2025 Update from Peterson Corn Genetics
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“Momentum builds for licensed Corteva Agriscience genetics and traits.”
In his tenure on the front lines of genetics and trait technologies, Dr. Kevin Cavanaugh has seen the industry change, innovate and evolve. Recently he sat down with Groundwork to answer questions and share his perspective.
When you talk to Kevin, it’s easy to get excited about what lies ahead for independent seed companies. “They’ve been looking for more options for many years. And with Corteva in the game, we can offer licensees those options in corn genetics and traits, along with some good business opportunities,” says Kevin. “I’m seeing a lot more optimism from our customers and their farmers.”
Q: Let’s start with genetic performance. What did you see in the field in 2024?
A: Performance in the field with the Corteva material in 2024 was exceptional. In FIRST Trials, PowerCore® Enlist® hybrids consistently showed up at the top. That, coupled with our testing, gives us a very broad view. Product performance, the data, has been fantastic. And anecdotally, I hear story after story about performance on the farm. One farmer saw 400 bu/A show up on his yield monitor — not the whole field, but these types of reports give you an indication of the genetic potential Corteva is bringing. That said, in this business, we release and promote products based on multi-year data we see and analyze.
Of course, we also faced challenges in 2024. Some places had lots of early moisture. And we saw late disease. Tar spot was a real issue in many areas. And across the board, in the field, the Corteva genetics led the way on tolerance to tar spot. Overall agronomics — stalk strength, speed of emergence and stability — are there with the Corteva products. They don’t fall apart, even in unexpected environments. There seems to be more genetic diversity within the Corteva portfolio than what’s been seen with others in the past.
Q: What’s the trendline going forward for the Corteva genetics you’ll offer?
A: Big picture-wise, we just finished testing the fourth generation of unique hybrids that have come to us from Corteva. These are hybrids licensees can only get from Peterson Corn Genetics.
Corteva keeps coming with wave after wave of better and better genetics. Our licensees are seeing performance they haven’t seen before — not just in one or two products, but across the entire portfolio. What independent seed companies see from Corteva is a strong pipeline and a viable, licensee-friendly option.
When it comes to products, the Corteva genetics and traits give them some talking points they’ve never had before — more genetic diversity, tar spot tolerance and strong agronomics, and in PowerCore® Enlist® corn, an additional mode of action against above-ground insects and herbicide options customers don’t get with other trait packages. Licensees see the opportunity with Corteva.
And we see the proof of this in our testing. In 2024, our Cutting Edge testing program evaluated the best products from all four generations of Corteva corn genetics. We ran nearly 500 locations in eight maturity sets, from 75- to 120-day corn. After seeing yearone data on the new generation of hybrids, we make selections. Then we re-test the best of the best in year two. Every product we commercialize and release to licensees undergoes two years of evaluation in our program, not to mention testing by Corteva R&D. And of course, our testing plans for 2025 will include another new generation of Corteva corn genetics.
In our evaluations, we of course measure hybrid yield. We also conduct inbred observations and measure their performance. We capture data on silking, pollen shed, phenotype and performance of a parent in conventional and traited versions. We also measure seed yield. This is another area where we see tremendous performance from the Corteva material. Each of our five genetic advisors in the field also has an inbred observation field that they inspect throughout the growing season.
Q: What about cost of goods and margin opportunities with Corteva genetics?
A: We talk to licensees all the time about seed yield with the Corteva germplasm. And they share what they’re seeing with us. This year, for instance, several licensees told me that a Corteva hybrid they produced delivered their best seed yield ever. One report came in at 120 bu/A across a whole seed field. Our data shows females in the Corteva portfolio to be tremendous seed producers. And the consistency of production is there as well.
Q: What have you and your customers been seeing with PowerCore® Enlist® corn?
A: Given the popularity of Enlist E3® soybeans, licensees are getting familiar with the technology in corn. They know that growers pick up an additional above-ground mode of action. But PowerCore Enlist corn is more than just a revved-up VT Double PRO® corn insect trait. Farmers get lots of herbicide flexibility and options they don’t get with VT Double PRO corn. People are just now learning the many benefits of the Enlist® weed control system in corn. And there are many. You can go over the top with FOP herbicides* to control grasses. You can keep fence rows clean. You can take out a poor corn stand in a replant situation. And if you’ve ever had to cut grass loose from combine heads, that’s not fun. Enlist® corn is an answer. Farmers planting Enlist E3 soybeans now have a simple and effective program for tough to control weeds in both crops. The interest in PowerCore Enlist corn is there and it’s gaining a lot of momentum.
