Xitavo soybean seed rolls out 11 new varieties for the 2024 season

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, July 19, 2023 – Top-performing brand Xitavo™ soybean seed is further expanding its portfolio with the addition of 11 high-yielding varieties for the 2024 growing season.

With these strong agronomic additions, the Xitavo seed portfolio includes a total of 44 varieties covering relative maturities 0.0 to 4.8. All new varieties feature Enlist E3^® technology to combat difficult weeds. Xitavo soybean seed is owned by MS Technologies and exclusively distributed by BASF.

“The addition of these new varieties will provide growers a strong foundation for their soybean acres,” said Marc Hoobler, U.S. Soybean Agronomy Lead for BASF. “We want to give soybean growers complete confidence in their weed control programs, so all new varieties support versatility and include the Enlist E3 triple-stack herbicide-tolerant trait.”

A few of the high-yielding new varieties that Hoobler encourages growers to watch for are:

• XO 2444E: Good height and standability combination; Good PRR field tolerance and STS tolerant; 108.8% above trial average
• XO 3014E: Dominant performance over competitive checks; Excellent PRR field tolerance and STS tolerant; 107.1% above trial average
• XO 3224E: Peking SCN resistance with excellent PRR field tolerance; Consistent across yield environments; 103.9% above trial average
• XO 4084E: Moderately branchy plant with good standability and height; Consistent performer with STS tolerance; 106.2% above trial average
• XO 4364E: Strong performance in higher yielding environments; Good tolerance for PRR/SDS/FELS with STS tolerance; 107.1% above trial average

“Not only have these new varieties been meticulously assessed by our leading team of agronomists, but Xitavo has a history of success with trusted third-party evaluation as well,” Hoobler said.

In last year’s Farmers' Independent Research of Seed Technologies (FIRST) trials, Xitavo snagged 14 first-place finishes, 155 top-10 finishes and 327 top-30 finishes. Since the brand was first launched in 2020, 13 Xitavo varieties have been defined as National Performers in the WinField United Answer Plot^® testing program. In 2022, seven varieties were designated as National Performers. In total, Xitavo had 13 varieties place in the top five nationally in RM tests 0.0-4.4.

Hoobler adds that the performance of these new varieties gets even better with the proper placement knowledge.

“We want to prove our performance on farms and earn the trust of soybean growers,” he said. “Once we help a grower select the right variety, BASF can help them manage the variety to reach its full potential with recommendations such as planting date, planting rate and preferred row spacing, as well as seed treatment or crop protection recommendations.”

Xitavo is designed with the understanding that a high-performing crop starts with the seed. Enlist E3 soybeans offer growers an advanced herbicide-tolerant trait technology with maximum flexibility and convenience.

For more information about these high-yielding varieties, visit xitavosoybeanseed.com or contact your local BASF authorized retailer.

Always read and follow label directions. XITAVO is a trademark of M.S. Technologies, L.L.C., West Point, IA. Enlist, Enlist E3 and the Enlist logo are registered trademarks of Corteva Agriscience. The transgenic event in Enlist E3 soybeans is jointly developed and owned by Corteva Agriscience and M.S. Technologies, L.L.C. Ⓒ 2023 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved.

Farming is fundamental to provide enough healthy and affordable food for a rapidly growing population while reducing environmental impacts. Working with partners and agricultural experts, and by integrating sustainability criteria into all business decisions, we help farmers to create a positive impact on sustainable agriculture. That’s why we invest in a strong R&D pipeline, connecting innovative thinking with practical action in the field. Our portfolio comprises seeds and specifically selected plant traits, chemical and biological crop protection, solutions for soil management, plant health, pest control and digital farming. With expert teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we strive to find the right balance for success — for farmers, agriculture and future generations. In 2021, our division generated sales of €8.2 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or any of our social media channels.  

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,000 employees in North America and had sales of $25.7 billion in 2022. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 111,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €87.3 billion in 2022. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

MS Technologies^™ LLC is a leading trait, technology and soybean genetics provider. MS Technologies features a portfolio of in-house traits, as well as wide access to other traits and technologies through collaborative agreements with other parties. For more information on MS Technologies, visit our website at www.mstechseed.com.