Bayer announced this morning it is in the process of moving its 10 regional seed brands over to its Channel Seed brand lineup, effective for 2025.
The 10 brands and states or regions where they are currently sold include:
1. Fontenelle – Nebraska
2. Gold Country Seed – Minnesota
3. Hubner Seed – Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Connecticut
4. Jung Seed Genetics – Wisconsin
5. Kruger Seeds – Iowa
6. Lewis – Missouri, Illinois, Kansas
7. Stewart – Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio
8. Stone Seed Group – Illinois
9. Rea Hybrids – North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota
10. Specialty – Indiana, Michigan, Ohio
The move will not impact the 2023 growing season and how farmers work with their current, local seed salesman, a Bayer spokesman tells Farm Journal.
For 2024, the products will continue to be available under their current brand names before shifting formally to being under the Channel Seed portfolio in 2025. The company sells corn, soybeans, alfalfa and sorghum.
The decision, which has been in the works for more than a year, is designed to provide better support to farmers “throughout the Corn Belt, from Wisconsin to Connecticut,” the spokesman says.
“It’s an investment into the Channel brand and also into our customers,” the spokesman says. “This is not a cost-cutting measure. We’re really just looking at this as an opportunity to better serve our customers.”
By 2025, the spokesman says the 10 regional seed products will be sold by professional Channel seedsmen. In addition, Bayer is in the process of hiring more technical agronomists who will work closely with farmers.
“While this change will affect some of our brands and people, the vast majority of our business will not be impacted,” a media statement from the company says. “This is not a decision we take lightly, and we have structured this evolution to minimally impact our employees and partners. We have communicated with all affected parties, and are committed to transparency throughout this process.
The changes Bayer is putting in place do not impact the DeKalb-Asgrow products. The spokesman adds no pricing change is currently in the works, either.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information comes available.
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