Track These Traits

Duracade By the Numbers

Hybrids that contain the Duracade trait will be available from several seed suppliers this spring. (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)

DECATUR, Ill. (DTN) -- Know before you grow are words to plant by this spring. Syngenta's new genetically engineered rootworm trait called Duracade has yet to receive regulatory approval in China and the European Union. Seed companies are reporting that a few growers have shifted from hybrids containing that trait to other seeds due to the uncertainty of acceptance in export markets.

"Growers need to understand there might be marketing problems at the end of the year," said Nathan Fields, National Corn Growers Association director of biotechnology and economic analysis. "We're trying to get the word out before planting and want to avoid what happened a couple of years ago with Viptera. Then, growers had planted a crop, made marketing plans and all of a sudden were not able to find a market for those products."

Syngenta will release Duracade in a specific planting zone and intends to get hybrids containing the trait on about 250,000 to 300,000 acres this spring where the company has a marketing arrangement with Gavilon Grain, according to David Morgan, Syngenta Seeds president. The company is releasing a total of 18 hybrids containing Duracade in the Golden Harvest and NK brand lineup for 2014. Hybrids range from 85- to 114-day relative maturity.

The 2014 Syngenta hybrids containing Duracade include those listed in the accompanying table. The 5222 stack also includes Syngenta's Viptera trait. "A" in the nomenclature equals Artesian drought genetics:

GH NK
G85A33-5222 N20Y-5222
G88M78-5222A N23M-5222A
G92T43-5222 N29T-5222
G97S12-5222 N37S-5222
G99Z33-5222A N42Z-5222A
G07V88-5122 N61P-5122
G09M49-5122 N64M-5122
G12Z02-5222 N69Z-5222
G14H66-5122A N75H-5122A

In August 2013, the company issued a statement that 24 new hybrids containing the Agrisure Duracade trait would be offered in 2014 in two trait stacks -- Agrisure Duracade 5122 and 5222. Jill Wheeler, Syngenta product lead for commercial traits, told DTN that it is not uncommon for seed companies to adjust seed catalogs due to production considerations.

She also acknowledged that Syngenta cancelled some 2014 seed orders in Canada and the U.S. that fell outside the launch zone. She said those orders were replaced with comparable hybrids that did not contain the trait.

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Morgan said Syngenta has also licensed the trait to independent seed companies through the company's GreenLeaf division. Syngenta declined DTN requests to provide a listing of those companies due to confidentiality agreements.

Calls by DTN to seed companies uncovered a variety of approaches to the Duracade technology.

Funk Seeds, aligned with Syngenta through the Innotech brand, lists six Duracade hybrids for the coming season -- IC4286-5222, IC4797-5222, IC4903-5222A, IC5730-5211, IC5965-5122 and IC6435-5122A. "All of our Duracade products are going to be planted this year," said Bill Funk, president of the West Lafayette, Ind., firm.

"The feedback we have been getting from customers is they are not going to let China manipulate the markets," he added in email correspondence. He also noted that China buys a small percentage of U.S. grain.

Latham Hi-Tech Seeds, Alexander, Iowa, will market three hybrids containing Duracade -- LH 5839 5122, LH 5979 5122 and LH 4977 5222A -- on a limited basis this year.

"We have had a few growers opt out of the technology, but most of them stayed with it," said John Latham, president of Latham Hi-Tech Seeds. "The Gavilon Grain agreement with Syngenta has helped give some certainty to our growers that would like to try the technology. If growers want to opt out, they are certainly welcomed to at any time.

"We are seeing a large problem with corn rootworm in our marketing area," Latham said. "Agrisure Duracade is a great new technology that can help fight corn rootworm resistance because of its new mode of action. As an independent, family-owned business, we want to offer growers choices in technology options. I'm hoping that the China situation can be resolved soon."

Valparaiso, Ind.-based Wyckoff Hybrids will market one Duracade hybrid this spring -- 2477 5122. "We only have 100 units on hand," said Ted Wyckoff. "We've had one person ask about switching, but he is going to take it to a chicken farm this fall."

Wyffels Hybrids marketing director Jeff Hartz told DTN the Atkinson, Ill., firm has the trait in tests, but will not go to market with it in 2014.

Other companies responding to information requests that indicated they will not carry hybrids containing the trait included DuPont Pioneer, Dow AgroSciences (Mycogen), Hoegemeyer Hybrids and Stine Seed Company.

Syngenta's Wheeler said each bag containing Duracade should carry a bag tag indicating the technology inside. Licensees are also required to tag the product to reflect the proper Agrisure trait technology.

"Because the rootworm is a challenging pest, it's also the first time a rootworm trait will be put into the marketplace, never as a single trait," Wheeler said in a press conference during Commodity Classic. "It will always be stacked with another rootworm trait. That is strictly for technology preservation.

"These tools do not come along every day. They take at least 10 years and well over $120 million to develop and it's very important that when we get that new tool, that we steward it responsibly so it can be used as long as possible."

The Agrisure Duracade 5122 trait stack will combine the Agrisure Duracade trait with the Agrisure RW trait for an additional mode of action on corn rootworm, Agrisure CB/LL trait for control of corn borer, the Herculex I trait for a second mode of action on corn borer and lepidopteran control, and the GA21 trait for glyphosate tolerance. The Agrisure Duracade 5222 trait stack will include the same traits as the Agrisure Duracade 5122 trait stack plus the Agrisure Viptera trait.

Farmers can monitor what traits are approved and the implications at NCGA's website: http://www.ncga.com/…. Duracade can be channeled to livestock and domestic markets. It is also cleared in most other important international markets.

For more information about Agrisure Duracade and the "Right to Grow" program from Syngenta and Gavilon, visit www.agrisureduracade.com.

Pamela Smith can be reached at pamela.smith@dtn.com

(GH/AG/SK)

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