Growers Planting Pioneer® Brand Hybrids Win 50 Percent of National Titles in 2011 Contest



Pioneer, a DuPont companyDuPont congratulates David Hula, Charles City, Va., and eight other growers planting Pioneer® brand corn hybrids who won U.S. national titles in the 2011 National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Corn Yield Contest announced today. Farmers planting Pioneer® brand hybrids won 50 percent of the 18 national spots in the annual contest, including four of six first-place category finishes.

Hula attained the highest overall yield of 429.02 bushels per acre with Pioneer® brand P2088HR. He won first place in the No-Till/Strip-Till Irrigated category.

"Every year the industry continues to see growers planting Pioneer corn hybrids succeed in the NCGA Corn Yield contest, and we're thrilled that these growers choose Pioneer products for these winning yields," said Paul E. Schickler, president of DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred. "We believe this shows not only the impressive yield potential that Pioneer genetics bring to our customers, but it also demonstrates what growers can achieve by planting the right product on the right acre. Our congratulations to all the winners."

Growers planting Pioneer products also placed second and third in the contest. Double 'SA' Farms Inc., Hart, Texas, had the second highest national yield of 370.38 bushels per acre with Pioneer® product 32N74AM1TM in the Irrigated class, and Randy Dowdy, Valdosta, Ga., had the third highest yield of 363.53 bushels per acre with Pioneer® hybrid P2023HR in the No-Till/Strip-Till Irrigated category.

The NCGA Corn Yield contest is an annual U.S. national competition among corn growers with the goal of producing the highest yields. Growers compete in six corn production classes, including non-irrigated (A and AA), no-till/strip-till non-irrigated (A and AA), irrigated and no-till/strip-till irrigated classes.

For more information about Pioneer corn hybrids grown by contest winners and the broad range of top-producing Pioneer products, growers should contact their local Pioneer sales professional.

For a list of national winners, yield totals and hybrids numbers, go to http://www.pioneer.com/ncga.

Pioneer Hi-Bred (www.pioneer.com), a DuPont business headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, is the world's leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics, providing high-quality seeds to farmers in more than 90 countries. Pioneer provides agronomic support and services to help increase farmer productivity and profitability and strives to develop sustainable agricultural systems for people everywhere. Science with Service Delivering SuccessTM.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com.

12.21.2011