Seeds 2000 is a seed research, production, sales and marketing company focused primarily on the development of elite oil and confection sunflower hybrids that benefit both the farmer and end-use food customer. The company has significantly expanded its international activities in recent years and today conducts development and sales activities in the USA, Canada, China, Argentina and a number of European markets.

Seeds 2000 President, Steve Kent, said he expected the transition to be seamless and to facilitate additional opportunities to expand the business in both the US domestic market and globally.

You can stop by the Beck’s tent to enter to win one of these bikes in the We Care for Orphans Adoption Fund Sweepstakes. You can get more details in the booth. The drawing will be held on Feb. 22, 2012 and the winner will be announced at Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tenn., March 1 – 3, 2012.

“My great grandfather and grandfather started Beck’s 75 years ago, following the principle of providing our customers with the best in seed quality, field performance and service,” said Scott Beck, vice president of Beck’s Hybrids. “In celebration of our 75th anniversary, we commissioned OCC to build two custom choppers, with one of the choppers being featured on the popular Discovery Channel TV show, American Chopper. A second bike was built to raise money for the We Care for Orphans Adoption Fund.”

The bikes were designed by Paul Teutul Sr., CEO of Orange County Choppers and will touring farm shows throughout the rest of the season.

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Russ says one of the relatively new products he’d like to point to is their Vault HP product line. He says they had a phenomenal increase in sales last year. You’ll hear him explain why in our interview. He says that the ag media were interested to know what the trends are that he sees in the marketplace. Those include the increase in use of seed applied treatments and interest in biological solutions to disease and pest problems, both of which are being worked on by Becker Underwood.

You can listen to my conversation with Russ here: Russ Berndt Interview

2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

You can listen to Marty’s comments here: Marty Cummings Comments

Wyffels also announced that the location of next year’s Corn Strategies will be in a new location. I spoke with Matt Barnard to get a wrap-up of this year’s event. He says that as soon as they leave this location they’ll start on next year’s event. It will be held at Harmon Farms in Vincent, Iowa.

You can listen to my interview with Matt here: Matt Barnard Interview

Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies 2011 Iowa Photo Album

You can listen to my interview with Brian here: Brian Humphries Interview

Next up is Chris Eichorn (pictured on right), Product Development Manager. He says that’s a fancy way of saying he’s a corn breeder. Chris says the company has one of the largest research programs for a company of their size. They don’t like surprises so when they release a hybrid with a Wyffels number on it they are confident they know what that hybrid can and cannot do. One of the new ones he especially wanted to point out is W5077 (pdf), a 107 day hybrid that has “popped to the top.” He’s also high on W7477 (pdf) which they call the “corn breeders nightmare” since they can’t find anything wrong with it.

You can listen to my interview with Chris here: Chris Eichorn Interview

And finally we have Rick Buresh (pictured left), Central Iowa Region Manager. In his territory he says growers have been very fortunate. The wind that blew through recently mostly affected the eastern part of the territory. Now the main concern is heat. Rick says that being in pollination like the crop is right now, the plants need a rest at night. He says customers are upbeat but are asking questions about increasing input costs. I saw mostly smiles and he says, “They deserve to smile.”

You can listen to my interview with Rick here: Rick Buresh Interview

Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies 2011 Iowa Photo Album

You can listen to my interview with Sue here: Sue Utt Interview

Brad Klodt (pictured left) is a little further east in Iowa than Sue. He says conditions in his area are pretty good although sub surface moisture is starting to disappear. He’s very happy about his corn even though there are some spotty areas due to early season moisture. The heat has really evened up his corn. He says he takes away “a little bit of everything” from Corn Strategies. He says the program opens his eyes to a lot of things like the fact that we’re all in a global marketplace.

You can listen to my interview with Brad here: Brad Klodt Interview

In a completely different part of the state, south of Spencer, is Marcia Langner. She says that conditions are good but pretty wet. There was quite a bit of rain last week for example. She says educational opportunities like Corn Strategies are very valuable and she likes to get as much out of them as possible. I asked her what she heard that would be a take-away for her. She laughed about hearing the range of prices discussed by all the speakers but says that it’s good information you have to consider and figure out how it will work for you.

