BASF has taken an important step in reclaiming its share of herbicide tolerant canola acreage.
The company has entered into a 10-year agreement with Monsanto to develop and market Clearfield hybrids under Monsanto’s Dekalb brand of canola seed.
An estimated 69 percent of canola acres are now seeded to hybrids and 94 percent of that is Liberty Link and Roundup Ready varieties, according to an estimate prepared by Monsanto based on a 2006 survey by Stratus Market Research.
“We have lagged behind in the high yielding hybrid segment. That is one of the key things is to catch back up,” said Scott Chapman, BASF Canada’s Clearfield brand manager.
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“It’s a bit of a rebuilding time.”
Murray Hartman, oilseed specialist with Alberta Agriculture, said signing a deal with one of the world’s largest seed companies is a good start.
“Certainly they’re going to be more in the race anyway,” he said.
Hartman said BASF has been held back by the lack of a breeding arm, so it makes sense for the company to make a deal where its technology can be paired with Monsanto’s genetics.
“If you don’t have your herbicide tolerant system and your hybrid system together, you’re going to be squeezed out of the market. You’re basically going to need both to compete,” said Hartman.
But he doubts Clearfield will be able to carve out an equal share of the increasingly popular hybrid market, where 58 percent belongs to Liberty Link varieties and 36 percent to Roundup Ready lines.
Chapman doesn’t know how much ground Clearfield can gain on its competitors but he expects to recover “significant market share” starting in 2007 when the company doubles its hybrid lineup with the release of 45P70, a line being marketed by Agricore United and 45H73, sold through Pioneer Hi-Bred.
Both lines delivered yields that were 120 percent of check varieties in co-op trials.
There is already one Clearfield offering under the Dekalb banner, 71-20CL. Limited quantities of the first new product from the BASF-Monsanto partnership will be available in 2007, with full commercialization scheduled for 2008.
“There’s going to be a steady stream of Clearfield hybrids coming out of Monsanto,” said Chapman.
“It’s really excellent news for the western Canadian canola grower as it increases their access to these high-yielding hybrids under the Clearfield banner.”
Monsanto Canada spokesperson Trish Jordan had similar thoughts.
“The agreement would, I hope, give (growers) some sort of assurance that there is some focus on this technology,” she said.
Dale Little, a canola producer from Hamiota, Man., who has been growing hybrids for six years, is heartened by the prospect of having more Clearfield choices.
He estimated 80 percent of the 1,000 acres of canola he seeds next year will be hybrids.
Little rotates between all three herbicide tolerant systems on his farm to help keep volunteer weed pressure in check.
“I happen to like the Clearfield system. It’s a good fit for my farm because I don’t grow peas as a general rule,” said Little, noting that volunteer peas can be a problem for Clearfield herbicides.
Leonard Lepp, a farmer from Rivers, Man., who seeds about 2,000 acres of canola, was an early adopter of hybrid technology.
His canola crop is now 100 percent hybrid due to their improved yields, better emergence and superior weed control.
Lepp only plants Liberty Link and Clearfield varieties, but he is not thrilled about additional Clearfield hybrids being offered under the Dekalb banner.
“I’m not a big fan of Monsanto products,” he said.
While Lepp won’t be lining up at his local seed dealer to buy the new offerings, he acknowledged it is probably good for the industry to have more hybrid competition.
