On Tuesday, Farmers Business Network (FBN) hosted a Super Seed Event at their facility near Kelley, Iowa. It was a chance for farmers to look at the seed hybrids coming through the pipeline, and to hear about their breeding programs for F2F Genetics. FBN was highlighting what makes them different from other seed companies.
Fred Wilz is the Testing Coordinator at the Kelley, Iowa Facility. He says the F2F Genetics is using the genetics of seventeen different companies to help build a portfolio of the best genetics of many hybrids that are currently on the market, and some that have gone off-patent.
F2F?s Steve Sick says that when you look at genetics that have fallen by the wayside as far as immediate needs, such as BT/GT traits, you need to realize that even without a population of corn borers anymore, there was still some great genetics that came from those traits, that can still be bred into new hybrids. When they can take some of these previous technologies and breed them with current technologies, you are now looking at genetics that have dual modes of action.
Dan Dyer is Head of Seed R&D for FBN. He talks about how FBN is different because they are including the farmers in the development process. This way farmers can have a say in what they need, instead of only offering them what they think they need. He says their R&D is a collaborative effort with independent plant breeders helping to contribute to their genetic lines.
Dyer adds that the show plots that FBN has will show you hybrids, and how they work in different locations across the country. They aren?t going to show you six different hybrids which have been meticulously cared for in only the best soils and will all yield 300 bpa in that kind of care environment. He says it is about showing you real-world results in real-world conditions.
To learn more about Farmers Business Network and F2F Genetics, visit the FBN website.