You can listen to my interview with Marcia here: Marcia Langner Interview

Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies 2011 Iowa Photo Album

Welcoming us tonight to the Cummings Farm was Adam Ploog, Wyffels Hybrids, regional manager. I spoke with him about crop conditions in this area. Adam says things look pretty good in the eastern part of Iowa but they could use a little rain and with the heat index so high there is some uncertainty about the effect that it will have. He says the idea behind the program here is to provide some of their most progressive customers from all over the state with information they can take home that will bring value to their operation. He says “We’re a very, very customer focused business. We’re not the biggest seed corn company in the business. We know that, but we feel like we have products that are just as good as anybody else’s and we’re more customer focused than our competitors.”

You can listen to my interview with Adam here: Adam Ploog Interview

Our program kicks off bright and early tomorrow and I’ll be here all day collecting more interviews and photos for you. Here’s where you can find my photos: Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies 2011 Iowa Photo Album

“We released 12 new products this last year,” said Wyffels Product Development Manager Bob Jackson at the 2011 Wyffels Corn Strategies event in Dixon, Illinois last week. “So, there’s kind of a new hybrid for everyone of our customers, whether they’re in southern Minnesota or southern Illinois.”

Corn is all Wyffels does and Bob says when they look at new hybrids they are looking for what will make the farmers more money. “So that means more bushels, better standing products and better plant health. It’s always about making the customer more revenue.”

Dozens of Wyffels corn hybrids were on display at the Illinois Corn Strategies event last week and will be this week as well at the Iowa event in Malcom. If you would like to attend the Iowa event on Wednesday, find out more information on-line or contact your local Wyffels Seed Representative.

Listen to or download my interview with Bob here: Bob Jackson with Wyffels Hybrids

Wyffels Corn Strategies 2011 Illinois Photo Album

The concept for the event started in 2005 when the company gathered a small group of growers at a hotel in Springfield, IL. “There wasn’t really anything in the industry that just educated growers to get better at what they do,” Matt told me. “We now are moving them around Illinois and Iowa and last year we had about 1200 folks that joined us.”

The event this week was held on the Pratt family farms in Dixon, Illinois and next week it will be held July 20 in Malcom, Iowa at the farm of Marty and Dustin Cummings. Farmers who would like to attend can find out more here.

Listen to or download my interview with Matt here: Matt Barnard with Wyffels Hybrids

Jeff says Corn Strategies is not a high pressure sales event, it’s just a way they can help the “freethinkers” they serve. “We define a freethinker as somebody that knows more about their operation and their soil than the average farmer,” he explains. “Those kind of people who take the time to really get inside their acres really can find value with a company like Wyffels.”

Jeff adds that Wyffels’ customers have come to look forward to the Corn Strategies event each year. “They keep coming back and more of them keep coming back every year,” he said. “We think we’re on to something pretty special that really embodies our company and what we’re all about.”

Listen to or download my interview with Jeff here: Jeff Hartz with Wyffels Hybrids

Wyffels Corn Strategies 2011 Illinois Photo Album

Pictured here, starting with Bill Wyffels on the left, are Mike and Susan Pratt, Peter and Emily Pratt, Andy and Katie Pratt, and the absolutely adorable Natalie and Ethan, who are the 5th generation in the Pratt farm family. They were all the gracious hosts to about 600 farmers who attended the Wyffels event. (Click on the photo for a bigger version.)

I talked with Katie about what all is involved in hosting such an event. “We took approximately ten acres out of one of our corn fields, six of that was planted to grass where the exhibit area, parking and tents were set up, and the rest of it was set to plots,” she said. They were all set up and ready to go on Monday, when that straight line windstorm that blew across Illinois and Iowa hit. “But, amazingly, the weather is wonderful today and the corn is standing back up again, thank God!” Katie said.

Katie also talked about her other job, as an Illinois Farm Families blogger on WatchUsGrow.org. “That’s where several women are blogging just about daily life on the farm and answering questions,” she said.

Listen to or download my interview with Katie here: Katie Pratt

Be sure to check out the Wyffels Corn Strategies 2011 Illinois Photo Album for more cute photos of Natalie and Ethan!

