December 28, 2010

DuPont buys two US seed makers

DuPont Co., a major seed maker firm, bought two US companies as part of an expansion in corn and soy.

DuPont's Pioneer Hi-Bred seed unit acquired Seed Consultants Inc., based in Washington Court House, Ohio, and Terral Seed, based in Lake Providence, Louisiana, the company said. The acquired companies previously distributed seed through Des Moines, Iowa-based Pioneer's ProAccess distribution system.

Pioneer this month completed acquisitions of other ProAccess partners, including Hoegemeyer Hybrids of Hooper, Nebraska; NuTech Seed of Ames, Iowa; and AgVenture Inc. of Kentland, Indiana, DuPont said.

Pioneer's nine ProAccess partners account for 5% of the US corn seed and soy markets, Bridget Anderson, a spokeswoman for Wilmington, stated the Delaware-based DuPont. ProAccess partners include recently acquired companies and Curry Seed Co., which was acquired in 2008, she said.

Pioneer continues to distribute seed through independent ProAccess partners, including Beck's Hybrids of Atlanta, Indiana; Burrus Hybrids of Arenzville, Illinois; and Doebler's Pennsylvania Hybrids Inc. of Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania.