The Corteva-owned seed brand released its P617SL hybrid commercially in 2024, and the company says its trial data backs up the fungicide-equivalent claim.

While the Canola Council of Canada can’t speak to specific products, agronomy specialist Chris Manchur, the council’s lead on sclerotinia, characterizes fungicide-equivalent resistance as a “holy grail” in canola seed research and development.

Sclerotinia is one of the big yield robbers in canola production, he says, so a breakthrough in resistance “would be big news… it would definitely be a really great tool in the toolbox when we match it up with our fungicides and agronomics to manage sclerotinia.”

One of the biggest advantages of genetic resistance to sclerotinia, he notes, would be the added flexibility it offers.

With fungicides, timing is critical — applications typically need to be made when canola plants are between 20 and 50 per cent bloom for the best results. In contrast, the new hybrid’s genetic resistance reduces the pressure to hit that narrow window, giving farmers more leeway in managing the disease without relying on precise fungicide timing.

Indeed, that desire for flexibility from farmers is exactly what the folks at Corteva hope to capitalize on.

“Farmers want a little peace of mind,” says Scott McClinchey, the lead breeder behind the development of the P617SL hybrid.

Farmers may want assurance their crops are protected, even when they’re away from the farm, he says.

“I want to have that insurance that the resistance for sclerotinia is in the seed, and that I can just come back from the cottage and in get my combine and grab the yield at the end,” he says.

The main benefit of the new hybrid is season-long protection from sclerotinia, he says. In most cases, farmers won’t need to apply fungicide, although he acknowledges areas with high disease pressure, such as the Red River Valley, may still require fungicide applications.

“In areas where there’s a lot of inoculum in the soil, like after crops with a history of white mould — such as soybeans or sunflowers — you may still need to spray, even with this product.”

McClinchey also points out that P617SL addresses common challenges farmers face, such as unpredictable weather.

The Canola Council, for example, provides useful forecasting tools to help determine when to spray for sclerotinia, but such tools don’t account for isolated Prairie storms that can rain on one field but miss another just a few kilometres away.

“Sometimes, an untimely rain makes it too wet to spray,” McClinchey says. “It really gives you that insurance that if you miss the optimal window, you’re still going to have a good yield.”

McClinchey suggests the new product could also significantly impact profitability. Spraying is expensive, so reducing the number of applications will save farmers money.

The biggest benefit, however, is the yield saved from a bad infestation. He points out that the rule of thumb for sclerotinia is that with a 50 per cent infection rate in the crop, a farmer can expect about a 25 per cent yield loss.

“That yield protection is going to be really key for their bottom line,” he says, and using a hybrid that controls sclerotinia will also reduce the amount of inoculum going back into the land.

“It is a very innovative way of reducing the chemical use for the farmers,” McClinchey says.

P617SL also boasts strong resistance to blackleg and clubroot, as well as the highest verticillium tolerance in Corteva’s commercial lineup, the company says. The hybrid also features high oil protein content and low saturates, meeting the canola quality standards. In trials, the hybrid’s yield is comparable to Corteva’s P505MSL and DeKalb’s DKTF 84 CR SC.

“It has a lot going for it,” McClinchey says.

Pioneer has been working on sclerotinia resistance for over 30 years and launched its first resistant canola hybrid in 2009. Currently Corteva is the only company in Canada that offers sclerotinia-resistant products, a status McClinchey says is due to the complexities surrounding the research.

“It’s not easy,” he said. “If it were easy, I think everybody would have canola sclerotinia products for the segment, but right now, it’s just Corteva.”

A key factor in the company’s success, he says, was its advanced phenotyping techniques. Its team set up specialized locations with controlled conditions, including drip irrigation, ascospore inoculation, and shade cloth to simulate optimal disease conditions, allowing them to closely monitor disease development and evaluate the effectiveness of their hybrids.

After years of research, rating each inbred and hybrid for sclerotinia tolerance, comparing them to commercial checks by assessing the percentage of dead plants, and replicating the results in both small- and large-scale trials, McClinchey says his team was able to show its hybrid could be an effective tool for farmers in real-world conditions.

