Seed Systems, based in Gilroy, California, have announced that as a result of the successful production integration of new coating technology, they are restructuring their US sugar beet seed coating business. The Company will now focus production at their Fargo, North Dakota, facility, which will lead to the closure of its other sugar beet seed coating plant in Longmont, Colorado.

Mark Hughes, General Manager of Seed Systems, commented:

"When the Group acquired the ETS coating technology, we recognized that it offered a significant opportunity to improve our competitive position in the sugar beet seed coating business. The benefits of this technology have been demonstrated at our Gilroy and Tangent sites and we now intend to implement this system in our Fargo plant.The sugar beet industry in the US has experienced considerable economic pressure in recent years and it is important that Seed Systems responds to changes in market demand".

The closure of the Longmont site will take place this summer with some equipment relocated to Fargo to support the expansion of this site.

Seed Systems and ETS are part of the UK based Germain’s Technology Group who are the world’s largest independent seed enhancement and coating company.