SmartStax Named New Product Of The Year
November 1, 2010 The SmartStax corn trait technology, developed jointly by Dow AgroSciences and Monsanto, has been named AgriMarketing magazine’s 2010 New Product of the Year.
"This is the first time we have awarded a New Product of the Year," says Lynn Henderson, publisher of AgriMarketing. "For over a decade, we have awarded the Product of the Year award. This year, we decided to issue that award again – to a product that has been in the commercial market place for over two years – and to a new product that, as the name implies, is in its initial year of introduction.
"Both awards have very rigorous standards, including the benefit and value added to the marketplace, strategic marketing, share of market and sales growth, and other industry recognition the product has achieved."
SmartStax is the first eight-gene trait combination in the seed corn industry. Because of the broad-spectrum insect control it offers through multiple modes of action, farmers in corn-growing states are allowed to plant only 5 percent of their acreage as refuge compared with the 20 percent refuge needed with other insect protection traits.1
"SmartStax gives growers an opportunity for greater whole-farm yield, because they are able to plant more of their acres to hybrids that are protected from insects," says Casey Onstot, Dow AgroSciences traits marketing manager. "We are pleased that Agri Marketing has recognized the value that this new technology brings to U.S. corn growers."
Judges for this year’s program were Dr. Dave Downey, Purdue University; Mike Borel, The Context Network; Jerry Warner, Farmers National Co.; Dave Coppess, Heartland Co-op; Ron Farrell, Farrell Growth Group; Ron O’Hanlon, Crop Quest; and Henderson.
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