BASF introduces new Stoneville cotton seed varieties for the 2026 season

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, January 27, 2026 – BASF is further expanding its industry-leading seed portfolio with the addition of three new Stoneville^® cotton varieties for the 2026 growing season.

All new varieties for 2026 include Axant^® Flex technology, cotton’s first and only quad-stacked herbicide trait*, and three-gene insect control with the TwinLink^® Plus trait.

“Our new Stoneville varieties are designed to give cotton growers doing the biggest job on Earth the confidence they need to tackle the toughest challenges in their fields,” said Bryan Perry, Head of U.S. Seeds and Traits for BASF Agricultural Solutions. “A successful season starts with the right seed, and with Stoneville and FiberMax cotton, we’re helping farmers lay the groundwork for strong yields and premium fiber quality.”

The high-performing new varieties include:

• ST 4130AXTP: An early-maturing variety with excellent early-season vigor and large seed size. This variety is a good fit on both productive and challengeing soil types and has great fiber quality for the Eastern Cotton Belt. It also features root-knot and reniform nematode tolerance.
• ST 4650AXTP: An early-to-mid maturing variety with high-yield potential and great early-season vigor for the Eastern Cotton Belt. This variety is broadly adapted for both productive and challenging soil types and features root-knot nematode tolerance and bacterial leaf blight resistance.
• ST 5260AXTP: A mid-maturity variety with consistent performance in the Mid-South with easy-to-manage plant height and a complete trait package for protection against root-knot and reniform nematodes, as well as bacterial leaf blight resistance.

For more information on seed varieties, visit Stoneville.com or FiberMax.com.

*Currently, Alite® ISO and Engenia® Herbicides are anticipated to receive registrations for use on cotton containing the Axant® Flex technology for use during the 2026 season, but due to unforeseen delays outside of BASF’s control, the timing of such registrations is uncertain. As of the date of this publication, Alite ISO and Engenia Herbicides are not registered for use on cotton containing the Axant® Flex technology and are not available for sale. BASF is working to obtain these registrations for use in 2026 but cannot guarantee that registrations will occur in time for application. This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to promote the sale of these products. Any sale of these products after registration is obtained shall be based solely on the EPA approved product label, and any claims regarding product safety and efficacy shall be addressed solely by the label. BASF does not guarantee the results of this cottonseed, and grower is solely responsible for farming management and agronomic practices and decisions, including, without limitation, selecting seed best suitable for the intended growth and use under grower’s local conditions.

*Additional state restrictions may apply. Crops not containing a gene expressing an HPPD protein will not be tolerant of Alite ISO herbicide.

Always read and follow label directions. Axant, FiberMax, Stoneville and TwinLink are registered trademarks of BASF. © 2026 BASF Agricultural Solutions US LLC. All Rights Reserved. 

About BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division

Everything we do, we do for the love of farming. Farming is fundamental to provide enough healthy and affordable food for a rapidly growing population, while reducing environmental impacts. That’s why we are working with partners and experts to integrate sustainability criteria into all business decisions. With €919 million in 2024, we invest in a strong R&D pipeline, combining innovative thinking with practical action in the field. Our solutions are purpose-designed for different crop systems. Connecting seeds and traits, crop protection products, digital tools and sustainability approaches, to help deliver the best possible outcomes for farmers, growers and our other stakeholders along the value chain. With teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we do everything in our power to build a sustainable future for agriculture. In 2024, our division generated sales of €9.8 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or our social media channels.

About BASF

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,000 employees in North America and had sales of $19.7 billion in 2024. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €65.3 billion in 2024. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.