow AgroSciences’ market share growth in North and South America is particularly meaningful, given the regions’ prominence in corn production. The Americas represented approximately 70 percent of the growth in the world corn seed market from 2010 to 2011. Corn seed sales in the two continents during 2011 totaled $10.5 billion – nearly two-thirds of the $16 billion total global sales figure.

“The Americas are significant players in the global corn market and are of strategic importance to our business. We will continue to invest resources to sustain our growth in these regions, not only in seeds and traits but also in crop protection products that help our customers provide food, fuel and fiber to a growing population,” Galindez says.

Dow AgroSciences markets seed under the Mycogen^®, Pfister Seeds^™, Dairyland Seed^™, Renze Seeds^™, Brodbeck Seeds^™, Prairie Brand Seed^® and Triumph^™ brands in the United States; and under the Mycogen and Hyland Seeds^™ brands in Canada. In South America, the company’s offering is sold under the Dow Seeds^™ and Morgan^® brands.

About Dow AgroSciences

Dow AgroSciences, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, develops leading-edge crop protection and plant biotechnology solutions to meet the challenges of the growing world. Dow AgroSciences is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company and had annual global sales of $5.7 billion in 2011. Learn more at www.dowagro.com. Follow Dow AgroSciences on Facebook and YouTube or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.

SmartStax^® multi-event technology developed by Dow AgroSciences and Monsanto.

^®™Brodbeck Seeds, Dairyland Seed, DOW Diamond, Hyland Seeds, Mycogen, Pfister Seeds, Prairie Brand Seed, Renze Seeds and Triumph Seed are trademarks of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow.

^®SmartStax is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC. Always follow IRM, grain marketing and all other stewardship practices and pesticide label directions. B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your seed representative for the registration status in your state.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2011, Dow had annual sales of $60 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 197 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.