The DEKALB(R) Brand Poised to Deliver Growers the Most Extensive Line-Up of New Roundup Ready 2 Xtend(TM) Soybeans in 2016

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwired - Feb. 3, 2016) - On the heels of the recent announcement that Monsanto Company is ready to commercialize Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ soybeans, the next generation dicamba-tolerant technology in soybeans, the DEKALB brand is excited to release its line-up for the 2016 growing season.

As the leading provider of Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ soybeans, the DEKALB brand has nine new soybean varieties across a broad range of maturities. The depth of the DEKALB portfolio is a direct result of the brand's experience with the new trait and its extensive local testing footprint across Canada. As Monsanto Canada's seed brand, the DEKALB team has seven years of direct experience researching and testing this new trait in the field, giving it more knowledge of the technology than any other seed company. The 2016 introduction of Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ soybeans will be the biggest trait technology launch in Monsanto Company's history.

"The Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System is a system that will really benefit soybean growers," said Bob Thirlwall, DEKALB agronomist for southwestern Ontario. "This technology delivers an additional mode of action, enhanced weed control for tough to kill broadleaf weeds, and the potential for higher yields. I'm looking forward to sharing my experience and helping farmers in my area successfully grow DEKALB Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ soybeans this year."

Thirlwall, who works daily with growers from London, Ontario, south to Windsor has been working with the new technology for close to seven years, assessing it beside the DEKALB brand's current commercial products, seeing how it performs on different soil types, and evaluating the application rates and timings for dicamba. He has also conducted field research to heighten his extensive technical knowledge of the new Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean varieties.

In addition to this research, field trials conducted by Monsanto Canada's Technology Development research team over the past seven years have shown that Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ soybeans treated with an herbicide tank mix of dicamba and glyphosate produced yields that were an average of 2.4 bushels per acre greater than the Genuity® Roundup Ready 2 Yield® system with applications of Roundup WeatherMAX® pre-emergence and in-season.

"In addition to enhanced yield potential from early season herbicide residual, this is a great advancement in weed control," he said. "From what I've seen, the addition of dicamba, a group 4 herbicide, into the spray tank for application on soybeans is a great tool for farmers. Dicamba is a residual herbicide and can provide up to 14 days of weed control, targeting broad leaf weeds and adding another mode of action to combat glyphosate-resistant weed pressure. The increased opportunity for weed control during the critical weed free period also positively impacts the potential of the crop to yield well."

For more information about DEKALB® Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ soybean varieties growers can visit www.DEKALB.ca or speak to a DEKALB representative in their area by calling 1-84-GO-DEKALB today.

About the DEKALB® brand

DEKALB is a national agricultural seed brand and leading provider of canola, corn, and soybean seed to Canadian growers. Only the DEKALB brand connects growers to a team of experts who can help them unlock their seed's full potential. From breeding and testing to agronomic advice across all geographies, growers can have confidence in the DEKALB brand team.

Learn more at www.DEKALB.ca or follow us on Twitter @DEKALB_Canada.

About Monsanto Company

Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monsanto Canada Inc. is part of the larger global Monsanto Company. Monsanto is an agricultural company committed to bringing a broad range of solutions to help nourish our growing world. We produce a variety of seeds ranging from fruits and vegetables to key crops – such as corn, soybeans, canola and cotton – that help farmers produce abundant and nutritious food. We work to find sustainable agriculture solutions that help farmers conserve natural resources, use data to improve farming practices, use water and other important resources more efficiently, and protect their crops from pests and disease. Through programs and partnerships, we collaborate with farmers, researchers, nonprofit organizations, universities and others to help tackle some of the world's biggest challenges.

To learn more about Monsanto, please visit: www.monsanto.ca or follow us on Twitter @MonsantoCda.