February 22, 2008

Pioneer Hi-Bred offers Nebraska online corn market service

An Iowa company is offering a new online market service to link corn growers with buyers.

Johnston-based Pioneer Hi-Bred is testing the online service, called MarketPoint, in Nebraska but may expand it to other states if the effort is successful, the company said in announcing the project Wednesday (February 20).

At the site, growers can post their grain for sale and buyers can offer bids based on the quality and quantity of the corn posted on the Web site.

The site can be used by all corn growers, not only those who use Pioneer seeds, said Joe Foresman, senior marketing manager for Pioneer Hi-Bred. Only those who use the company's seeds, however, can post characteristics about their corn variety's genetics, such as ethanol yield potential, he said.

Six buyers and less than 50 growers are taking part in the pilot programme, Foresman said.

The programme is now free, but that could change in the future.

Pioneer is working with Farms Technology LLC of Overland Park, Kansas, on the programme.