Matt Davis and his son Adam who farm near Mendota, Illinois are going home from the Farm Progress Show this week with a Meridian Seed Tender, courtesy of GROWMARK and Grainco FS in honor of the 50th anniversary of HiSoy soybeans. “It’s fantastic, I didn’t actually believe it at first,” said Davis when he was awarded his prize at the … Read More
Leading Innovation in Seed Traits at Bayer CropScience
Bayer CropScience strives to be a leading innovator in seed breeding and trait development and they held a media luncheon during the 2015 Farm Progress Show. Lloyd McCall works in Bayer’s breeding and trait development department and I sat down with him to learn more about four components that are key to customer success. They include: germplasm, people, process and … Read More
GROWMARK Financial Report
At the GROWMARK annual meeting in Chicago last week, CEO Jim Spradlin reported the estimated year-end financial results for the cooperative to stakeholders in attendance. For fiscal year 2015, the unaudited, estimated sales for GROWMARK are reported to be $8.8 billion with pretax income is estimated at $140 million. An estimated $61 million in patronage refunds will be returned to … Read More
United Suppliers to Merge with Land O’Lakes
United Suppliers, Inc. and Land O’Lakes, Inc. have chosen to merge the United Suppliers with Land O’Lakes’ crop inputs business. The decision comes as a result of the recent successes of both companies and aims to create a single system of independent agricultural retailers. “This merger will allow us to continue to meet our customers’ needs through each company’s successful go-to-market … Read More
Syngenta Introduces Seedcare Resource Center
A new Seedcare Application and Resource Center has been created by Syngenta, exclusively for their Seedcare customers to access information and services. “The Seedcare Application and Resource Center offers an efficient and collaborative way for treaters to prepare their own unique seed treatment calculations, as well as retain records,” said Pat Foley, Seedcare specialist manager, Syngenta. “This new website will … Read More
Syngenta Breaks Ground on Expansion
The Syngenta North America Seedcare Institute in Stanton, Minnesota is beginning a $20 million expansion project. Syngenta leaders, Congressman John Kline of Minnesota’s 2nd District, Matthew Wohlman, assistant commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and other local officials and industry leaders, participated in a ground breaking for the construction of a building that will be nearly five times the size of … Read More
Valent Registers INTEGO SUITE Soybeans
Valent U.S.A. Corporation has announced the registration of its all-in-one formulation of INTEGO™ SUITE Soybeans, a new seed protectant to control multiple species of Pythium and Phytophthora. The new formulation makes the treating process easier by eliminating the need to mix components prior to treatment. INTEGO SUITE Soybeans contains multiple active ingredients, including ethaboxam, the first seed protection fungicide introduced in … Read More
DuPont Opens Integrated Seed Science Center in Iowa
DuPont has officially opened its new Integrated Seed Science Center in Iowa. This news release says it is the second facility in the DuPont Integrated Seed Science Network that is dedicated to developing and testing seed treatment formulations, applications and seed handling techniques. “The Johnston Integrated Seed Science Center ultimately helps us make our seed treatment products perform better for … Read More
Land O’Lakes to Merge Inputs with United Suppliers
Land O’Lakes, Inc. and United Suppliers, Inc. are announcing a merger of their crop inputs businesses. The organizations will provide expanded product offerings, enhanced precision agriculture services, tools and technologies, improved product insights, and consulting services among others. “This move comes at a time when scale is increasingly important in addressing changing industry dynamics, including rapid consolidation on the supplier, retailer and … Read More
ASTA Awards Presented
Distinguished Service and Lifetime Honorary Member awards were presented by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) during the closing banquet on Friday night. Honored for distinguished service to the seed industry were retired DuPont Pioneer quality supply technology manager Greg Lamka, and Betsy Peterson of the California Seed Association. Lamka, who was unable to attend to receive his award in … Read More