Several new corn and soybean varieties just might find their way into fields for the 2024 growing season.

Merschman Seeds, an independent, family-owned seed company from West Point, has partnered with Corteva to roll out PowerCore Enlist corn.

“We know that traits do not bring additional yield to the table, but they do protect the yield potential. As important as that yield is to our farmers, we know yield is where we have to start,” said Ben Pieper, Merschman Seeds product manager and agronomist.

“Brand new genetic offerings in the PowerCore trait prove to be out-yielding current germplasm that are in competitor trait packages. The yield is protected from three different modes of action above ground that provide additional protection against armyworms, European and Southwestern corn borer and cutworms.

“The new trait also gives you the most herbicide options in the industry by being tolerant to Enlist One, Fop chemistry, Roundup and Liberty.”

The latest soybean seed treatment for higher yields from Merschman Seeds is called Starting Line Plus. It offers maximum protection against early-season pests and disease.

“This add-on combines the powers of Saltro and Trunemco, providing highly-effective protection against sudden death syndrome and soybean cyst nematode (SCN), all added to our standard Starting Line Seed Treatment,” Pieper said. “Trunemco adds microbial protection from SCN and supports root health and uniform plant growth.”

Other companies offering new options to producers include:

• AgriGold with 13 new Enlist E3 varieties and 11 new XtendFlex varieties for soybeans.

AgriGold will launch 16 new corn hybrids with relative maturities ranging from 84 to 120 days, as well as five new trait offerings on proven hybrids for the 2024 growing season.

• LG Seeds will add 28 new corn hybrids ranging from 80- to 118-day relative maturities in 2024. The new corn hybrids feature seven different trait offerings — conventional, Roundup Ready, Agrisure 3110, VT Double PRO, Agrisure Duracade 5222, SmartStax and SmartStax PRO. LG Seeds will also have 26 soybean varieties in 2024, giving farmers 70-plus varieties to choose from that have maturities ranging from Group 00 to Group 5.

• NK Seeds has introduced its largest new corn class in more than a decade for the 2024 growing season, including 20 new hybrids with traits for above- and below-ground protection. NK Seeds’ latest soybean class includes 28 new varieties with trait choice and disease resistance.

Pioneer announced its newest soybean seed technology — the Z-Series, which will be available in limited volumes for the 2024 planting season, with larger commercial volumes available in 2025.

“This Z-Series class of soybeans builds on 50 years of soybean breeding at Pioneer,” said Liz Knutson, Pioneer U.S. soybean marketing lead in a news release. “During this 50-year history, we have introduced five soybean ‘series’ — B, M, Y, T and A — that each signaled trait technology innovations and transitions and set a new standard for Pioneer soybean performance.”

Pioneer offers more than 60 new corn hybrids for 2024. This year’s class expands the availability of Pioneer brand Vorceed Enlist corn and introduces PowerCore Enlist and PowerCore Ultra Enlist corn.

BASF offers its Xitavo soybean seed with 11 new varieties available for 2024. With these additions, the Xitavo seed portfolio now includes 44 varieties, all featuring triple-stacked Enlist E3 technology for weed control flexibility. Xitavo soybean seed is owned by MS Technologies and exclusively distributed by BASF.

BASF also unveiled Liberty ULTRA with GLU-L Technology for 2024, a new post-emergence knock-down tool for weed control in glufosinate-tolerant canola, corn, cotton and soybean. This first trait-enabled resolved isomeric product controls grasses and tough broadleaf weeds like waterhemp, Palmer amaranth, giant ragweed and kochia.