But the Canola Council’s Manchur cautions that while genetic resistance, such as that found in P617SL, is an important tool, it’s not a “silver bullet” for managing sclerotinia.

“You need to pair that with all the other practices for management,” he says. “That includes using fungicides and crop rotation.”

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Corteva: Pioneer Seed

P74691PCE is a high-yielding grain corn hybrid featuring the PowerCore Enlist trait, which combines PowerCore’s three modes of action against above-ground insect pests with the flexibility of the Enlist weed control system. It has strong root strength, very good mid-season brittle snap tolerance and above-average test weight that stabilizes agronomic performance. Its comparative relative maturity (CRM) rating is 74 and its corn heat unit (CHU) requirement is 2125.

P82288PCE is a dual-purpose PowerCore Enlist hybrid with very good Goss’s wilt tolerance and above-average stalk and root strength. P82288PCE also offers excellent grain yield performance for its maturity in southern Manitoba as well as strong silage yield and milk per acre and beef per acre values. CRM: 82. CHU: 2400.

P87040PCE is a dual-purpose PowerCore Enlist hybrid that has excellent silage yield potential for full-season environments while maintaining fibre digestibility and good milk/beef per acre values. CRM: 87. CHU: 2575.

P87040V is a dual-purpose Vorceed Enlist corn offering excellent silage yield potential for full-season environments while maintaining fibre digestibility and good milk/beef per acre values. Vorceed Enlist technology provides six modes of action against insects (three above ground, three below ground) and four herbicide tolerance modes of action to maximize yield potential and flexibility. CRM: 87. CHU: 2575.

DeKalb

DKC072-12RIB is a high-yielding grain corn hybrid featuring very strong emergence and seedling vigour as well as strong green-snap tolerance. It is a medium-height plant with a medium to high ear placement. DK072-12RIB is a VT Double Pro RIB Complete corn blend that protects yield potential and grain quality with dual modes of action against European corn borer and other above-ground pests. Relative maturity (RM): 72. CHU: 2075.

DKC084-60RIB is a VT Double Pro RIB Complete grain corn hybrid with excellent yield potential as well as excellent test weight and grain drydown. It is a medium-statured plant that loses stay-green quickly but maintains a very good harvest appearance. RM: 84. CHU: 2525.

DKC087-08RIB is a grain corn hybrid featuring the SmartStax Rib Complete trait, an advanced insect and weed control system that provides two modes of action against below-ground corn rootworm and additional modes of action against above-ground insects including corn earworm. It has excellent yield potential and is fast to emerge with excellent seedling vigour. DKC087-08RIB performs well in 85 to 90 RM zones. CHU: 2650.

DKC088-04RIB is a dual-purpose hybrid with silage yield potential and nutritional attributes. Featuring excellent emergence and seeding vigour, it is a tall-statured plant with a medium-high ear placement and a short husk. This Trecepta RIB Complete corn combines the power of three different modes of action for broad-spectrum control of above-ground feeding pests, including western bean cutworm. DKC088-04RIB has a relative maturity of 88 and it moves well east to west within the 85 to 90 RM band. CHU: 2675.

Proven Seed

PV 60474RIB is an early VT Double Pro RIB Complete hybrid with excellent yield potential, strong test weight and very good Goss’s wilt tolerance. It also features strong emergence and seedling vigor, early flowering and very good stalks. Performing best in medium to medium-high plant populations, PV 60474RIB has a medium stature, so there is less plant material to manage following harvest without compromising high yields. RM: 74. CHU: 2075.

Maizex

MZ 2575DBR is a VT Double Pro RIB Complete grain corn hybrid with strong early-season vigour for rapid stand establishment. MZ 2575 has open husks that promote rapid grain drydown and it excels in variable yield environments. RM: 85. CHU: 2575.

