Roundup Ready Flex cotton has been widely tested across the U.S. Cotton Belt since 2001 and its launch has been highly anticipated. In 2006, Roundup Ready Flex cotton will be launched in the United States for sale and distribution. Roundup Ready Flex cotton enables a more flexible window of over-the-top applications of Roundup agricultural herbicides, from cotton emergence through seven days prior to harvest.

Roundup Ready Flex cotton enables growers to spray Roundup WeatherMAX and Roundup Original MAX over-the-top from emergence through seven days prior to harvest. The label allows a maximum rate of 32 oz/A per application by ground application equipment. Additionally, there are no growth or timing restrictions for sequential applications. Four (4) quarts/A is the total in-crop volume allowed from emergence through 60% open bolls. A preharvest application of up to 44 oz/A may be applied after cotton reaches 60 percent open bolls through seven days prior harvest, if needed.

Roundup WeatherMAX and Roundup Original MAX have been reformulated for expanded Roundup Ready Flex cotton uses. Monsanto determined that a combination of components in glyphosate formulations have the potential to cause localized leaf injury when applied during later stages of crop growth. Roundup WeatherMAX and Roundup Original MAX are now specially formulated for use with Roundup Ready Flex cotton to reduce the potential for leaf injury and are the only Roundup agricultural herbicides labeled and approved for new labeled uses over the top of Roundup Ready Flex cotton.

Monsanto has broadly tested Roundup Ready Flex cotton with university and third party cooperators since 2001. In 2005, in addition to the extensive small plot research, Monsanto initiated over 160 grower and consultant based Roundup Ready Flex cotton trials, each were 20 to 40 acres. Growers and consultants received first hand experience with the new trait a growing season prior to launch. The research, grower and consultant experiences have shown us that the Roundup Ready Flex cotton system will provide the growers with: -Enhanced flexibility and convenience due to season-long application options -Increased production efficiencies -Less Dependence upon selective spray equipment -Ability to tailor herbicide applications to weed heights instead of cotton stage of growth

Monsanto has broadly licensed the Roundup Ready Flex cotton trait through seed company licensees. The seed companies are incorporating Roundup Ready Flex technology alone and in combination with other technologies, such as Bollgard II, into their leading cotton varieties. As the growing season and environments vary across the Cotton Belt, variety performance may also vary. Monsanto strongly encourages the grower to utilize seed company and local university resources in making variety decisions. To this point, Monsanto initiated and sponsored sprayed Roundup Ready Flex cotton variety trials with cotton specialist across the Cotton Belt. The sole purpose of these trials was to give growers an additional venue to see and obtain the results of the potential Roundup Ready Flex cotton varieties in 2006.