Dr. Mike Boehlje, agricultural economist with Purdue’s Center for Food and Agricultural Business, shared his thoughts on “All Things Volatility” with the growers. “We are seeing volatility at an unprecedented level,” he said, both in terms of corn prices and the cost of inputs. “I mean, when you lose about a buck off the price of corn in two days – that used to be the price of corn, a buck, and we lost that in two days.”

Dr. Boehlje’s main advice for growers is to determine their cost of production per bushel, not per acre. “That’s what you sell,” he said. “Knowing your costs is a critical part of any successful business, whether it be manufacturing widgets, or automobiles, or corn.”

Listen to an interview with Dr. Boehlje here: Dr. Mike Boehlje

Another presenter at the event was Jim Bower, owner and president of Bower Trading, who talked about some of the factors growers should consider in making decisions out ahead.

“These next two to three weeks are going to be terribly important to price discovery,” he said. “They’re going to do themselves well to pay really close attention to the models of weather and how they impact the market on a daily basis.” Jim says he is particularly concerned right now about a potential weather pattern developing that would push the extremely hot and dry weather that has been sitting over Texas and Oklahoma up into the Midwest and Eastern Corn Belt, which could push yields down.

Jim talked about other important factors that are more long term than the weather, such as increasing global demand for protein.

Listen to or download my interview with Jim here: Jim Bower

Wyffels Corn Strategies 2011 Illinois Photo Album

Raven’s Ryan Molitor says the system provides growers with more reliability, efficiency and control. “OmniSeed allows for variable rate technology, it’s a very scalable system with a lot of unique features on it that we think are going to be pretty popular in the air seeder market,” Ryan told me in an interview. The system consists of various components, including the Viper Pro Field Computer which Ryan says is the brains of the system, and Run Blockage powered by AgTron.

Ryan says the system is surprisingly simple to set up and easy to use. “And we have a vast dealer network throughout the world that is trained up and ready to service and support at point of sale and after,” he said.

Listen to my interview with Ryan here: Raven OmniSeed System

Raven Industries is a proud supporter of the Agwired app for iPhone and Droid. Don’t have it yet? Join the hundreds who do today and get Agwired, PrecisionPays, WorldDairyDiary and DomesticFuel news fast and easy on your smart phone! Click here.

“Stamina F3 Cereals arms our growers with an effective seed treatment for their small grain seedlings,” said Don Guy, Marketing Manager, BASF Cereals Portfolio. “As one of our SeedSolutions treatments in our cereals offering, Stamina F3 Cereals delivers excellent disease control, convenience of use and low-dusting application. Stamina F3 Cereals has a red colorant and its higher application rate makes it very suitable for on-farm applications. Stamina F3 Cereals also complements Stamina® F3 HL fungicide seed treatment, which is designed specifically for commercial application.”

Stamina F3 Cereals delivers the benefits of three active ingredients that work together to provide broad-spectrum seed and seedling disease control in small grains. These three active ingredients, F500® (the same active ingredient in Stamina and Stamina F3 HL fungicide seed treatments, Headline® fungicide and TwinLine® fungicide), triticonazole (active ingredient in Charter® fungicide and Charter® F2 fungicide seed treatments) and metalaxyl (active ingredient in Acquire® fungicide seed treatment) have proven performance as shown in BASF’s current Crop Protection Solutions and SeedSolutions offerings. Seed treatment application with Stamina F3 Cereals has been associated with more rapid and increased emergence of seedlings under certain cold conditions.

Farmers using Genuity SmartStax seed corn are required to plant five percent of their corn acres with non-traited varieties, to help reduce the development of resistant pests. Using RIB Complete technology eliminates the need to dedicate certain acres to refuge. “Growers can purchase and plant one product that satisfies their need for both yield potential and IRM (insect resistance management) refuge requirements,” Ruppert said. “ This simplicity helps make planning and planting more efficient.” Farmers interested in using RIB Complete corn this spring should contact their local FS crop specialist.

The Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) filed suit this week on behalf of 60 family farmers, seed businesses and organic agricultural organizations, against Monsanto Company as a preemptive measure “to protect themselves from being accused of patent infringement should they ever become contaminated by Monsanto’s genetically modified seed, something Monsanto has done to others in the past.”

