Alexander, Iowa, USA
August 13, 2009

Latham Hi-Tech Seeds today announced the addition of five yield boosting seed technologies from a diverse set of global manufacturers for the 2010 growing season. These are the first new products offered since Latham Hi-Tech Seeds was formed from two former Latham companies in March.

“We’re only interested in delivering seed technologies that boost our customers’ yields, regardless of where the technologies come from. As an independent, we maintain close relationships with multiple global seed trait providers so we can get an early view of their trait pipelines and deploy the most promising and proven seed innovations for our farmer customers. Our 2010 lineup is evidence of those productive relationships,” said John Latham, Latham Hi-Tech Seeds president.

New Latham Products for 2010

Latham’s seed portfolio includes traits and technologies from Dow AgroSciences, Bayer, Syngenta, Monsanto and more. Additions to the 2010 lineup include:

Genuity™ SmartStax: The highly anticipated arrival of this cutting-edge technology from Dow AgroSciences and Monsanto combines eight genetic traits, This technology is considered by many to be the most advanced on the market. For 2010, Latham Hi-Tech Seeds offers four hybrids ranging in maturity from 102 to 110 days. “These new hybrids will give our customers higher yield potential due to improved pest protection and reduced refuge requirements,” said Latham.

Agrisure® 3000GT: This new technology from Syngenta combines excellent below-ground rootworm protection plus above-ground corn borer protection along with tolerance to glyphosate and Liberty/Ignite™ herbicides. Latham has four new hybrids exhibiting this technology for 2010 with maturities ranging from 100 to 110 days.

YieldGard VT3®: Latham Hi-Tech Seeds is also offering six new VT3 hybrids for 2010. The VecTran™ technology puts advanced insect- and weed-control traits into one seed for improved stalk and root protection and superior weed control.

Genuity™ Roundup Ready 2 Yield™: For the 2010 growing season, Latham said his company has made a dramatic move to this new soybean trait. Roundup Ready 2 Yield (RR2Y) soybeans exhibit from 7 to 11% higher yields due to an improved method for inserting the glyphosate resistance gene into plants. Latham Hi-Tech Seeds is marketing 15 new soybean lines containing the RR2Y trait. Two of these new lines will also include the Vistive™ low-linolenic gene for producing oils with lower trans-fats. All Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans will come with Acceleron™ seed treatment. This new product combines state-of-the-art fungicide, insecticide and plant health components to give Latham customers top-end yields.

LibertyLink™ soybeans: This new technology is the only nonselective alternative to the Roundup Ready® system. LibertyLink varieties are high-yielding soybeans with no yield drag and have a built-in tolerance to the new Ignite™ herbicide. For growers concerned about possible weed resistance or for those who are looking for an alternative technology platform, the LibertyLink system provides a competitive choice.

Latham Hi-Tech Seeds is an independent seed company committed to bringing world-class technology home™ to rural communities in Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota. It is owned by third-generation seedsman John Latham and his wife, Shannon, and John’s brother, Chris Latham. For more than 60 years, the Latham name has stood for the latest genetics and highest quality.

Website: http://www.lathamseeds.com

Published: August 13, 2009