Two Cdn. seed companies join forces

Sep 23, 2020

WinField United Canada and Country Farm Seeds are entering a partnership that will benefit farmers across eastern Canada

By Jackie Clark
Staff Writer
Farms.com

WinField United Canada has formed a partnership with Country Farm Seeds, effective September 2020, which should benefit Canadian customers of both companies in time for the 2021 season.

C & L Seed Production Group is a production arm of Country Farm Seeds, and both are located in Blenheim, Ont. WinField United Canada is based in Saskatoon, and the company owns the CROPLAN seed brand, explained Kaitland Miller. She’s a market development manager for southern Ontario for WinField United Canada.

“We’re pumped about the partnership. The pairing is basically a win-win on both ends – especially for farmers,” she said. The partnership “allows both companies to play on their strengths, so C & L Seeds can focus on its strength of local seed production, storage and transportation. And then Winfield United Canada can focus on its strength of size, accessing elite genetics and primarily focusing on the sales and support aspect.”

WinField United Canada and Country Farm Seeds will pool resources to scale up local production of seed in eastern Canada.

“The resulting synergy of this business partnership will provide farmers in eastern Canada with high-performance genetics that are produced in Canada at a competitive price,” said a July 23 press release from WinField United.

Joining forces should allow for “improved efficiencies and locally grown products,” Miller added. The move is part of WinField United Canada’s commitment to growing its name and product offerings for the Canadian market.

For more information, visit winfieldunited.ca/ or countryfarmseeds.com/.

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Video: AJ Armstrong Takes the Helm as Manitoba Seed Growers President

The Manitoba Seed Growers Association (MSGA) held its first annual SeedLink Conference in Brandon last week, where a new president was appointed to take the helm of the organization.

A.J. Armstrong of Armstrong Seeds in Boissevain took the gavel from Past-President Tom Greaves. In a sit-down interview, Armstrong shared insights into his personal journey within the seed industry. Born into a family deeply rooted in seed cultivation, he took the reins of the family business in 2003, building on a legacy initiated by his father in 1980.

Regulatory modernization emerged as a significant focus of the conversation. While acknowledging the complexities of the process, Armstrong expressed optimism about the potential benefits for seed growers once the regulatory framework is finalized.

Discussing the dynamics of working with family in a business setting, he stressed the importance of open communication.

Operating with a streamlined team that includes his mom as the bookkeeper, his father as the “gopher” handling specific tasks, and a dedicated employee for day-to-day operations, the Armstrong family has successfully navigated the intricate balance of personal and professional relationships.

Open discussions about roles, responsibilities, and business plans contribute significantly to the smooth functioning of a family-operated seed business,” he said.

SeedLink is a new event; the decision to explore a return to a two-day annual meeting format sparked enthusiasm among industry partners, including key players and sponsors like SeCan, FP Genetics, Canterra Seeds, and numerous others.