Jacobsen Seed announces plans to add seed conditioning & handling technologies

Jacobsen Seed recently broke ground on a building addition that will house a new, state-of-the-art seed conditioning and packaging plant. The expansion project will take the company’s seed quality to the highest level and fuel the ongoing growth of the independent, family owned and operated seed business.

Jacobsen’s investment in this new equipment puts the company in a position to better serve customers by optimizing both corn and soybean seed quality, while further improving operational efficiency and volume. The expanded facility will also allow Jacobsen to engage in custom seed conditioning and bagging operations for other companies, resulting in the addition of employees to their current staff.

Increased demand for Jacobsen’s corn hybrids and soybean varieties has driven their recent growth, while the company’s product knowledge, performance and service have supported this expansion. Jacobsen also identified a real need for custom seed conditioning and packaging capabilities in the industry and saw an opportunity to bring their high-quality standards to the process, while providing a service to fellow seed companies.

Technology in seed conditioning equipment has proven to make a difference when it comes to overall seed quality and results. Dave Nelson, CEO of Jacobsen Seed, says, “When tested, yields from the same variety of corn can vary greatly, showing anywhere from a 30 to 40 bushel difference between companies. One reason for this is that seed can get damaged by stressed conditioning equipment, causing micro fractures that negatively affect seed quality. While Mother Nature and production quality also play a part when it comes to overall yield potential, we are working to eliminate one of the key variables by using advanced technologies that enable us to provide the highest quality of seed possible.”

Seed prices won’t be affected by the addition of these services, as pricing is determined by the commodity markets, inflation and other variables. Rather, the company sees this as an investment in technologies that will generate high efficiency, high volume and high-quality products. Jacobsen is also working on getting the new plant USDA organic certified.

“We are continually striving to offer the very best products in the industry,” says Nelson. “For us to continue to be a leader and stay out front, we have to continue adopting new technologies. Seed conditioning is partially an art, even with the best equipment available, but we feel confident about what our team can achieve with this new service offering.”

Nelson says Jacobsen will continue to place a strong focus on their core retail business, which is centered around growing their existing high performing products, but emphasizes the importance of evolving the company to respond to customer demand. “As we continue to grow, it’s important that we have the infrastructure in place to serve our farmers with the best in quality seed, performance and customer service,” Nelson said.

Construction on the new facility is expected to be completed in December of this year.

ABOUT JACOBSEN SEED:

Jacobsen Seed is an independent, American Veteran, family-owned and operated seed company that has been working for family farms in Iowa and the surrounding region for over 85 years. Jacobsen offers a diverse lineup of seed trait platforms and conventional varieties, proven state-of-the-art seed treatments and rich agronomic knowledge backed by advanced data collection. To learn more about Jacobsen Seed, please visit www.jacobsenseed.com.