EZ-Count™ 140K Unit Questions and Answers

What is EZ-Count 140K?   EZ-Count 140K is Syngenta’s new method of selling of NK® soybeans in which each unit has 140,000 seeds regardless of the seed size of the soybeans. 

Why sell soybeans by the EZ-Count system?  Growers are asking for a more precise and equitable way to purchase soybeans and the EZ-Count system addresses this need.  It takes the guess work out of ordering soybean seed because growers know the exact seeds per unit and price per acre cost at the time of purchase.  We expect 70% of the industry will sell soybeans by seed count in 2011. 

How is buying soybean seed in EZ-Count units different than 50-pound units?  All EZ-Count units will consist of 140,000 seeds, but the weight per unit will vary.  In a 50-pound unit the weight is constant, but the total seed count varies.  A planting reference chart is provided on the EZ-count packaging. 

Which NK soybean varieties and package types will be offered as EZ-Count units for 2011?  All NK soybean varieties and all package types (TruBulk® system, Q-Bit® boxes, bulk bags and paper bags) will be sold as EZ-Count units for 2011.

Are there minimum and maximum weights for EZ-Count 140K units? The range will be 35-70 pounds, however we expect most varieties will weigh between 40-60 pounds per EZ-Count 140K unit.  Maximum weight per paper bag unit will be 63.6 pounds.  TruBulk and bulk bags could have units weighing more than 63.6 pounds.  Q-Bit boxes will have a maximum of 63.6 pounds per unit.

How many EZ-Count units will be on a pallet?  The number of units on a pallet will be clearly marked and will vary based on unit weight with a target of 3000 pounds per pallet.

Will Q-Bit boxes and bulk bags be available in 40 units or 50 units?  Each soybean variety will be set up to be ordered specifically in only a 40 unit (5.6m seeds) or 50 unit (7.0m seeds) package based on historical seed sizes.  Both Q-Bit boxes and bulk bags will be easily and clearly marked with the variety and the number of units in the package.    

How will EZ-Count 140K units be priced?  Syngenta expects to be competitively priced in the market and EZ-Count will allow for a more transparent and easily understood value proposition.

How will end of season dumps be handled?  All return credits will be based on the actual lot number being dumped up to the maximum haulback percentage allowed.

How is shrinkage figured in EZ-Count units?  We will continue to make adjustments as in previous years. 

Can a TruBulk tank be re-filled before it is empty?  No, any remaining EZ-Count 140K units will need to be removed before re-filling to stay in compliance with seed labeling laws; this is consistent with how sales of TruBulk 50-pound units were handled.  TruBulk tanks will hold about the same number of EZ-Count units as 50-pound units for most seed sizes.  We will provide a table to estimate EZ-Count seed units for TruBulk tanks.

How successful was Syngenta’s launch of new products in EZ-Count units in 2010?  Fourteen new products were launched in EZ-Count units in spring 2010 and grower and field sales comments have been very positive.