Q: What can licensees look forward to in the future from Peterson Corn Genetics and Corteva?
A: When we created Peterson Corn Genetics in 2020, a question I got asked a lot was, “What’s the future of the independent seed company?” It was a fair question and still is. Today, I can say with confidence that the future looks very, very good. Licensees now have a viable option with Corteva.
I’ve already talked about the Corteva germplasm pipeline. The industry has seen the performance. Farmers and licensees like what they’re seeing in terms of stress tolerance, flex ear capability and plant health with the Corteva genetics.
What does all this mean for licensees? A greater opportunity to build out a product portfolio. Gone are the days of lots of genetic overlap from company to company. Fewer products will span far and wide, east to west, like they did in the old days. With the depth and breadth of available genetics, companies can select products that perform well in their niche and for their customers. All of this is good news for the independent seed company and reason for real optimism.
Trait-wise, Corteva is closing in on an above- and belowground package. This will be a really strong piece to bring into the portfolio. I also know future developments are going well beyond above- and below-ground traits. Looking out further and in different directions, Corteva is making great strides. They have a strong lead in reduced-stature corn. It’s an interesting technology that will find its fit. There’s work underway with traits for yield and yield stability along with a new disease trait.
Q: Any closing thoughts?
A: Yes. There’s good news in all of this for licensees. They will have access to Corteva genetics and traits. It’s a great time for us and our customers to be associated with Corteva. Their approach is to partner with independent genetic suppliers. This is a different and very strategic decision. We truly are independent, which means we’re in a different position. We can build relationships and gain trust with the licensee, which is so important to success moving forward. Communication is the key — Corteva to us, and us to our customers.
™ ® Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. The transgenic soybean event in Enlist E3® soybeans is jointly developed and owned by Corteva Agriscience and M.S. Technologies L.L.C. Following burndown, Enlist Duo® and Enlist One® herbicides with Colex-D® technology are the only herbicides containing 2,4-D that are authorized for preemergence and postemergence use with Enlist® crops. Consult Enlist® herbicide labels for weed species controlled. Enlist Duo and Enlist One herbicides are not registered for use or sale in all states and counties; are not registered in AK, CA, CT, HI, ID, MA, ME, MT, NH, NV, OR, RI, UT, VT, WA and WY; and have additional subcounty restrictions in AL, GA, TN and TX, while existing county restrictions still remain in FL. All users must check “Bulletins Live! Two” no earlier than six months before using Enlist One or Enlist Duo. To obtain “Bulletins,” consult epa.gov/espp/, call 1-844-447-3813, or email ESPP@epa.gov. You must use the “Bulletin” valid for the month and state and county in which Enlist One or Enlist Duo are being applied. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency if you have questions about the registration status of Enlist® herbicides in your area. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. IT IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAW TO USE ANY PESTICIDE PRODUCT OTHER THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS LABELING. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. USE OF PESTICIDE PRODUCTS, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, 2,4-D-CONTAINING PRODUCTS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR USE WITH ENLIST CROPS, MAY RESULT IN OFF-TARGET DAMAGE TO SENSITIVE CROPS/AREAS AND/OR SUSCEPTIBLE PLANTS, IN ADDITION TO CIVIL AND/OR CRIMINAL PENALTIES. Additional product-specific stewardship requirements for Enlist crops, including the Enlist Product Use Guide, can be found at www.traitstewardship.com. POWERCORE® is a registered trademark of Bayer Group. POWERCORE® multi-event technology developed by Corteva Agriscience and Bayer Group. Always follow IRM, grain marketing and all other stewardship practices and pesticide label directions. Bt products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your seed representative for the registration status in your state. LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design are registered trademarks of BASF. Roundup®, Roundup Ready® and VT Double PRO® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group. Always read and follow label directions. © 2025 Corteva. 025740 LC (01/25)
