FARGO, N.D., Oct. 16, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northstar Agri Industries, a subsidiary of PICO Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:PICO) and the first purpose-built canola processing facility in the U.S., and Bayer CropScience, the innovators of the consistently vigorous and higher-yielding InVigor canola seed, are pleased to announce the addition of the InVigor® L252 hybrid to the Northstar Star Growers High Oil Contract.

"The Northstar contract pays growers an extra 5 percent on the first 1,250 pounds per acre of grain. We have very demanding criteria for admission to the program: hybrids need to be top performers in both yield and oil percentage," said Neil Juhnke, President and COO, Northstar. "The seed must yield at least 2 to 3 percent more oil when crushed over others to even be considered for entry. L252 is a real win-win. The farmer gets to grow top yielding hybrids; he or she gets a premium; and our plant gains efficiency with the higher oil."

"Northstar has taken a leadership position in North America with its high-oil contract program," said Tom Schuler, Strategic Business Lead for Seeds and Traits North America. "L252 allows growers in Northeast North Dakota and Northwest Minnesota to benefit from this premium, while continuing to benefit from top InVigor genetics that have been field-proven on their farms."

Recently launched for the 2014 growing season, L252 is the first InVigor hybrid with premium-level oil content. This mid- to full-maturing hybrid offers everything farmers have come to expect from InVigor genetics: early-season vigor, outstanding yield and the highest rating for blackleg resistance. L252 features the LibertyLink® trait, which gives farmers an alternative to glyphosate-tolerant systems and a tool to fight herbicide resistance.

"We are so pleased to add a LibertyLink hybrid to our contract. This now gives our growers access to the full range of herbicide systems available in canola today," said Jay Bjerke, Agronomic Services Manager, Northstar. "Liberty is a great system to rotate with other herbicide systems to enhance volunteer control and prevent the establishment of herbicide-resistant weeds. It's a win-win for everyone."

About Northstar Agri Industries

Northstar Agri Industries is a subsidiary of PICO Holdings, Inc. Our fully integrated canola processing and refining plant near Hallock, Minnesota is the first canola processing plant in the state of Minnesota and the first purpose-built canola processing facility in the USA. At Northstar, we are excited to be part of the expansive growth of the canola industry, bringing heart healthy canola oil and high protein canola meal production to the United States.

Contact:
Jay Bjerke, Agronomic Services Mgr.
Office: (701) 478-5848
Cell: (636) 248-3321
Email: jbjerke@northstaragri.com
 
Danielle Storm, Grain Originator
Office: (218) 843-7334
Cell: (218) 526-0398
Email: dstorm@northstaragri.com
 
Visit us on the web at www.Northstaragri.com.

About Bayer CropScience

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. This year the company looks back on 150 years of working to fulfill its mission "Bayer: Science For A Better Life". Bayer CropScience, the subgroup of Bayer AG responsible for the agricultural business, has annual sales of EUR 8,383 million (2012) and is one of the world's leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of seeds, crop protection and non-agricultural pest control. The company offers an outstanding range of products including high value seeds, innovative crop protection solutions based on chemical and biological modes of action as well as an extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture. In the area of non-agricultural applications, Bayer CropScience has a broad portfolio of products and services to control pests from home and garden to forestry applications. The company has a global workforce of 20,800 and is represented in more than 120 countries. This and further news is available at: www.press.bayercropscience.com.

Contact:
Bayer CropScience Media Hotline, 1-877-879-6162, or
 
Beth Roden or Becca Hogan
Director of Communications & Bayer CropScience NA Coordinator
Bayer CropScience
Tel: (919) 549-2030
Email: beth.roden@bayer.com
 
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Find more information at www.bayercropscience.us

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

©2013 Bayer CropScience LP, 2 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Bayer, the Bayer Cross, InVigor and LibertyLink are registered trademarks of Bayer.