MS 7711R is a Roundup Ready 2 silage and grazing corn hybrid. It is a tall plant with solid agronomics providing exceptional tonnage for its maturity, with early flowering that allows movement north. In northern environments, MS 771R offers improved grazing days as well. For silage, RM is 74 and CHU is 2175.

MZ 3432TRE is a Trecepta Rib Complete dual-purpose hybrid with a tall, robust plant type that increases yield. MZ 3432RE has excellent western bean cutworm control to maintain feed quality, and it is ideal for high-starch rations. For silage, RM is 91 and CHU is 2800.

MZ 3717SSP is a SmartStax Pro Rib Complete dual-purpose corn with strong stay-green that widens the harvest window. It offers strong biotech defense against corn rootworm and can be positioned on corn-after-corn fields. For silage, RM is 94 and CHU is 2775.

MZ 4026SSP is a SmartStax Pro Rib Complete dual-purpose hybrid that can be positioned on corn-after-corn fields, and it has early flowering that allows movement north. MZ 4026SP also features strong leaf disease tolerance that maintains feed quality as well as strong biotech defense against corn rootworm. For silage, RM is 100 and CHU is 2950.

LFG 999 is a conventional leafy silage hybrid with the floury gene for early starch availability at harvest. It features strong leaf disease tolerance and is a very tall plant with large ears that enhance starch quantity. RM: 96. CHU: 2800.

LFG 999R is a Roundup Ready 2 leafy silage corn with the floury gene for early starch availability at harvest. It features strong leaf disease tolerance and is a very tall plant with large ears that enhance starch quantity. RM: 96. CHU: 2800.

NorthStar Genetics

951S is a floury leafy silage hybrid with a long chopping window that provides excellent tonnage and quality corn. This Roundup Ready 2 hybrid is very tall and has a very large flex ear that delivers highly digestible starch. RM: 91. CHU: 2375-2475.

Syngenta: NK Seeds

NK8232 is a dual-purpose hybrid offering exceptional versatility on a wide range of soil types as well as great emergence and vigour that allows for earlier planting. Performing best in high populations, NK8232 has strong roots and stalks and is an excellent choice for medium- to fine-textured soils. It is both glufosinate- and glyphosate-tolerant and has a disease protection package that includes two modes of action against European corn borer and one mode of action against corn earworm and black cutworm. Western Canadian CHU: 2400.

NK8558 is a dual-purpose corn with solid emergence and vigour that offers outstanding yield potential and versatility on a wide range of soil types. This hybrid is a good silage option for southern Manitoba, providing excellent tonnage and feed quality, and it performs best in medium to high populations. NK8558 is both glufosinate- and glyphosate-tolerant and has a disease protection package that includes two modes of action against European corn borer and one mode of action against corn earworm and black cutworm. Western Canadian CHU: 2525.

NK8711 is a broadly adapted silage hybrid with strong drought tolerance that provides dependable performance with good grain quality and test weight and top-end yield potential across a range of environments. NK8711 has solid roots and late-season stalks as well as consistent ear placement. It is both glufosinate- and glyphosate-tolerant and has a disease protection package that includes two modes of action again European corn borer, corn earworm, fall armyworm and black and dingy cutworm and one of mode of action against true armyworm and western bean cutworm. Western Canadian CHU: 2575.

Syngenta: Enogen

E087C2 is an exceptional silage hybrid and a potential winter grazing hybrid, with season-long standability in southern Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. It offers strong agronomics that include green-snap tolerance as well as strong roots, stalks and seedling vigour. The tallest hybrid in Syngenta’s western Canadian Enogen portfolio, E087C2 has a lower ear placement and performs best on medium- to fine-textured soils. This hybrid is both glufosinate- and glyphosate-tolerant and has a disease defence package that includes protection against corn rootworm, two modes of action again European corn borer and corn rootworm and one mode of action against corn earworm, black cutworm and fall armyworm. Western Canadian CHU: 2575.

Thunder Seed

TH6477PC is a Powercore Enlist hybrid with good Goss’s wilt and northern corn leaf blight tolerance that is broadly adapted for good performance across southern Manitoba and Saskatchewan. TH6477PC moves west and handles tough growing conditions very well. RM: 77.

