NK Seeds gives corn portfolio a “refresh”

Syngenta Canada Inc.’s NK Seeds brand is boosting its corn lineup with a renewed focus on seed.

Although Syngenta has been a leader in trait development, for several years it hadn’t offered many new advancements in its corn product portfolio, particularly in the higher heat unit range. 

But that is changing. 

It’s part of the company’s bigger strategy to focus on improving the customer experience. In June, Syngenta split its seed and crop protection businesses into separate units, which had previously operated as one entity. This change will allow the company’s sales and marketing teams to be specialists in one area, and “ensure the company is positioned for growth and evolving to meets the needs of the customer and industry,” Syngenta Canada president and crop protection lead Trevor Heck said in a release. 

Why it matters: After lacking in new product development for the last decade, NK Seeds is once again in the corn product market with new hybrid offerings that offer unique trait packages. 

For the 2021 and 2022 growing years, the company has increased its experimental class of corn products significantly and growers were able to view these products at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show site in Woodstock during Crop Stop, an in-person event held Sept. 23-24. It’s the first time in many years that the company has had plots at the Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show site.

Dan Wright, head of seeds for Syngenta Canada, told Farmtario that Syngenta has focused on “refreshing” its breeding and testing process for new products for all of North America. 

“Growers are asking for more hybrids, better and improved hybrids and lots of choice, whether its choice in genetics, or choice in trait packages,” said Wright. “So that’s really what we’ve been focused on, is refreshing and adding into our corn program so we can deliver that to growers.” 

The construction of Syngenta’s Trait Conversion Accelerator facility in Nampa, Idaho, several years ago allows the company to get products to market much more quickly, he said. It’s a corn breeding facility with greenhouses and labs that provide a controlled growing environment. 

Over the last five years, NK Seeds has tripled its experimental class of corn products, said Wright. In Canada, NK Seeds is focused on developing products for only Eastern Canada, because that is where the company sees the biggest growth opportunity, he said. 

The new hybrids have been tested at 25 different locations all over Eastern Canada, in 55,000 plots. 

Unlike in the U.S Midwest where one maturity level will often perform across an entire state, there is a large variance in maturity levels in Ontario.

“From Windsor to Ottawa up to New Liskeard, the maturity difference is dramatic, from 110 days down to 80,” said Wright. “There’s such a big swing, a few miles make a big difference in eastern Canada. That’s why we need to have that robust testing.”

New trait packages 

NK Seeds has also focused on enhancing its trait offerings, and is now stacking its Agrisure traits – Agrisure Viptera and Agrisure Durcade for above and below ground protection.

“This is exciting for us and something that growers have definitely been talking to us about,” said Wright. 

Syngenta also has an advantage as it has the most hybrids with the Viptera trait, which is the only trait that protects against Western bean cutworm, now considered the largest economic insect pest in Ontario’s corn crop.

Listening to growers is something that Wright has been concentrating on since he joined Syngenta in July 2019. Syngenta’s goal, he said, is to strive for continuous improvement. 

“It’s really been about grower focus, how we can add value and how we work with them and share how our products can be a solution for them,” he said. “It continues to be our focus as we move forward.”