Feb 15, 2007 12:00 PM, By Peg Zenk

Signing a contract to produce low-linolenic soybeans requires the use of basic identity-preserved practices. For its ultralow-linolenic varieties, Asoyia requires that farmers follow set production, harvest and storage protocols, especially for the non-genetically modified varieties. “By testing the crop at harvest and in storage, we are trying to help ensure that the farmer will have no problems with contamination at delivery,” Lineback says. “It's a valuable crop and we want to be able to process every bushel of beans the farmer delivers. Our IP program has proven very successful. I know of only one truckload of beans that was turned away at a processing facility all last year.”

Farmers who are comfortable with the identity-preserved process will have more opportunities to improve the profitability of their soybeans. “We're only at the beginning of producing and handling specialty-trait crops,” Twist says. “There's more in the pipeline for the next five to seven years, including high oleic varieties and those with omega 3 oils. These types of specialty traits hold great potential for food processors, as well as soybean producers.”

These companies offer low-linolenic or ultralow-linolenic soybean varieties.

Brand: Vistive low-linolenic soybeans

Specialty trait: 3% linolenic acid content in oil

Available varieties: 28 seed brands carry Group II and III Vistive varieties

Processors: ADM, AGP, CHS, Cargill, Mercer Landmark, MN Soybean Processors, Perdue Inc., Zeeland Farm

Premium: $0.35 to $0.60/bu., depending on location and processor

Delivery points: Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Maryland

2006 acres: 500,000

2007 acre goal: 1.5 to 2 million
Visit www.monsanto.com/monsanto/layout/featured/vistive.asp, or circle 105.

Brand: Pioneer brand low-linolenic soybeans

Specialty trait: 3% linolenic acid content in Treus brand soybean oil

Available varieties: Five Roundup Ready varieties from mid Group II to early Group III

Processors: Bunge, CHS

Premium: $0.45/bu. for harvest delivery; $0.50/bu. for on-farm storage

Delivery points: Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin

Special contract features: Contracted acres eligible for rebate on approved DuPont crop protection products

2006 acres: just under 200,000

2007 acre goal: 400,000 to 500,000
Visit www.pioneer.com/llsoy/benefits.htm, or circle 106.

Brand: Asoyia ultralow-linolenic soybeans

Specialty trait: 1% linolenic acid content in soybean oil

Available varieties: Five Group II and III non-genetically modified varieties and two Roundup Ready Group II varieties, plus several experimental varieties

Processor: Cargill

Premium: $0.45/bu. for Roundup Ready varieties; $1.00/bu. for non-genetically modified varieties

Delivery points: throughout Iowa and around Bloomington, IL

Special contract features: Transportation allowance of $0.05 to $0.15/mile

2006 acres: 35,000 acres

2007 acre goal: 100,000 acres
Visit www.asoyia.com/Growers.asp, or circle 107.

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