TH6578 VT2P is a VT Double Pro RIB Complete hybrid with early flowering and great Goss’s wilt tolerance that makes it well suited to conditions across Western Canada. It has very good drought stress tolerance and also offers top-end yield potential and excellent test weight. TH6578 VT2P has good stay-green and intactness for favourable fall appearance. RM: 78.

TH6583 VT2P is a highly consistent hybrid in all environments with great yield potential and very good test weight. Performing best in medium high populations, this VT Double Pro RIB Complete corn has strong standability with solid roots, stalks and fall intactness. RM: 83.

TH6490 VT2P is a VT Double Pro RIB Complete corn offering strong yield potential and excellent versatility and consistency. TH6490 VT2P has good ear flex that allows medium planting populations, and it is able to move north and south well. RM: 90.

Winfield United

CP1225VT2P/RIB is a VT Double Pro RIB Complete hybrid offering impressive performance and great drydown. A good option for the early silage market, this very early corn has excellent emergence and early season vigour that produces a taller plant for its maturity. RM: 72. CHU: 2050.

CP2324VT2P/RIB is a VT Double Pro RIB Complete corn that performs well across all yield environments. It has strong seedling vigour so it can be planted early to maximize heat units, and CP2324VTR2P/RIB also features quick drydown once it has hit maturity. RM: 83. CHU: 2500.

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The Danish firm announced Wednesday it had acquired Corteva’s global alfalfa germplasm and breeding program for an undisclosed sum, including its current commercial alfalfa varieties and their trademarks such as Hi-Gest, Hi-Ton, Hi-Salt and msSuntra.

The deal, which took effect Sept. 1, also includes the Alforex Seeds brand name — which was set up in 2013 as the name of Dow AgroSciences’ alfalfa business, before that company’s 2017 merger with DuPont’s ag businesses into what’s now Corteva. DuPont had sold off its own previous alfalfa seed business in 2014.

DLF said Wednesday it will integrate the Corteva business into its own global research and development program and will also hire “select Corteva personnel supporting the alfalfa program” including research and development staff in the U.S. Midwest and Pacific Northwest.

On top of the products now sold via Alforex, DLF said it “intends to offer varieties comparable to (Corteva’s) Pioneer brand and Dairyland Seed brand alfalfa products when the business is fully transitioned after the 2024 season.”

Past that, DLF said its full commercial plans for the business “will be communicated to appropriate stakeholders in the near future.”

DLF said the deal also gives it “a robust platform of elite alfalfa genetics, an industry-leading brand portfolio and expanded market access.”

The Corteva portfolio, DLF said, offers a “diverse and proven alfalfa germplasm base and native trait pipeline with excellent yield potential, disease and pest resistance, winterhardiness and superior forage quality for both dormant and non-dormant markets.”

“We have consistently aimed to establish a strong presence in alfalfa across all our global markets, including North America,” DLF group CEO Soren Halbye said in a release. “Acquiring a renowned alfalfa research program presents a rare opportunity for DLF to significantly enhance our global position in alfalfa breeding and sales.”

Forage seed has been a relatively tiny chunk of Corteva’s global seed business, which is primarily in corn and soybeans and mainly in the North American market under the Pioneer and Brevant brands.

In the first half of 2023, Corteva’s “other” seed category — that is, forage and any other seed products besides either corn or oilseeds such as canola and soy — booked net sales of $288 million, out of $6.959 billion for the seed segment overall, down from $316 million out of $6.471 billion in first-half 2022.

DLF, whose Canadian arm is based at Lindsay, Ont., sells in the Canadian market today under the DLF and Mapleseed brand names.

It operated in the North American market under the name DLF Pickseed until last year, when it fully phased out a brand it had owned since buying Canadian firm Pickseed in 2013. — Glacier FarmMedia Network

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The company said Monday it began construction work earlier this month at Carmichael, about 65 km southwest of Swift Current, about three km south of the Trans-Canada Highway on the Canadian Pacific Railway mainline.

