Monsanto Poised to Acquire German Seed Company

Apr 18, 2013

Dieckmann GmbH & Co. KG, a German-based company announced that Monsanto plans on purchasing some of its operations. The agreement, which is subject to the approval of antitrust authorities, if approved would have Monsanto acquiring its oilseed rape and rye seed divisions along with the distribution of corn and sunflower seeds.

A spokesperson with Dieckmann says that they are confident that this transfer will lead to new opportunities. “I am confident that the transfer of these business areas to Monsanto will create new opportunities for customers and employees of both companies,” said Johannes Dieckmann, managing director of Dieckmann Seeds.

The deal signals a long-term strategic investment for Monsanto in Germany and Eastern Europe. “I am confident that the transfer of these business areas to Monsanto will create new opportunities for customers and employees of both companies,” said Johannes Dieckmann, managing director of Dieckmann Seeds.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.