A new year traditionally comes with setting new goals and forming resolutions for the year ahead. For cotton growers, this could mean exploring ways to improve yields, reduce pest and disease pressure or looking for ways to overcome weather challenges – whatever it looks like for them to continue leaving your legacy. When other resolutions begin to fade, stay strong and exceed the goals set throughout the growing season with support from BASF. 

Looking at the season ahead

The new Axant™ Flex Herbicide Tolerance Technology will help cotton growers gain control over yield-robbing, resistant weeds, and it’s only available to certified growers in certain Stoneville® and FiberMax® cotton varieties from BASF¹.

“The combination of the Stoneville varieties that growers have trusted with their yield for years, paired with Axant Flex technology, provides growers with a strong, reliable and high-quality cottonseed that will change the game for the growing year ahead,” said Justin Jones, BASF’s Cotton Marketing Manager. “Stoneville’s strong emergence and seedling vigor helps cotton crops perform their best from planting to harvest with better yield potential and fiber quality.”

New year, new varieties

Stoneville cotton has a legacy of innovation, helping growers get more value out of every cotton acre. BASF continues to develop strong varieties and traits for today’s cotton growers and future generations. Now, with Axant Flex technology available in one select Stoneville variety for the 2024 growing season, Stoneville cotton has even more to offer. As cotton growers gear up for planting, anticipation for the sole quad-stacked cotton¹ option in the U.S. market grows.

The BASF Stoneville varieties will confront the problems farmers are facing in their fields, particularly the threat of nematodes found in the crop’s root. Without proper control, root-knot nematodes with moderate to high pressure can cause up to 25% yield loss. There will be one new Stoneville line, ST 6000AXTP, being introduced for the first time for the 2024 season.

The new Stoneville cotton variety with Axant Flex technology incorporates three-gene insect control traits and provide protection against nematodes. Additionally, the variety shows resistance to bacterial leaf blight, excellent tolerance to Verticillium wilt and protection to other key diseases. These native traits are bred into the best-in-class germplasm offered by BASF.

This year's anticipated limited release of Stoneville and FiberMax cotton varieties with Axant Flex technology are generating excitement among cotton growers eager to kick off the new year successfully. For cotton growers seeking high yield potential, exceptional fiber quality, and top-tier insect and weed control, Axant Flex technologies offer a solution.

These new varieties are building upon the existing seed traits that cotton growers have come to trust and just may be the key to achieving those new year's resolutions. Jones encourages growers to consult their local BASF advisors for details on this release, varying by geography.

To learn more about the high-performing varieties in a specific region, contact a local BASF agronomist or visit stoneville.com.

¹ Availability of cottonseed containing the Axant Flex technology for the 2024 growing season and beyond is subject to many factors, and such seed may not be available in all cotton-growing areas. Commercial sales of cottonseed containing the Axant Flex technology will be subject to contractual terms and conditions and stewardship obligations, which may include among other requirements restrictions on where the crop resulting from such seed may be sold, transferred and/or exported.

Axant is a trademark and Stoneville and FiberMax are registered trademark of BASF.

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