This project was the culmination of a two-year facility upgrade that represents an investment of more than $12 million.
“Our focus on research and development is aimed at improving crop yields and conserving resources,” said Trevor Hohls, global cotton breeding lead for Monsanto. “These investments will help enable growers — in Mississippi and across the world — to have the best genetics and technologies that offer the potential to increase yields and fiber quality.”
“Deltapine has a long tradition of providing farmers with the best cotton varieties,” said Doug Shoemaker, Monsanto’s regional cotton breeding lead. “With this new facility, we insure that this tradition will continue.”
Shoemaker also referenced the company’s history in Scott and how retired breeder, Keith Jones, was recognized by naming one of the new buildings in his honor. Jones developed some of the brand’s most popular varieties, such as Deltapine 20 and Deltapine 50.
Local growers were invited to the facility for the event and many more will be coming in the next few months to see the strong lineup of the Class of 09, Class of 10, and Class of 11 varieties. These products are the next wave to offer the increased yield potential Hohls mentioned.
The company also has a number of traits advancing in its pipeline that will offer increased insect protection, drought tolerance and advanced weed control.
“Monsanto is actively investing in cotton,” said Hohls.
The company has recently upgraded facilities in Texas, Arizona and Costa Rica to support the US markets. It has also doubled the size of its US cotton testing operations.
The Scott site supports breeding and development of new cotton varieties and technology and houses programs that introduce products to the commercial market.
“The Scott Learning Center farms 135 acres in order to build information and experience that is shared with farmers about new Monsanto products in corn, cotton, and soybeans as early as possible in the development process,” said Jay Mahaffey, manager of the Scott Learning Center.
Mahaffey said the Learning Center hosts about 2,500 visitors per season, including farmer customers as well as school kids interested in agriculture. The Learning Center focuses on providing information that helps Monsanto’s farmer customers adopt new tools and agronomic techniques into their farming operations as early as possible.
The entire focus of the Learning Center is to share information that helps agriculture become more sustainable, increase yield and ultimately help growers use the tools that they purchase in the most profitable manner possible.
Local groups interested in arranging a tour can call 662-742-4281.