Early Field Trial Results Exhibiting Yield Advantages of Monsanto Soybean Trait Technology Offerings

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As farmers begin to make their 2011 seed purchase decisions, early harvest results collected by Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) from three of the nation's leading soybean producing states indicate that Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans are exhibiting an average of more than three bushels per acre yield advantage, with a greater than 70 percent win rate, when compared with competitive Roundup Ready soybean varieties in those states.

The results highlight the performance profile of the top 134 varieties of Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans across a three-state geography including Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota, states where projectable data is now available. These preliminary data are based on more than 6,000 head-to-head comparisons in on-farm commercial and breeding trials. The company noted that it will complete the 2010 data set and use these findings to select and deploy the best products for the 2011 season.

"This first look at our data suggests yield results that are consistent with what many of our farmer customers have been telling us; Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield technology is setting the bar higher for soybean performance," said Dr. Ted Crosbie, Monsanto's vice president of global plant breeding. "Our trial data further indicate that farmers realize additional value with each bushel produced over first-generation soybean offerings and further supports the performance advantages of our future product offerings."

Broad variety testing is an important annual process. Each year, Monsanto tests hundreds of soybean varieties across thousands of research plots throughout the United States. These tests result in tens of thousands of comparisons with the leading competitive soybean products. Analysis of these data enables Monsanto to identify and narrow the pool of varieties to be sold commercially in a given geography the following year.  

This update is part of an ongoing series of Monsanto reports throughout the harvest season. Today's report is based on preliminary harvest data collected from three states. Soybean harvest continues to progress nationwide and the collection of performance data is ongoing. Monsanto will continue to report on representative data, and will report its complete harvest results in November. For additional information, please visit the following website at: www.monsanto.com/productperformance.  Farmers can also follow product news and performance online at: www.asgrowanddekalb.com and www.genuity.com.

About Monsanto Company

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit: www.monsanto.com. Follow our business on Twitter® at www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo, on the company blog, Beyond the Rows at www.monsantoblog.com, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

Certain statements contained in this release are "forward-looking statements," such as statements concerning the company's anticipated financial results, current and future product performance, regulatory approvals, business and financial plans and other non-historical facts. These statements are based on current expectations and currently available information. However, since these statements are based on factors that involve risks and uncertainties, the company's actual performance and results may differ materially from those described or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, among others: continued competition in seeds, traits and agricultural chemicals; the company's exposure to various contingencies, including those related to intellectual property protection, regulatory compliance and the speed with which approvals are received, and public acceptance of biotechnology products; the success of the company's research and development activities; the outcomes of major lawsuits; developments related to foreign currencies and economies; successful operation of recent acquisitions; fluctuations in commodity prices; compliance with regulations affecting our manufacturing; the accuracy of the company's estimates related to distribution inventory levels; the company's ability to fund its short-term financing needs and to obtain payment for the products that it sells; the effect of weather conditions, natural disasters and accidents on the agriculture business or the company's facilities; and other risks and factors detailed in the company's most recent Form 10-K Report to the SEC. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of the date of this release. The company disclaims any current intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements or any of the factors that may affect actual results.

SOURCE Monsanto Company