Pioneer has introduced the Pioneer® brand Z-Series soybeans in the United States and Canada. The company says this new line of soybeans represents a groundbreaking development in soybean agriculture, offering farmers remarkable yield advantages and enhanced disease resistance.
Liz Knutson, Pioneer U.S. Soybean Marketing Lead, describes the Z-Series as a generational leap in yield potential and agronomic performance. This series is the sixth in Pioneer's 50-year history of soybean breeding and marks a significant transition in trait technology and soybean performance.
The Z-Series soybeans have demonstrated a nearly 3 bushels per acre (bu/A) yield advantage over the well-regarded Pioneer® brand A-Series soybeans. In 2023 IMPACT™ trials, the Z-Series showed an average yield advantage of 2.7 bu/A over the A-Series, translating to a significant increase in return on investment for farmers.
Don Kyle, Pioneer Soybean Breeding Evaluation Lead, emphasized the exceptional yield advantage of the Z-Series, noting its revolutionary impact in the breeding world. The extensive data supporting these soybeans consistently indicate them as the highest-yielding varieties in various maturity groups.
The Z-Series also excels in disease and pest resistance, with improved scores in sudden death syndrome (SDS), brown stem rot, white mold, iron deficiency chlorosis, soybean cyst nematode (SCN), and Phytophthora. This resistance is a testament to Pioneer's research and development, leveraging one of the world's largest and most diverse soybean germplasm libraries.
The new soybean series will feature more than 50 varieties in the U.S. and 20 in Canada, most containing the Enlist E3® soybean trait for herbicide tolerance. This offers farmers weed-control flexibility and reduces the potential for herbicide-resistant weeds. Additionally, specific varieties for the Southern U.S. will include BOLT® technology and the STS® gene, benefiting reduced-till and no-till farmers in the region.
Limited availability of Z-Series soybeans is planned for the 2024 planting season, with a broader release scheduled for 2025. The series will span relative maturities from 00.3 to 6.4, catering to the diverse needs of North American farmers.
Knutson expressed confidence in the Z-Series, citing extensive data that demonstrate their performance advantages. Pioneer anticipates that farmers will quickly recognize the benefits of planting Z-Series soybeans.
For more information on Pioneer® brand Z-Series soybeans, farmers are encouraged to contact their local Pioneer sales representative or visit the Pioneer website.
