Tell us about Glyphomax XRT and Durango herbicides and how they fit in the glyphosate market for retailers. We’ve seen the glyphosate market evolve into two distinct retail segments: value and price. Our brands allow retailers in the Corn Belt to service either grower segment. This allows them to work with one manufacturer to best meet the demands of their customers.

Maintaining margins remains a challenge for dealers. What is Dow AgroSciences doing to help retailers remain profitable and provide value-added solutions to growers?
Our branded glyphosate offerings are one example. Another is our ability to offer retailers a broad portfolio of solutions with additional business opportunities.

Developing innovative new products is also important. Clincher, Grasp and Granite herbicides have been revolutionary additions to the rice marketplace. WideMatch herbicide is the first broad-spectrum small grains product in the Northern Plains. With the introduction of soybean rust, Laredo fungicide is emerging as an excellent control tool. Plus, Entrust Naturalyte insect control has been certified for use on organic crops, offering retailers a tool to sell to organic producers.

Dow AgroSciences is also commercializing traits for its retail seed brands and the industry. Can you give us an update on Herculex I and WideStrike Insect Protection?
Initially launched in corn hybrids through Mycogen and Pioneer brands, Herculex I Insect Protection is now licensed to more than 120 retail seed companies. This gives growers the opportunity to access the broadest above-ground in-plant insect protection technology through the seed brands that they prefer. We anticipate regulatory approvals for Herculex RW yet this year, followed closely by Herculex Xtra. Herculex RW provides excellent protection against northern, western and Mexican corn rootworm. Herculex Xtra will combine the insect protection spectrum of Herculex I with the rootworm protection of Herculex RW for the broadest-spectrum above- and belowground insect protection available. Introduction of Herculex RW is anticipated for 2006 planting and Herculex Xtra for 2007 pending regulatory approvals.

WideStrike Insect Protection received full registration from the EPA in 2004 and is commercially available this season in one PhytoGen cotton variety — PHY 440 W. Several years of field trials have shown that it provides consistent, season-long protection from destructive worm pests from Texas through Virginia. In 2006, we anticipate that several new PhytoGen varieties containing both WideStrike and the Roundup Ready Flex technology will be available.

Dow AgroSciences is a three-time winner of the Presidential Green Chemistry Award for developing technologies that incorporate the principles of green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture and use. Why is that important to retailers?
Products like SpinTor, Success, Tracer and Entrust Naturalyte insect control and Intrepid 2F insecticide not only give retailers more profitable insect control tools, they also help preserve the life of older chemistries through resistance management. Our industry will continue to be challenged on the products we’ve come to rely on, and manufacturers will need to develop chemistries that selectively target pests and preserve populations of beneficial insects. These products are examples of how our industry can promote responsible stewardship.

The 2005 planting season is in full swing. What keeps you excited about agriculture as a new crop develops?
Anticipating change in the marketplace is a great challenge and keeps us on top of our game. We’ve had many successful product launches in the last couple of years. Yet we’re not content with just planning for the future. We want to create our own future by anticipating new challenges and then develop revolutionary solutions that bring value to our channel partners and their growers.

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© 2007 Penton Media, Inc.