Farmers’ days bring farmers together and give them the chance to take a closer look at the different cultivars so that each farmer can choose exactly the right cultivar for his farm and his circumstances to get a bigger yield.

At Pioneer’s recent farmers’ day in Middelburg, Pioneer’s new maize range and soya bean products for the East, new PowerCoreTM technology, and LumiGEN® seed treatment, were discussed and explained by agronomists and other experts.150 people attended the day.

The correct seed treatment package can will ensure a successful season.

LumiGEN® seed treatments are designed, tested, and proven to work with Pioneer® genetics, giving farmers more confidence in their seed treatment options.

LumiGEN® seed treatment is based on more than 100 years of crop protection knowledge, together with a good understanding of what farmers need and how they farm. Pioneer seed treatment combination is carefully evaluated at the Corteva Agriscience Centre of Seed Applied Technologies (CSAT).

Johan Janse van Rensburg, Seed Applied Technology Manager for Africa and the Middle East region at Corteva Agriscience says: “Seed treatment offers a targeted solution that is applied directly to the seed for the fastest and most effective way to protect seed against early pests.

“It also fits perfectly in an integrated pest and planting system where we have minimal inputs with maximum outputs.”

The new PowerCoreTM technology that’s been released in 2022 help protect crops from harmful above-ground insects such as the African maize stalk borer. It also has herbicide resistant properties.

P54722 R is one of Pioneer’s many cultivars that was planted in the trial for farmers to see.

Pieter Erasmus, agent for Pioneer for the past 30 years and farmer in the Middelburg district says it is beneficial to plant Bt- seeds instead of conventional seeds.

Jacobus Dürr, Area Manager for the Eastern High field/Limpopo district of Pioneer says farmers’ days are important because the information shared is very useful.

A farmer of the farm, Vaalbank, Bethal, Gerhard de Jager, who farms with maize, soya beans and cattle, says it is good to see the result if the correct cultivars are planted on the specific soil types.

“It is also important to have the correct stand density for the soil.”

Gerhard planted the P1975 yellow maize cultivar last year. He also planted the P2838 white cultivar with exceptional results.

Francois Hattingh of the farm, Rietfontein, Middelburg says the cultivars that were planted in the trials focus more on what is adapted to the environment, but they also test cultivars that come from other areas.
“The advantages that it holds for the farmer to plant a trial on his own farm is that he sees the result on his own soil with his management practices.

“We are thankful for the support that we get from Pioneer and that they invest in our farmers,” Francois added.

Farmers listen carefully to the advice, given by experts on maize cultivars.

More on the P1975 yellow maize cultivar:

  • It has an excellent and stable yield potential for the eastern production regions in the medium-growing season market. A new addition to this platform is the new PowerCore™ technology, P1975PW.
  • It has an excellent ability to make a second head in favourable conditions and with a lower plant density.
  • Pushes two heads mostly equally, but under stress instead uses energy to make a larger primary head.
  • Is very well adapted to high and low potentials.
  • Fits well with P2432 and for the environment.
  • Good foliar disease package, especially against northern leaf scorch. All P1788 platforms.
  • Not a large plant frame and head height can be low with lower plant density.
  • Heads are well placed in normal plant density
  • Contains northern leaf scorch genetics and shows fairly good tolerance to common leaf rust.
  • Agronomically very strong.

For more information contact Pioneer at www.pioneer.com/za or sent an e-mail to info.rsa@pioneer.com.