Lindsay, Ontario, Canada
January, 2000
On January 18, 2000 PICKSEED
Canada Inc. announced it will close its seed corn production plant
at Tilbury, Ontario and outsource seed corn requirements.
The critical issues
surrounding this decision are based solidly on the objective that
PICKSEED recognizes the need to produce seed corn of impeccable
quality and based on the newest genetics and enhancements demanded by
the Canadian producer.
PICKSEED has developed a
special niche in the expanding Canadian seed corn market. The company
has chosen to focus on special hybrids for silage production. These
hybrids are Leafy types with high total tonnage yield, plus large,
soft kernels to ensure maximum digestibility and energy utilization.
Another category of hybrid that PICKSEED produces is based on high
grain yields of similar soft starch corn to maximize effective on-farm
consumption.
All outsourcing will be
directed to specialized seed corn producers situated on land that is
100% irrigated. The company believes that irrigated production is
critical in today’s environment of high input costs. Parent seed to
produce hybrid seed crops has accelerated dramatically in cost.
Planting patterns are more complex, demanding more field flexibility -
leading to the use of open textured soils - soils generally requiring
irrigation.
Martin Pick,
Vice-President states that; "while PICKSEED regrets any
pull-back in its resources and integrated production, the economics of
retaining Ontario-based production, plus adding handling modifications
to the plant to adapt to these new hybrids simply didn't work." He
adds;" the federal government didn’t help us either when we
requested assistance in clearing a special seed treatment demanded by
U.S. export customers. Our inability to provide them seed, treated to
their specifications, killed our export business and the ability to
build a critical volume mass that would have justified necessary
capital expenditures. Surprisingly, Agriculture Canada didn’t even
return calls on the issue."
Sam Sheriff, B.Sc.
formerly the manager of the Tilbury plant has been named Product
Manager - PICKSEED Hybrid Corn.
PICKSEED Canada Inc. is a
major supplier of forage seeds, including the highly successful
PICKSEED 8920MF multifoliolate alfalfa, and hybrid corn and silage
inoculants to the Canadian farming sector. In addition, the company is
one of the largest producers of certified forage and turf seeds in
Canada with plants and production in Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Dawson
Creek, B.C. The company exports seeds around the world. PICKSEED
Canada Inc. is part of the PICKSEED Companies Group.
Company news release
N2467 |