“This case asks whether Monsanto has the right to sue organic farmers for patent infringement if Monsanto’s transgenic seed should land on their property,” said Dan Ravicher, PUBPAT’s Executive Director and Lecturer of Law at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York. “It seems quite perverse that an organic farmer contaminated by transgenic seed could be accused of patent infringement, but Monsanto has made such accusations before and is notorious for having sued hundreds of farmers for patent infringement, so we had to act to protect the interests of our clients.”

Monsanto calls the organization’s allegations “false, misleading and deceptive.”

The plaintiffs’ approach is a publicity stunt designed to confuse the facts about American agriculture. These efforts seek to reduce private and public investment in the development of new higher-yielding seed technologies. This attack comes at a time when the world needs every agricultural tool available to meet the needs of a growing population, expected to reach 9 billion people by 2050. While we respect the opinion of organic farmers as it relates to the products they choose to grow, we don’t believe that American agriculture faces an all-or-nothing approach. Rather we believe that farmers should have the ability to choose the best agricultural tools to farm their own land and serve their own end-market customers. We are confident that these multiple approaches can coexist side-by-side and sustainably meet the world’s food needs over next 40 years.

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

Syngenta Seeds plans to sell corn containing Event 3272 under the “Enogen” seed brand. “Enogen corn is a breakthrough product that provides ethanol producers a proven means to create more value per gallon while offering targeted corn growers an opportunity to cultivate a premium specialty crop in a contracted, closed production system,” said David Morgan, president of Syngenta Seeds. “Also, Enogen corn can substantially reduce the energy and water consumed and the carbon emissions associated with ethanol production.”

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is happy with USDA’s decision.

“Corn amylase is the first processing output trait to be scrutinized by our regulatory system,” said NCGA president Bart Schott, a grower from North Dakota. “The potential importance of output traits to growers and industry will only increase as other output traits are developed.”

Corn amylase is approved in Japan, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Amylase was found to be safe for food and feed by the Food and Drug Administration in 2007.

AgWired reporter Chuck Zimmerman was able to catch up with Morgan during the annual NAFB Trade Talk in Kansas City. StollerUSA may be 40 years old, but each year they are releasing bigger and better products to help the grower succeed.

“The success of our Bio-Forge product continues to increase. Growers are beginning to understand how our products dovetail into their programs,” said Morgan. “They spend a lot of money on seed. There are a lot of genetic traits built into that seed that they need. The challenge becomes when they go out and stick it in the dirt, nature takes over and they need to find a way to extract all that potential. That’s where Stoller products like Bio-Forge come in. We help extract all that potential out of that seed so you can earn that ROI.”

The evidence comes out in the field and was demonstrated when Missouri farmer Kip Cullers broke the soybean yield record. One of the products he used was Bio-Forge. Morgan noted that one thing Kip did that other growers can emulate is that he pre-treated his seed with Bio-Forge. According to Morgan, it’s a cost effective way for growers to become familiar with Stoller technology.

You can learn more about Bio-Force and other Stoller products in Chuck’s interview with Jeff. Increasing Yield With Bio-Forge

The first thing that really got my attention was their herbarium which contains over 6,000 vials of seeds that date back to when George Washington Carver was doing work there. These are used primarily to compare and identify seed samples. It is of course in a locked cabinet! Michael says they test seeds for a variety of things. In fact, they’re the largest public seed lab in the country doing over 40,000 tests/year. Besides testing they also do seed conditioning. They conduct workshops for seed company personnel to improve the quality of their seed.

You can listen to my interview with Michael here: Michael Stahr Interview

Thanks again to the National Corn Growers Association for making my participation possible.

TATT Global Farmer To Farmer Roundtable Photo Album

Drew says the biggest news is Optimum AcreMax 1, “the industry’s first
in-the-bag solution for corn rootworm refuge.” He says it helps place the right product on the right acre. In the future they will “continue to focus on additional reduced refuge technologies to bring even that next level of simplicity to the Optimum AcreMax platform.” They’re also very excited to be showcasing the Y Series soybean lineup using accelerated yield technology.

You can listen to my interview with Drew here: Drew Porter Interview

Moe Russell, president of Russell Consulting Group of Panora, Iowa, told the group of about 600 farmers gathered for the one-day seminar last month that they need to remember the opportunity in production agriculture.

“Often times, we look at the negatives. But the successful farmer focuses on the controllables,” echoing the sentiments of fellow presenter Steve Johnson, a farm and ag business specialist with Iowa State University.

