Beck's Hybrids to expand Indiana headquarters

Beck’s Hybrids announced plans to expand operations at the Atlanta, Ind., headquarters with a $60 million investment in processing, production, research and distribution facilities, as well as creating new jobs over the next four years.

“Over the last few years, we’ve experienced significant growth across our marketing area with new sales territories, new facility locations, and new employees,” said Sonny Beck, president of Beck’s Hybrids. “With this expansion, we’re not just investing in our future, but the future of Midwest farmers.”

New construction projects for 2014 include two new 4,000 square-foot greenhouses and the expansion of the Biotechnology Building. The Biotechnology Building expansion will provide more office and laboratory space for Beck’s and other companies to utilize for research and product development. Beck’s will also add four machinery storage buildings for trucks and seed equipment.

“With our recent territory expansion into Tennessee, eastern Iowa, and eastern Missouri, it’s important we have the infrastructure in place to serve farmers with the best in seed quality, field performance, and customer service,” said Beck. “Our family of employees is committed to bringing farmers an increasing number of new, high-performing products that are specifically designed to perform on their farms.

In the next three to four years, the expansion at the headquarters includes an additional soybean seed processing tower that is expected to produce one million bags of seed in the first year with the capability of additional quantities in the future. As growth continues, new seed drying and storage facilities will be constructed.

“Indiana’s economic growth is sprouting from farms across the state,” said Indiana Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann. “Here in America’s heartland, growing the food on our tables and building the tools for our world remains a Hoosier specialty. The innovation coming from Beck’s Hybrids melds the two, developing high-performance seeds for our farmers. Through their work, companies like Beck’s Hybrids are creating more jobs and more opportunities for Hoosiers, just part of what helps make Indiana a state that works for business.”

As part of an initiative with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and Hamilton County, Beck’s Hybrids will expand operations at the headquarters and add 100 new jobs by 2017. Currently, Beck’s employs 400 full-time employees. Other investments during the expansion include warehouse renovation, seed production storage, seed equipment, and office renovation. Construction will begin this summer and take approximately three to four years to complete.