What to know about Pioneer’s new Z-Series soybeans

Pioneer announced more details about its new class of soybeans at Commodity Classic. Developed using 50 years of soybean research, the company expects Z-series soybeans to offer significant yield advantages and disease resistance for farmers.

“Z-Series soybeans represent the next step forward for soybean farmers, with a generational leap in yield potential and agronomic performance over any soybean line-up Pioneer has ever introduced,” said Liz Knutson, Pioneer U.S. soybean marketing lead, in a news release.

With exclusive genetics, Pioneer expects Z-Series to launch with 50 varieties, and plans to introduce more soon. Varieties will range from relative maturity 00.3 to relative maturity 6.4.

Yield advantages

In 2023 trials, Z-Series soybeans showed a 2.7 bushel an acre advantage over leading A-Series varieties. 

“In the breeding world, we’re used to seeing small, incremental changes so a yield advantage like this is significant,” said Don Kyle, Pioneer soybean breeding evaluation lead, in a news release. “And the numbers aren’t just based on limited observations; we have years of data that have repeatedly shown Z-Series soybeans to be the highest-yielding varieties in each of the maturity groups – something we’re sure farmers will notice in the field and on the yield monitor.”

The new class also aims to provide yield stability, helping farmers reach high yields year to year despite changing weather challenges and disease pressures. 

Disease protection

The Z-Series soybeans will offer increased protection against key diseases such as sudden death syndrome, brown stem rot, white mold, and iron deficiency chlorosis. 

In addition, the soybeans will have improved soybean cyst nematode and Phytophthora resistance, with 13 varieties offering stacked resistance for the two. 

“With the new Z-Series soybeans with Peking and Phytophthora resistance, Pioneer will start to move Peking resistance into new maturity groups, giving farmers more tools to help fight SCN resistance,” Knutson said. “This is a critical issue for soybean farmers, and we’ll continue to devote time and research efforts to SDS, SCN and Phytophthora resistance.”

Herbicide traits

Almost all Z-Series varieties will contain the Enlist-E3 trait, ensuring tolerance for 2,4-D choline, glyphosate, and glufosinate. 

In the southern U.S., four varieties will include the BOLT technology and the STS gene. 

“We expect Z-Series varieties with BOLT technology will be especially valuable for reduced-till and no-till farmers in the Southern U.S.,” Knutson said. “The BOLT varieties are the only soybeans that can be planted immediately after burndown applications of LeadOff or Basis Blend herbicides, giving those farmers a greater degree of planting-time flexibility.”

Market availability

Z-Series seeds will be available in limited quantities in 2024.

Farmers looking to plant Z-Series this year should meet with their Pioneer sales representative about available supply. 

“We have almost a half a million acres of opportunity across all maturity ranges,” Knutson said. “Talk to your local pioneer sales rep and figure out what they have available. I would encourage folks to think about planning plots this year. We do have plenty of plot quantities out and about to test the full lineup in their area.”

A full launch is expected in 2025, with Z-Series representing 50% of Pioneer’s commercial product that year.