Brad: Both are outstanding new technologies that I think people are really going to be excited about. NuTech Seed brand PowerCore Enlist corn has three modes of action against above-ground pests, for control of European corn borer, fall armyworm and southwestern corn borer, plus it offers greater protection against black cutworm than competitive products.

NuTech Seed brand Vorceed Enlist corn also has three modes of action against above-ground pests, plus three modes of action against below-ground pests, including corn rootworm. It has advanced RNAi technology that’s shown a 99% reduction in emergence of western and northern corn rootworms in our trials conducted in six locations across the NuTech Seed footprint³ — that’s huge for growers in our region. It’s truly a new MOA against corn rootworm and it’s desperately needed in our area.

Both of these technologies carry the Enlist technology with tolerance to glyphosate, glufosinate, 2,4-D choline and FOP herbicides.^††† So they work well with Enlist E3® soybeans. When using Enlist® herbicides on more than one crop, that diversity in sites of action is crucial to mix it up and keep the weeds guessing.

Brad: At NuTech we do our best to stay on the cutting edge with new genetics. There’s a reason that around 40% of the 2025 product lineup is new products. Historically, we’ve seen a genetic gain of 1.5-2 bu/A or more every year. So, you may like an older product, but if you’re hanging onto it longer than three to four years, the world is passing you by. I know that letting go of a product you really like is uncomfortable for farmers, but there comes a point when the yield advancements are so great, you know it’s time to move on.

Brad: More modes of action against an insect pest means we lower the potential of that pest developing resistance to a given technology. Take corn rootworm for example. Over the last five or so years, rootworm pressure has increased substantially. Bringing RNAi technology into the mix gives us another MOA to help combat the pressure and the potential resistance. So, we have three different ways to kill the rootworm, which lessens — or at least delays — the potential for developing resistance. And in a few years, we’ll hopefully have even more modes of action and our options for controlling rootworm will go up dramatically.

Brad: More MOAs and new options for herbicides and weed control give you more flexibility on top of newer genetics. That’s a three-way win between genetic gain, enhanced insect control and herbicide options.

When it comes to weed control, we continue to see challenges, and the Enlist technology is going to be another tool in your corn toolbox against potential resistance for hard-to-control weeds. You get the flexibility of tolerance to four different herbicides — glyphosate, glufosinate, 2,4-D choline and FOP herbicides.^††† It gives growers an alternative to dicamba with its volatility and potential to damage neighboring crops. Enlist herbicides have near-zero volatility, so not only do they work great, but they stay put.

These Enlist corn products also offer a big advantage when it comes to the “border effect,” where you have beans that butt up against or surround corn. Off-target movement, whether that’s from physical drift or a temperature inversion, can get into the first 24-48 rows of corn and can cause a yield drop of 20-40 bushels. That’s a big deal. Acres of Enlist E3 soybeans and tolerance to Enlist herbicides in corn that’s nearby could help eliminate the border effect.

Brad: The NuTech product management team hand-selects these products for our territory. Scott Davis and I walk the fields with the product development team. We’ve looked at the data from a yield perspective and selected products that also have the agronomics that we need for the NuTech footprint. Yield is so critical. With current market prices, the only way we can push revenue is performance in the field. And an extra 10 or 15 bushels could be crucial this year.

Some of what I like about our new products is improved roots, more moderate stature/height and better performance on more soil types. I also like the tar spot tolerance. Our products have good tolerance and some competitors don’t.

Brad: Our new products are simply outperforming our current products. And the testing data shows that. For NuTech Seed brand Vorceed Enlist corn, it delivered 7.3 bu/A yield advantage¹ over our current Qrome corn lineup, and for NuTech Seed brand PowerCore Enlist corn, we saw a 3.2 bu/A yield advantage² over our own above-ground corn products. When you look at the data vs. the competition, the yield improvement is even higher.

Let me put it this way: I’ve worked for a lot of seed companies, and right now, I have the best portfolio corn- and soybean-wise that I’ve ever had in my career.

Brad: We’re sure to sell out of the new products, even though 40% of our products will be newly advanced germplasm for the 2025 growing season. NuTech Seed brand Vorceed Enlist corn has 13 new products and NuTech Seed brand PowerCore Enlist corn has 10 new products. Given the yield potential of the new traits, it’s almost a “no-brainer” for farmers. For example, we estimate that every additional dollar invested in a NuTech Seed brand Vorceed Enlist corn product should return $8.46.^† An 8 to 1 ROI … I’ll take that any day of the week! Farmers should get their orders in early and give it a try. I think they’ll be impressed.