Fontanelle, Nebraska
September 8, 2003

How do you offer 28 new seed products plus new seed treatments, along with the rest of the product line up and not confuse customers? “That’s a challenge we’ve been addressing to clarify these complex issues for our customers,” Dave Monke production manager of Fontanelle Hybrids, Fontanelle, Nebraska said. “We certainly understand the responsibility we have to simplify our presentation of products, which we are doing by reaching customers through a variety of means including our product guides, our website, radio, magazines and other print media.”

For the 2003-2004 marketing year, Fontanelle is introducing two corn rootworm hybrids, two conventional hybrids, one waxy hybrid, three corn borer hybrids, four Roundup Ready^® hybrids and four Roundup Ready/corn borer stacked hybrids. Plus in Fontanelle’s other product lines, eight new Roundup Ready soybean varieties, a new forage sorghum and three new grain sorghums have been added. Fontanelle is also offering Poncho™ 250 and Poncho 1250 seed treatments.

“One of the ways we are simplifying for our customers is offering similar genetics in different trait combinations,” Monke said. “In other words, we have identified a solid performing hybrid that is working well for our customers. We added different traits such as YieldGard^® Corn Borer, YieldGard Rootworm or Roundup Ready to that hybrid to offer our customers the package they need, while at the same time keeping the genetics the customers already know will perform. Our research team is working with our sales team, including our dealers, so that we can help customers know which of the trait hybrids have the genetics they’ve come to depend upon.”

Twenty-one of the 28 new products added to the line up have one or more technology traits. “We’re basically a conservative business with a farming background, which means that we have seen the value of the technology, and our customers have too,” Monke said. “ We spend a lot of time each year listening to our customers to find out what’s working and what we need to add to make their life easier and more profitable. The trait products and the seed treatments are a result of the two pronged approach of research and fulfilling customer expectations.”

In addition to the 28 new products, Fontanelle is also offering Poncho 250 and Poncho 1250 seed treatments. “Applying seed treatments isn’t new for us,” Monke said. “We started applying the seed treatments because our customers didn’t want to have to deal with all the chemicals. We have the expertise and the equipment to apply the treatments for them, so we do. The new Poncho products we are offering pay big dividends where there is a need for protecting the seed. Again, to us, it’s all about fulfilling the customer’s needs. For example, the Poncho 1250 provides rootworm control and can be used to fulfill the refuge requirements when customers use a rootworm hybrid. We provide customers with the products they need, whether it’s a technology product, a seed treatment or consistently performing genetics.”

Fontanelle Hybrids is a 68 year old employee-owned seed company marketing corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, alfalfa and sunflowers in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, Missouri and portions of Illinois, Minnesota, South Dakota and Texas. Fontanelle Hybrids is one of the five owners and members of the Core Group that markets value added products under the High Cycle^® Seed Systems brand of products.

High Cycle is a registered trademark of the CORE Group.
Poncho is a trademark of Gustafson.
YieldGard and Roundup Ready are registered trademarks of Monsanto Company.