Is Corteva Now Beating Out Bayer? Company’s Market Share Surges On Soybeans

A fierce competition is unfolding in the American soybean market, with Corteva, a spin-off of DowDuPont, gaining ground against industry leader Bayer. As farmers weigh the flexibility of spraying Enlist, versus the yield benefits they claim with the Xtend system, it’s a battle playing out in row crop fields across the country.

For years, Bayer has held a dominant position, thanks to its genetically engineered soybean seeds that are resistant to the herbicide Roundup (glyphosate). However, Corteva has surged ahead with its biotech soybeans, now claiming over half of the U.S. market share, reports the Wall Street Journal.

In August, Corteva claimed E3 soybeans took over the top spot as the top selling soybean technology in the U.S.

Together, Bayer and Corteva now control approximately 70% of the corn and soybean seed market in the U.S., a significant increase from around 40% two decades ago, according to USDA data. Both companies are vying for a share of the billions of dollars farmers spend on seed-and-chemical combinations to combat stubborn weeds.

The rivalry between the two giants has led to aggressive marketing tactics, court battles over patents and even involvement in lobbying efforts for stricter regulations on competing herbicides.

Bayer’s Roundup Ready Xtend crop system offers traits featuring tolerance to dicamba, glyphosate and glufosinate. Corteva launched its Enlist E3 soybeans, which are centered around tolerance to 2,4-D choline, glyphosate and glufosinate.

Corteva’s Enlist soybeans have gained popularity due to fewer spraying limitations, and they are projected to make up at least 55% of soybeans planted in the U.S. this year. On the other hand, Bayer’s Roundup Ready Xtend system claims around 45% to 50% of the market.

Farmers’ preferences vary, with some favoring Bayer’s dicamba-resistant soybeans for their effectiveness against troublesome weeds and yield outcomes. A few farmers told Farm Journal they have seen yields up to 10 bu. per acre better with the Xtend crop system when compared to Enlist soybeans. However, if other farmers in their area have already switched to Enlist, they are now having to weigh giving up those yield benefits in the coming years to possibly also switch to Enlist. One farmer even said he feels “forced” to make the switch, even with the yield difference on their farm.

The yield difference is also up for debate. Corteva says its data shows A-Series Enlist E3 soybeans have a 3 bu. per acre yield advantage versus Xtendflex varieties. The company says their data is based off of 2,462 comparisons across the U.S. with a 71% win rate.

The competition shows no signs of slowing down, with both companies continuing to invest in new technologies and legal disputes marking their race for soybean dominance.