Russell admits that it can be tough for producers to focus on the controllables, with all of the distractions they face. That’s why he encourages producers to network with other growers, especially those from other states. He says this Wyffels forum provides plenty of time for interaction between farmers. “It’s the successful farmers who take the time to come to opportunities like this.”

Finally, Russell encourages farmers to get and stay excited about their business, learn the most they can, focus on the controllables, and have fun doing it.

You can hear or download my entire conversation with Moe here: Moe Russell

Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies 2010 Photo Album

Wanted to pass along these interviews from the recent Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies event in Malcolm, Iowa, where I talked to a couple of producers who rely on the Wyffels brand and the company’s product development manager.

Marc Loes grows all Wyffels on his 600 acres around Cascade in Easter Iowa (along with feeding about 3,000 head of cattle). He says this event reinforces the idea that you really have to look at marketing a lot more.
You can hear or download my entire conversation with Marc here: Marc Loes

Eric Totemeier, who farms about 700 acres (2/3 corn and 1/3 soybeans) near Columbus Junction, Iowa, told me that the gathering with its multiple speakers was great, and the setting right next to a genuine Wyffels Hybrids corn field made it feel like home. But most importantly, and Marc echoed this sentiment, farmers are able to form a real partnership with their Wyffels representative. “There’s always out there with you through thick and thin.”
Listen to or download my entire conversation with Eric here: Eric Totemeier

That’s music to the ears of Wyffels Product Development Manager, Brent Tharp, who showed off some of the company’s new hybrids that will be ready for next year’s spring planting. “[The farmers attending] like what they see. If you do walk a Wyffels lineup, you can see the diversity we have in our germplasm. Each hybrid is not the same.”
More of my conversation with Brent is available to listen to or to download here: Brent Tharp

“It’s kind of a combination of family reunion and state fair atmosphere.”

Family reunion … if you have about 600 members who plant corn for a living. And if you’re from a family that big (gee, sounds like an Iowa Catholic family from my neighborhood!), there are some family members who you might not even know. Wyffels says they’re also trying to introduce themselves to more farmers by setting themselves apart from the big seed companies.

“Wyffels is quite unique. We only sell hybrid corn. We mostly do business in Illinois and Iowa, and the name of the company is kind of a funny name.”

But besides the family-owned apsect that lends Wyffels that “funny name,” the company makes its mark by its level of customer service … where the farmers they sell to are their friends and partners in business.

“There’s more than what’s in the bag. There’s a personalization. We need to know the needs of every individual farmer. We need to know about his land. We need to prescribe those products and how to use those products to maximize his profitability on his farm.”

Wyffels says his company’s small size does give it a bit of advantage when going up against some of the big boys in the seed corn business as they’re able to have a more personal touch.

“It’s been part of our culture for a long, long time. The office where I grew up was the kitchen table. Farmers would buy seed from my father, and it’s kind of ingrained into the other family members.”

Wyffels says they started offering this type of event five years ago, when just about 60 growers showed up. Now, even as it’s grown to more than 600 corn farmers at each of the two locations where it’s offered, Wyffels sees it as another chance to touch people.

You can hear or download my entire conversation with Bill here: Bill Wyffels

Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies 2010 Photo Album

I caught up with a pair of brothers, Jayson and Matt Willimack, who row crop corn and soybeans with their two other brothers and Dad between Oxford Junction and De Witt in Eastern Iowa. They appreciated the fact that this meeting is being held on the Cummings’ family farm near Malcom, Iowa.

“It’s a great environment,” says Matt. “Look in the background and you’ve got Marty Cummings’ bins set up, and it’s stellar looking. It’s a great feel rather than a conference at a hotel.”

And Jayson points out what a great networking tool this place is. “You get to meet farmers from all over the state of Iowa and talk to them in a no pressure situation.”

Both Matt and Jayson say it has been a great meeting with some quality speakers who gave them some great insight into where the future growth in the corn industry will be.

