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Farmers will buy seed companies, not numbers

ADEL, Iowa
May 11, 1998

The theory first proclaimed by artist Andy Warhol may well be ringing true for the seed industry. "In the future," Warhol might have said if he was alive today, "each seed variety will be famous for fifteen minutes."

Although future seed varieties will likely last longer than fifteen minutes, it is true that the commercial "life expectancy" of a seed variety has been getting shorter. The result of this trend may be that producers must change how they look at purchasing seed.

"These days, the ‘life expectancy’ of a commercial release in our soybean program is approximately three years," says Chuck Hansen, soybean seed production manager with Stine Seed Company in Adel. "A decade ago, I think our standard was approximately five years, and the standard industry-wide was six or seven years. So, what we’re looking at is a 30-to-60 percent reduction in one decade."

What has caused this shift? Hansen attributes the change to several recent advances in seed development and production.

"First and foremost, advances in research, especially the advent of biotechnology, have helped shorten the time it takes for a variety to go from first cross to commercial release," he says. "Also, the practice of growing winter seed production in areas like South America has dramatically shortened the timeframe for producing a good quantity of seed. As a result of these and many other advancements, we’ve got products coming through the pipeline much faster than ever before."

Hansen also says that, thanks to these new technologies, seed companies are developing more improved genetics and superior products every year.

"At this point, product performance is advancing at such a rate that progressive seed companies cannot afford to hang on to an old number very long anymore," he says. "So, I think seed companies are getting more strict about cutting older varieties."

What does this mean for producers? Ha nsen says farmers may have to rethink their basis for good seed decisions.

"In the past, many producers have tried to find a particular number that does well for them and stick with it to the end," he says. "Unfortunately, in this day and age, they may not be getting the best yielding product available, and they may not be prepared for when their favorite number is no longer offered." Hansen says that instead of shopping numbers, producers should move to build a relationship with a seed company they can trust, and be willing to adapt as the seed lineup changes. Seed companies with a strong research and development program will have first access to the newest and best genetics on the market, he says.

"Let’s face it: by the time a producer has gathered a few years’ worth of data, and has developed a relationship with a certain variety number, it’s probably in the process of being replaced anyway. But, by remaining flexible and getting lots of input, a farmer can get a hold of the best genetics available today, and not fall into that number trap."

Stine Seed Company, located near Adel, Iowa, is an industry-leading seed company marketing soybeans, corn and soft red winter wheat, and is a leading supplier of soybean genetics to the seed industry.

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