Expected to be ready by fall next year, the Carmichael elevator will have 46,000 tonnes of storage capacity with a loop track for handling 175 high cube-style rail cars, “high speed” receiving and loadout, and a “high capacity” grain cleaning system.

Once the new elevator is built, Richardson said, it will start construction on “crop inputs assets” at the site including a high-speed fertilizer blender and a 10,000-square foot warehouse, both to be up and running by fall 2023.

“Richardson has maintained a significant presence and loyal customer base in the southwestern part of the province and will continue to seek opportunities for improving operational efficiencies,” Tom Hamilton, Richardson’s senior vice-president for agribusiness operations, said in a release.

In the same area, Richardson already has a 29,920-tonne capacity elevator at Swift Current; a 19,000-tonne capacity elevator it bought from Viterra in 2013 at Maple Creek, about 70 km west of Carmichael; and a 31,900-tonne capacity elevator it bought from Agricore United in 2007 at Reed Lake, about 50 km east of Swift Current.

“With the addition of the new facility at Carmichael, we look to bridge our historical presence in the area with the realities of meeting our grower customers’ evolving business needs,” Hamilton said. — Glacier FarmMedia Network

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The Delaware-based agribusiness, under the name Corteva, Inc., is scheduled to begin “when-issued” trading on the NYSE on May 24, and “regular way” trading on June 3, under the ticker symbol “CTVA.”

DowDuPont — the holding company formed in 2017 by the merger of Dow and DuPont — announced Wednesday that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has declared Corteva’s registration statement effective, and that the DowDuPont board of directors has approved Corteva’s spinoff.

“This milestone marks the completion of all the regulatory requirements for us to separate into a leading pure-play independent agriculture company on June 1,” Corteva CEO James Collins said in a release.

“Corteva Agriscience is well positioned to drive long-term value for shareholders as we leverage our balanced portfolio and robust innovation pipeline to deliver the complete solution farmers need to maximize yield and profitability,”

The spinoff calls for each current shareholder in DowDuPont to receive one share of Corteva common stock for every three shares of DowDuPont common stock they hold.

DowDuPont on June 1 will also rename itself DuPont de Nemours, Inc., doing business under the name DuPont.

The new DuPont will operate the two companies’ combined specialty chemical product operations. Dow and DuPont’s combined materials science divisions, which were spun off in March, now operate under the Dow name.

Corteva’s operations in Canada include seeds, sold under the Pioneer and Brevant brand names, with herbicide-tolerant trait systems including Enlist, Optimum GLY, SmartStax and, since February, Clearfield.

Corteva’s roster of crop protection chemicals in the Canadian market includes, among others, herbicides such as Enlist Duo, Lontrel, Frontline, Grazon and Tordon; insecticides such as Lorsban and Delegate; seed treatments such as Lumiderm, Lumisena and Lumivia; and fungicides such as Acapela and Nova.

Worldwide, the Corteva agriculture segments have booked combined annual net sales of over US$14 billion in recent years. Their combined EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) for 2018 came in at US$2.05 billion. — Glacier FarmMedia Network

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EU governments were asked to vote on the future of two grades of GM maize, Pioneer’s 1507 and Syngenta’s Bt11, which kill insects by producing their own pesticide and are also resistant to a particular herbicide.

However, the votes against were not decisive in blocking their introduction because the opposition did not represent a “qualified majority” — also including countries that make up at least 65 per cent of the EU population.

The governments were also asked to determine whether to extend authorization for Monsanto’s MON810, an insect-resistant maize that is grown mainly in Spain, but banned in a number of other counties.

More countries voted against than in favour, but again the vote was not considered decisive.

The European Commission said the outcome counted as a “no opinion,” meaning it would have to step in to take the decisions for GMs that had received favourable opinions from the European Food Safety Authority.

It added that 17 EU countries had used an opt-out clause, with a further two for part of their territories.

“In practice this means that the three GMOs, if and once authorized at EU level, will not in any case be cultivated on the territories benefiting from the opt out,” Commission spokesman Enrico Brivio said.