You can hear or download more of my conversation with Matt and Jayson here: Jayson and Matt Willimack

Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies 2010 Photo Album

I caught up with Jeff Hartz, marketing director with Wyffels, to find out a little bit more about the company. In the video below, you can hear Jeff talk about how his company sets itself apart from competitors, some who have decidedly bigger assets, by offering their customers the kind of personal service more should expect to get. He also pointed out that since Wyffels is an independent company, it has the ability to be more flexible with access to a wide variety of manufacturers. If you couldn’t be at the Corn Strategies 2010 to meet the good folks from this truly farmer-focused seed company, you can at least watch what Jeff has to say in the video below. Better yet, contact Wyffels yourself through the company’s website and set up a face-to-face conversation yourself.

Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies 2010 Photo Album

Steve Johnson, a farm and ag business specialist with Iowa State University, told the tent full of about 600 corn farmers that too many of their colleagues are too focused on the things they can’t control, whether it is politics, oil spills or the weather.

“I’m trying to drive the participants today back to making not only production decisions, but financial and marketing decisions … and spend less time listening to all the clutter in the world [and be] very focused on family, friends, the community and their farm operations.”

Johnson admits that might be easier said than done, considering how connected people are with their iPhones, Blackberries and Internet connections right there in the cab of the tractor. But he says they have to choose to turn off some of those inputs.

“Turn off CNN. Turn off Fox News. Turn off talk radio. Focus on those things you have control over.”

Johnson says it’s great to be out at this location that Wyffels has set up right next to the corn fields at the Cummings family farm.

“It’s a great venue. As a presenter, you always like to get in front of a crowd. Rarely are they 500 and never are they in a tent, air-conditioned with a backdrop of corn with lights projecting up on the corn plants. It’s a fun venue.”

You can hear or download my entire conversation with Steve here: Steve Johnson, Iowa State Ag Extension

Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies 2010 Photo Album

In the video below, you’ll get to hear from Matt Barnard, the coordinator for Wyffels Corn Strategies, talk a little bit about what it takes to pull off an event like this.

The day’s events are just getting underway, so if you’d like to come out, just turn north of I-80 at the U.S. Highway 63 exit, go through the small town of Malcom and turn right (east) at 400th Street, just north of town. You can’t miss the big white tent! See you here!

Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies 2010 Photo Album

Syngenta Seeds just announced that EPA has approved a natural refuge option for its VipCot™ cotton technology.

VipCot* cotton contains the transgenic cotton events COT67B, which produces the Cry1Ab protein, and COT102, which features the novel Vip3A protein. Vip3A is the same protein found in Syngenta’s Agrisure Viptera™ trait in corn and is a totally new mode of action in both cotton and corn. The natural refuge option for VipCot affects growers in 16 cotton producing states but does not apply to areas where pink bollworm is a key pest including Arizona, California, New Mexico, and some parts of Texas.

Syngenta Seeds also noted that the first signs of possible black cutworm and dingy cutworm infestations are being seen throughout the Corn Belt as agronomist moth traps have reported significant captures of black cutworm in Missouri, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Iowa. Growers are being urged to scout fields now to determine if treatments are necessary, but the arrival of the Agrisure Viptera 3111 multi-pest complex could make that obsolete.

“With Agrisure Viptera 3111, growers will be better able to manage these pests without worrying about costly spraying and scouting,” said Syngenta Seeds agronomy marketing manager Bruce Battles. Once the remaining key import market approvals are received, growers will have the option of planting seed with the new Agrisure Viptera™ 3111 trait stack to protect against black and dingy cutworm damage without scouting.

What wasn’t a surprise said Curt Blades, the Director for Sales and Marketing for SF, is that farmers continue to have a favorite seed company and this has remained consistent for the past six years. But what has changed is the loyalty to that seed company. SF’s research has shown that in the past, a farmer’s favorite seed company mirrored the farmer’s loyalty to that seed company. Yet this year’s research has shown that company loyalty has fallen sharply in the last three studies.

So what does this mean? “In the past six years there’s been some pretty phenomenal advancements in the technology and there have been some wide swings in the genetics some companies have had, explains Blades. “Also, in the same token, there have been some ownership changes and changes in the way seed has been brought to market.”

It will be interesting, continued Blades, to see how it all plays out.

Another interesting element of the Seed Study was that for the first time SF asked if the price of seed was justified and 40 percent said yes. This is good news for the seed companies said Blades.

To learn more about the Seed Study, listen to my interview with Curt below. Still want to learn more? Current SF advertisers have access to the study for free.