Yesterday Bayer CropScience held a press conference via web and phone to announce its agreement to purchase Hornbeck Seed Company Inc., a privately-held company headquartered in DeWitt, Arkansas, USA. The seed company supplies soybean, rice and wheat varieties to the southern U.S. market. I was dialed in to the call and am sharing it below for your listening pleasure and use.
Bayer CropScience will acquire the seed businesses and gain access to quality soybean germplasm for future variety and trait development. Financial details were not disclosed.
Since its founding in the early 1980s, Hornbeck has grown into one of the Mid-South’s most reputable seed suppliers. The company is known for providing high-quality seed and excellent service to customers across Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
For Bayer CropScience, the acquisition is a logical step in a series of investment decisions addressing the needs of southern growers, and in particular soybean growers. Further milestones were the Stoneville Pedigreed Seed acquisition in 2007, the M.S. Technologies collaboration in soybeans in 2007, the launch of LibertyLink® soybeans in 2009 and the Athenix Corp. acquisition in 2009.
You can listen to or download the press conference here: Bayer-Hornbeck Press Conference