Mute Schimpf, food campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, said the decision now rested with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker.

“He can put himself on the side of the majority of countries, citizens and farmers who do not want genetically modified crops, or he can back the mega-corporations behind the industrialization of our countryside,” she said.

At the end of last year, 55 GM crops were approved for import as feed and food into Europe. While approved for human consumption, in practice the crops are used as animal feed.

Repeated EU scientific assessments have concluded that GMO crops are as safe for humans and the environment as their conventional counterparts, but consumer opposition to the technology in Europe remains strong.

MON810 is the only GM crop grown in Europe. A potato developed by BASF was granted approval in 2010, but the German company withdrew it in 2012.

— Reporting for Reuters by Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels.

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Brett Young

Notus R2
Notus R2 is a new early-maturing soybean from Elite. At 2300 CHU it fits well into the earlier maturity soybean production areas. It is a semi-bushy plant, adapted to solid and row seeding. Notus R2 is a solid yielder, tolerant to IDC, white mould and phytophtora.

Akras R2
Akras R2 is an outstanding new soybean variety with an exceptional combination of yield, maturity and pod height. At 2375 CHU it is early enough for all current soybean production areas. The high podding height makes it the choice for anyone with harvest concerns. It has had superior yield performance in the last three years of trialing, often outperforming later maturing varieties. Akras R2 is tolerant to IDC, white mold and phytophtora.

Monsanto / DEKALB

24-12RY
24-12RY is well suited to all row widths and soil types. This is a Genuity Roundup Ready 2 variety. Registration is pending.

25-11RY
25-11RY is best suited for heavier soils, fits well in no-till systems. This is a Genuity Roundup Ready 2 variety. Registration is pending.

NorthStar Genetics*

NSC Watson RR2Y
This line is exceptionally early with a CHU of 2225 or relative maturity of 0007. It has shown to have exceptional early season vigor and very good bottom pod height which makes for much easier and quicker harvesting. It has a relatively tall stature and forms abundant cluster pods. Many pods having 4 or even 5 seeds. This line will be significant as it sets a new standard for maturity.

NSC Gladstone RR2Y
This line was introduced last year, but was limited due to seed availability. It will be available on a wide-scale this year. It has a CHU requirement of 2375 or relative maturity of 004. This line has an extremely aggressive growth habit forming a very branchy plant. Therefore it is well suited for wider row spacing (20 inches and greater) commonly found on modern planters. If it is solid seeded with an air seeder (12 inch row spacing or less) a lower seed rate is recommended (180,000 to 190,000 seeds per acre) in order to allow it to fill out properly. In demonstration plots, it has shown to be a top yielder under a wide range of environmental conditions.

Pioneer

P006T78
This new RR1 soybean is rated at 2,425 CHU with relative maturity 006. It has very good emergence, excellent harvest standability, good white mould tolerance, and built in phytophthora resistance.

Pride Seeds

PS 0088 R2
New introductory high-yielding Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield variety ideally suited for 2100 to 2500 CHU. Excellent standability and disease tolerance. Features very good plant height and branching aspect. Features Rps 1c phytopthora root rot tolerance. Very bushy plant type with aggressive early season vigor. Good IDC tolerance. Registration is pending.

Quarry Seeds

TH 35002R2Y
Maturity: RM 0.02, 2375 CHU. Medium height, semi-bush. Excellent spring vigor, great standability and the earliest Thunder Soybean variety on the market. This variety is extremely adaptable for all of Western Canada but we focus on northern and western Man. and all of Sask.

TH 36007R2Y
Maturity: RM 0.07, 2500 CHU. Tall, semi-bush. The TH 36007R2Y is a full season soybean variety meant for southern Man. It has a superior disease package especially for white mold tolerance and phytophthora root rot tolerance. It is a very aggressive semi bush plant with the capability to fill a 30-inch row with ease. One of the highest yielding varieties available for Manitoba.

