DuPont Pioneer Investing to Create Ultra-Early Maturing Grains for Western Canada

As part of the company’s five-year C$35 million investment and research program focused on Western Canada, DuPont Pioneer has opened a new facility in Lethbridge, Alberta that will target the development of ultra-early maturing corn, canola, and soybean hybrids specifically designed for production in Western Canada.

Pioneer research activities began in the area in 2014 in temporary facilities, however the team has now moved into the company’s newly constructed custom built center.

“Area growers have expressed interest in growing more corn, and the Lethbridge research center will focus on developing ultra-early maturity corn hybrids,” said Steven King, Evaluation Zone lead, DuPont Pioneer Canada in a recent company release. “Lethbridge is an ideal location because researchers can access current and future corn-adapted acres within a short drive, and the breeding program conducted out of this new facility strengthens our research activities in Western Canada.”

Hybrids are categorized by ‘heat units’ – or how much heat is accumulated through the course of the growing season from planting to maturity. Newly developed early-maturing hybrids for Western Canada will need to accumulate enough heat units to bring the plant to maturity before the region experiences its first killing frost.