Mid-South cotton will have access to new Bollgard^® 3 XtendFlex^® varieties that have demonstrated outstanding yield potential and fiber quality performance comparable to DP 1646 B2XF with the launch of the Deltapine^® Class of ‘20.

The new Deltapine varieties combine the proven protection from bollworms provided by Bollgard^® 3 Technology and the flexible, efficient weed management of the Roundup Ready^® Xtend Crop System. In addition, three of these new varieties are resistant to bacterial blight.

The Class of ’20 features four broadly adapted varieties for the Mid-South:

The Class of ‘20 varieties were evaluated by New Product Evaluator (NPE) growers. The results of the growers’ large-acre variety plots and their feedback on management and performance were instrumental in determining the Class of ‘20.

“DP 2038 B3XF was an awesome variety in my plot,” said NPE grower Mack Burge in Campbell, Missouri. “It grew off and fruited up well. It averaged 2,400 pounds per acre and beat DP 1646 B2XF. I thought it would be hard to go over the yield bar set by DP 1646 B2XF, but this variety set the bar even higher for my crop, from what I could tell.”

Burge says he will plant DP 1646 B2XF again in 2020, but he’d like to plant half of his farm to DP 2038 B3XF if seed is available.

“In my opinion, the Class of ‘20 ranks way out in front of the rest of the classes,” Burge said. “It could be hard to beat going forward. There are some very good varieties in this class.”

In Holly Bluff, Mississippi, NPE grower Ron Goodman is looking forward to having Bollgard 3 XtendFlex varieties to plant in 2020 that show performance potential on par or better than his go-to variety, DP 1646 B2XF.

“It’s the first time in the NPE program that I would say I’d plant all four of the varieties we evaluated in our plots,” Goodman said. “There was not a dud in my plot, which was compared to DP 1646 B2XF. Every one of these varieties were at least 150 pounds better.”

The new Class of ‘20 variety Goodman is most excited about is DP 2055 B3XF.

“It beat the DP 1646 B2XF, which is hard to do,” he said. “It graded better and grew less aggressively and, thus, was easier to manage. In my mind, DP 2055 B3XF was as good as it gets.”

Heavy pressure from bollworms the past few seasons has forced Goodman to make multiple insecticide applications for control measures. In his plot work with Deltapine varieties, he has grown Bollgard 3 XtendFlex varieties for two seasons.

“We have seen a noticeable difference in control between Bollgard II^® technology and Bollgard^® 3 Technology on our farm,” he said. “It will be good to have varieties that can make the yield and provide better control of bollworms.”

For more about the Deltapine Class of ‘20 varieties, visit Deltapine.com/Classof20.

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ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. It is a violation of federal and state law to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its labeling. NOT ALL formulations of dicamba, glyphosate or glufosinate are approved for in-crop use with cotton with XtendFlex® Technology. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. Contact the U.S. EPA and your state pesticide regulatory agency with any questions about the approval status of dicamba herbicide products for in-crop use with Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans or cotton with XtendFlex® Technology.

B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your seed brand representative for the registration status in your state.

Roundup Ready® 2 Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate. Cotton with XtendFlex® Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, glufosinate and dicamba. Glyphosate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba. Glufosinate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glufosinate. Contact your seed brand dealer or refer to the Monsanto Technology Use Guide for recommended weed control programs.

Insect control technology provided by Vip3A is utilized under license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. Bollgard II®, Bollgard®, Deltapine®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design®, Roundup Ready® and XtendFlex® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group. LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design® is a trademark of BASF Corporation. ©2020 Bayer Group. All rights reserved.</sub>