Syngenta

S0009-M2
S0009-M2 is the first triple zero (000) maturity group soybean variety from Syngenta. S0009-M2 is a high-yielding, Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield variety with a 2275 CHU rating. S0009-M2 offers a very good disease package that includes the Rps6 gene for Phytophthora root rot field tolerance, as well as very good white mould and iron deficiency chlorosis tolerance. For more information visit syngentafarm.ca.

*NorthStar Genetics was missed in the original version of this article. We regret the error.

The post New soybean varieties for 2016 appeared first on Grainews.

The privately-held Winnipeg grain firm announced Thursday it will build a new Dauphin high-throughput elevator with 10,000 tonnes of storage capacity, linking into the site’s current steel bin storage space, bringing total capacity to 25,000 tonnes.

The project also involves boosting receiving and shipping speed to and from the steel bins to match the new elevator’s capacity. The completed site will also have a high-capacity grain dryer, cleaner and 104-car rail spot, the company said.

Work is expected to start at the Dauphin site in April, for completion in August 2016, the company said.

As a “continued delivery option” for farmers trucking grain to Richardson during that 16-month stretch, the company said it will also put up a temporary receiving and shipping system.

The current wooden crib elevator, a former Manitoba Pool Elevators facility with about 5,750 tonnes of storage capacity, will be demolished, the company said.

The Dauphin elevator, on the Canadian National Railway (CN) line, was one of 15 Prairie elevators Richardson bought in 2007 from Agricore United, as AU prepared for its sale to Saskatchewan Wheat Pool to form Viterra.

Richardson had planned, when it bought the elevator, to “upgrade and enhance” the facility, the company said Thursday.

“The Dauphin area is an important market for us and we have a solid, loyal customer base there,” Darwin Sobkow, Richardson’s executive vice-president for agribusiness operations and processing, said in the company’s release.

“This shows our long-term commitment to the area and ensures our ability to continue to serve our customers.” — AGCanada.com Network

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Jay Myers, United Soybean Board director from Colfax, North Dakota said, “I don’t know if we want to take it away from canola. We’re losing market share right now, and we’d like to gain it back.”

To gain back market share in the heart-healthy oil market, soybean growers’ checkoff dollars have been directed toward developing high-oleic soybeans. Those soybeans are on the market now, and we can expect to see more of them. The United Soybean Board’s goal is to see 18 million acres of high-oleic soybeans in the ground in 2023. If they meet their targets, high-oleic soybeans would be 22 per cent of total U.S. soybean acres in 2023.

High-oleic varieties

Pioneer’s new Plenish brand of high-oleic soybeans were grown by farmers in 2014, under contract, on an identity-preserved basis.

Monsanto plans to have its Vestive Gold high-oleic soybeans available to seed in 2015. Both companies says their high-oleic soybeans yield similar to other varieties, and have good disease resistance packages.

Plenish soybeans are a Level III maturity bean. In the U.S., maturity levels start at Level I in North Dakota and go to Levels VI and VII in Florida. With our cooler, shorter summers, Western Canada needs beans with a shorter growing season than Level I. our soybeans are typically in the 0, 00 and 000 maturity range. The United Soybean Board’s published goal is to breed soybean varieties in Groups I to IV by 2023 — this would spread high-oleic soybean across the U.S., but would still keep them south of the Canadian Prairies.

There are both consumer and industrial uses for the high-oleic soybeans. Pioneer advertises that its Plenish oil has 20 per cent less saturated fat than traditional soybean oil, and oleic content of 75 per cent, “similar to olive oil.”

For the industrial market, Pioneer advertises that oil from these soybeans is superior to other vegetable oils. “High oleic soybean oil has exceptional heat and oxidative stability and can be used in high temperature and extended use applications where commercial soybean oil is not an option.”

The United Soybean Board is an organization run by volunteer farmer representatives, set up to oversee the spending of checkoff dollars. U.S. soybean growers contribute 0.5 per cent of the market price of their soybeans to the fund annually. The USB spends its money on research and market development, while the American Soybean Association focuses on state and national policy issues.

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