The company today said it believes it can grow market share for its national brands by 1 to 2 percent and increase overall penetration of its corn traits in the US next year.
Monsanto's triple-trait corn technology, which was planted on 5.8 million acres in the US in 2006, combines Roundup Ready herbicide tolerance, YieldGard Corn Borer insect protection and YieldGard Rootworm insect protection.
In the 2007 growing season, the company said its Dekalb and Asgrow national corn brands could have more than 35 percent of all of their seed sold in a triple stack, and for the first time will sell more acres of triple-stacked corn hybrids than hybrids with just one trait.
The company's American Seeds Inc. (ASI) subsidiary of regional seed brands could have more than 30 percent of its seed sold as a triple stack. In 2006, the mix of triple stacks was 21 percent for Dekalb and Asgrow, and the mix of triple stacks was 14 percent for ASI.
According to Monsanto, Roundup Ready corn could be planted on more than 40 million acres in the 2007 season, compared with more than 32 million acres in 2006; YieldGard Rootworm insect-protected corn could be planted on more than 15 million acres, compared with 10 million acres in 2006; YieldGard Corn Borer insect-protected corn could be planted on more than 32 million acres, compared with slightly more than 32 million acres planted to the technology last year.
In addition, the firm's triple trait corn technology could be planted on more than 10 million acres, compared with 6 million acres in the 2006 growing season.