September 3, 2008

Beck's Hybrids is offering three new Ignite® herbicide tolerant soybean varieties. Beck 284LL, Beck 334LL, and Beck 376LL soybeans can be sprayed with Ignite herbicide for the 2009 crop season. Ignite is a new herbicide formulation developed by Bayer CropScience for exclusive use on LibertyLink® soybeans offering broad spectrum weed control. Outstanding genetics packed with a new herbicide trait option are just two of the benefits being offered to farmers by Beck's Hybrids.

Additionally, Beck's will release Roundup Ready 2 Yield® soybeans which are anticipated to boost soybean yields by 7-11% later this fall. In the past, growers have experienced ease of use and cleaner fields with the traditional Roundup Ready® soybean system. With the introduction of the new Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans, growers will experience a new platform of soybean yields along with their accustomed ease of use. Currently, Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans have been approved in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand, and awaits approval from China.

Beck's Hybrids will also offer Agrisure® 3000GT corn to their lineup for the 2009 planting season, Beck 5716A3. "This is an outstanding new addition to the Beck's Triple Stack lineup," said Scott Beck, Vice President of Beck's Hybrids. This new trait package offers corn rootworm and corn borer resistance along with the option to apply Ignite or glyphosate herbicides.

New this year is Beck's exclusive FaSTart® insecticidal seed treatment available on any Beck soybean variety. Beck's FaSTart seed applied insecticide for soybeans provides protection against soybean aphids, bean leaf beetles, seed corn maggots, and wireworms. An independent four (4) year study, replicated over 12 locations, shows an average return on investment of over $30.00 per acre. In addition, Beck's entire soybean lineup comes standard with Beck's Sure Gro™ polymer coated fungicidal seed treatment.

Beck's Hybrids will continue to offer their growers various trait and genetic options. Newer Beck's genetics coupled with trait options such as VT3, HXR and RR will offer growers a wide selection of higher yielding choices that are regionally adapted for specific geographies. In addition, Beck's is offering a different refuge strategy for some triple stack products that can improve yield and agronomic performance. "Growers will have new and different genetics to plant on their refuge acres that can improve health, standability and yield in the refuge", says Dr. Kevin Cavanaugh, Beck's Research Director.

Beck's Hybrids is a family-owned and operated seed company that serves farmers throughout Indiana, Illinois, and select counties in Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky. According to a recent media survey, Beck's ranks as the sixth largest seed company in the United States and the only one in the top six that is family-owned, making Beck's the largest retail family-owned seed company in the U.S.

Ignite and LibertyLink are registered trademarks of Bayer.

Agrisure is a registered trademark of a Syngenta Group Company.

Roundup Ready and Roundup Ready 2 Yield are registered trademarks of Monsanto Technology, LLC.

Sure Gro and FaSTart are trademarks of Beck's Superior Hybrids, Inc.