Pioneer calls Monsanto “overwhelming monopoly”

In comments submitted to the Department of Justice and the USDA, Pioneer Hi-Bred calls rival seed company Monsanto’s dominance in the corn and soybean trait markets “an overwhelming monopoly.” 

Pioneer says Monsanto uses its large shares of the soybean and corn biotech trait markets to act as a “bottleneck” to competition and innovation. And Pioneer urged Justice and USDA to “take appropriate action to restore a competitive environment.” 

Monsanto, in its own filings with the government, says that in much of the U.S., individual farmers have at least 20  seed company options to purchase from.  Monsanto notes that traits are only part of the total value of the seed and argues that “there is substantial competition and variation in price even among seeds that contain the same trait combination.” 

The two companies’ filings are in preparation for a March 12^th hearing in Ankeny, Iowa.  The USDA-Justice Department hearing will focus on competition in the seed industry.  It will be the first of several such hearings across the U.S. that will look into competition in the ag industry. 

To read Pioneer’s comments (PDF file), click here.

To read Monsanto’s comments (PDF file), click here.

The future role of microbiological seed treatments

In the past, microbiological seed treatments have been considered inconsistent due to a lack of knowledge and technology.  Tom Johnson, president of TJ Technologies, is working to change that perception.  He says the technologies they have developed bring stability and consistent performance to those organisms.

johnson-tom-TJ Technologies-NAFB 11-09

Justice Department initiates Monsanto inquiry

The Justice Department is seeking information from Monsanto regarding the company’s dominance in the market for genetically modified seed.  That according to a report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Monsanto categorized the request from Justice as an informal inquiry, not a formal demand for information.  A Monsanto spokesman said the company has done nothing illegal and is cooperating with the investigation.  A Justice Department spokeswoman would not confirm the inquiry and declined further comment.

Monsanto is in the midst of a legal battle with its chief rival, Dupont, the parent of Iowa-based Pioneer Hi-Bred International.  Pioneer has claimed Monsanto is engaging in anti-competitive behavior by not allowing it to stack its own herbicide tolerance trait with Monsanto’s Roundup Ready trait.  Monsanto, which initiated the lawsuit, claims Dupont’s efforts to stack the traits constitute patent infringement.

Meanwhile, Iowa attorney general Tom Miller has begun an inquiry into possible antitrust violations by Monsanto.  According to the Post-Dispatch, Monsanto plans to respond to the civil investigative demand by providing information on its seed, trait and chemistry licensing and marketing programs to Miller’s office.

Pioneer, Burrus sign distribution agreement

Pioneer Hi-Bred and Burrus Hybrids have entered into a new corn and soybean distribution agreement. 

The agreement is part of Pioneer’s PROaccess business strategy, under which the company gives independent seed companies access to germplasm developed by Pioneer researchers. 

Seed produced under the arrangement will be marketed under the Power Plus brand.

What will SmartStax mean to Wyffels’ growers?

Fritz Behr is the vice president of research for Wyffels Hybrids.  At the recent Wyffels Corn Strategies Session near Malcom, Iowa, Behr talked with Brownfield’s Ken Anderson about the scope of the Wyffels’ research program and what the recent approval of SmartStax will mean for Wyffels’ customers in 2010 and beyond.

Fritz Behr (4 min MP3)

Wyffels Hybrids kicks off another marketing year

Wyffels Hybrids recently held a Corn Strategies Session for customers on a farm near Malcom, Iowa.  It gave us an opportunity to visit with Wyffels’ director of marketing Jeff Hartz about some of Wyffels’ plans for the upcoming marketing year.  Hartz says they’re especially excited to have six new SmartStax hybrids in their lineup for 2010.

Jeff Hartz (3 min MP3)

Schillinger Seed focused on non-GMO soybeans

Schillinger Seed, a specialty soybean seed company headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa recently launched a new division focused exclusively on non-GMO soybean seed.  It’s called eMerge Genetics, and Schillinger’s Corey Nikkel says it fills a growing demand for food-grade, non-GMO soybeans from both overseas food companies that require non-GMO products and domestic food companies that are increasingly looking for healthier food ingredients.

Corey Nikkel (6 min MP3)