An “almost anything goes” video contest for a seed corn company sounds very cutting edge doesn’t it? That’s what iCORN.com is doing. iCORN.com has launched a new $30,000 video contest as a way to help students pay for college and to show appreciation to its customers. The new video contest gives students an opportunity to win a share of $30,000 …
More Plant, More Yield
This seems like common sense on the surface but University research backs it up. To get more corn yield per acre, plant more plants per acre. That’s what Dan Johnson, Kruger Seeds, says. He’s in charge of their corn lineup and technical training. At the Monsanto Technology Showcase Tour stop in Elkhart, IA he had a field station devoted to …
Dow AgroSciences to Acquire Dairyland Seed
Dow AgroSciences announced today it is acquiring Dairyland Seed Company and affiliate Bio-Plant Research. According to a company release, the addition of Dairyland Seed will build upon Dow AgroSciences’ current seeds business and will expand its broad range of product offerings. The agreement includes all crop genetics, brands, plant breeding programs in hybrid corn, soybeans and alfalfa as well as …
Chris Romas New Burpee President
I’ve always loved the name, Burpee. It’s just a cool name for any company. I’ve seen their seeds around for as long as I can remember. W. Atlee Burpee & Co., the nation’s largest and best-known purveyor of seeds, plants and home gardening supplies, announced today that Burpee’s Chief Operating Officer, Chris Romas, has been promoted to the position of …
SmartStaxing Seed Traits
In another co-development kind of deal, both Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences just announced that they’ve submitted their SmartStax for regulatory review. Thanks to Dow for the picture of Mark Rooney (foreground), Mycogen Seeds field biologist, and Matthew Moeller, Mycogen Seeds research technician, supervise planting of SmartStax™ test plots at the Mycogen research station near Huxley, IA. In anticipation of SmartStax …
Monsanto Completes Acquisition of De Ruiter Seeds
Monsanto continues to grow its seed business. This time with De Ruiter Seeds. Monsanto Company announced today that it has completed its proposed acquisition of De Ruiter Seeds Group B.V., a Dutch-holding company that owns and operates De Ruiter Seeds, for EUR546 million in cash, or approximately $850 million at current exchange rates, less net debt. Monsanto will start to …
Ceres First to Brand Bioenergy Seeds
As technology unleashes more and more energy possibilities from more and more crops, it can get a little confusing as to which plants can do what. Ceres, Inc. plans to clarify bio-friendly seeds with its new bioenergy seed brand. Energy crop company Ceres, Inc. plans to market its agricultural seeds and traits under the trade name Blade Energy Crops in …
Kruger Rewards Customer Promoter
This is a concept I like. Have a contest to reward someone who’s out there being your company evangelist. What do you think? Should we run something like this for AgWired? What would be a good prize? Weigh wagons brimmed with harvested seed as Jerry Smith told fellow growers at the local elevator how Kruger Seeds consistently ranks at the …
Still More Than a Number at Wyffels Hybrids
Continuing the theme of their customers being “more than a number” Wyffels Hybrids was on display at Commodity Classic. With the help of Stewart Doan we got an interview with Kim Jones. Kim says that the company is unique and independent offering a full range of traits in their hybrids, proprietary genetics packages and personal service. She says that because …
Kip and the Bean Stalk
A sample from Kip Cullers’ world record soybean yield was on display in a trophy case at Pioneer’s Commodity Classic trade show booth and it certainly received a lot of well-deserved attention. Kip’s record in 2007, you may recall, was an astonishing 154 bushels per acre. Pioneer and BASF are two of the companies Kip credits with helping him break …