Delta and Pine Land has long been recognized as a leader in developing and marketing soybean varieties that provide strong performance for Southern farmers. That tradition will be enhanced for 2009, when Deltapine soybean varieties are transitioned to Monsanto's Asgrow soybean brand.

As part of the integration, the Asgrow and Delta and Pine Land soybean breeding organizations will be combined to build on the strengths of both organizations, resulting in the faster development of new, high-performing soybean products.

Kevin Eblen, Delta and Pine Land business lead, said soybean farmers will benefit from the Asgrow brand’s elite genetics, molecular breeding advances and new trait innovations which deliver consistent performance and high-yield potential, combined with Deltapine’s extensive Southern breeding experience and high quality genetics that fit later maturity groups and deliver the agronomic characteristics that Southern farmers want.

"Farmers will have access to leading Asgrow varieties as well as Deltapine's best, top-performing products marketed under the Asgrow brand," said Eblen, "In addition, they will benefit from an even higher-yielding product lineup along with the same great service they have come to expect from Delta and Pine Land."

Jeff Wheeler, Asgrow business lead, said the integration will also support one comprehensive soybean testing program. Delta and Pine Land's numerous testing locations, he said, will enable new Asgrow varieties to be evaluated and advanced based on a wide range of local agronomic conditions.

"We're very excited about the opportunities this integration provides for our Southern customers," said Wheeler. "Monsanto and its D&PL business are focused 100 percent on agriculture, and this transition is one more way to demonstrate our commitment to farmer success."

Eblen emphasized that Delta and Pine Land will continue to market cotton under the Deltapine brand. "Our cotton producer customers will have access to the same great lineup of Deltapine cotton varieties they currently enjoy today and many more in the near future featuring our second generation traits."