• Industry participants will keep an eye on recent and ongoing outside interpretations of the impact of agricultural mergers and consolidations on the entire production chain. It is too early to tell how this might impact regional independent seed companies.
So, are independent, regional seed companies headed the way of the dinosaur or buggy whip? Certainly not in my opinion; in fact, their position in the marketplace will not only be maintained but could expand as we move through the twenty-first century.
I believe there are a number of relevant factors that set
independents apart, such as:
• Being an integral part of their community – their customers
are their neighbors.
• Given their local orientation, they provide customer service at the farmer’s point of need.
• Offer a broader range of products selected from a range of genetic and technology platforms.
• Help stem the tide of agricultural consolidation by offering more marketplace diversity for the benefit of farmers.
IPSA’s Annual Conference, January 19-21, 2010 in Indianapolis, is a perfect example of meeting such needs. With the help of Purdue University, this year’s program focuses on the needs and demands of larger farmers. We will also again be hosting educational webinars throughout the year and we welcome your input on topics that would be of interest to yourself and your fellow seed producers.
IPSA is also seeking to promote the benefits of regional independent seed companies to farmers. Our revamped web site and supporting information serves as a portal to put farmers in direct contact with independent seed companies serving their markets. Watch for more details on this program as the year unfolds.
IPSA will continue to be an advocate for our members, as we face the challenges of marketing agricultural seeds under new and unusual circumstances. This advocacy role is one that is supportive of the needs of all IPSA members, rather than any one segment or subset. I encourage you to check out our web site ( www.independentseeds.com) for more details about our Annual Conference, our web-based member company search function or more information regarding membership.
I started this article with the phrase utilized for years by sportscaster Keith Jackson. While I doubt we will ever be able to slow down technological advancement, maybe we can supplement that technology with mankind’s first and best technology – communication. Hope to see you in Indy! Greg Ruehle
The Independent Professional Seed Association has provided independent regional seed companies with relevant educational and business management tools for the past 20 years. The challenge for IPSA is to be visionary enough to see “around the corner”, anticipating the needs of our members and meeting those needs first. We strive for programming that is relevant, and delivery methods that are timely and appropriate to the topic.
Imagine performing accurate research in Bora Bora without having to go there. Caribbean tropics Kenyan wetlands Sahara desert Norwegian tundra
Editor’s note: Greg Ruehle is the CEO of IPSA
WeatherEze allow
lighting for any global
location. This revolutionary new technology offers you two powerful software options for chamber control.
by
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