What do FS Seed, sporting events, the 2004 election, and the Olympics have in common? You will see and hear them paired together during the fall and winter seasons.

To increase awareness of the FS Seed product line, GROWMARK launched a new seed campaign called “Pick Win,” during a sales kickoff event yesterday. The “Pick Win” campaign is designed to bring added attention to and create interest in FS Seed products.
 

GROWMARK has been offering FS Seed for almost four decades. As production agriculture shifts from using crop protection products to control major weeds and insects to seed genetics that fight these pests, the FS Seed brand is positioned as the seed of choice.
 

“We have superior quality hybrids and varieties with the yield, performance, and economics to meet our customers’ needs. We want to let customers and potential customers know there are strong reasons to plant FS Seed,” says Ron Milby, GROWMARK Seed Division manager.
 

FS Seed has a long history of top yields and outstanding product performance, with yield advantages over competitive varieties. Recent testing proves it.
 

Corn seed varieties were tested in the 2003 Farmers Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.) plots for public yield testing. This is a seed testing program established by Agronomic Seed Consulting, Inc.

In the F.I.R.S.T. plots, FS Seed Corn had an overall yield advantage of 11.1 bushels per acre over the test average. That’s an advantage of more than $25 per acre over the test average.
 

FS 6473 was the big winner in these trials, in some places reaching 20 bushels per acre yield advantage over the test average.
 

A three-year average of FS member cooperatives’ plots showed that FS corn hybrids had 5.54 bushels per acre yield advantage over competitive hybrids. That’s an $11 per acre advantage.

FS HiSOY® soybean varieties participated in the University of Illinois (U of I) commercial soybean testing program. This program helps provide unbiased and objective testing of soybean varieties in comparison with other private and public varieties.

In the U of I 2003 public yield tests, the most popular FS HiSOY varieties had a 3.4 bushel per acre yield advantage over the trial average. That is almost a $19 per acre advantage over competitive varieties in the test.

In the Iowa State University Extension 2003 public yield tests, the most popular FS HiSOY varieties had a 3.3 bushel per acre yield advantage over the trial average. That is more than an $18 per acre advantage over competitive varieties in the test.
 

In the University of Wisconsin – Madison 2003 public yield tests, the most popular FS HiSOY varieties had a 2.2 bushel per acre yield advantage over the trial average. That is more than a $17 per acre advantage over competitive varieties in the test.
 

FS HiSOY soybeans in FS cooperatives’ plots show an average advantage of 2.4 bushels per acre or $14.40 per acre advantage with competitive varieties over a three-year average.
 

The primary theme of the campaign is “Winning” at farming. And picking the winning seed – FS Seed – is the message.
 

Television, print, radio, and the sides of semi-trailers will all be advertising mediums included in the campaign.

Coupled with more high-performance hybrids and varieties, a broader spectrum of genetics, and superior service and knowledge from FS crop specialists, the corn, soybean, wheat, and forage seed packaging will have a new design with a fresh look.
 

 “Primarily, sporting events will be the avenue for delivering the broad-based customer message,” Milby says. “Our message takes a very competitive angle which ties in nicely with the competitive sports media.”

Radio broadcasts will focus on competitive, spectator sports at the University of Illinois, University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Wisconsin - Madison in select markets.
 

'Wrapped' semi-trailers will be seen on GROWMARK delivery routes starting in August and September.

During the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, in August, television advertisements for FS Seed will start to appear in specific market territories.
 

Television advertisements will appear from fall 2004 through spring 2005 on ESPN Plus during Illinois and Iowa football games.
 

During one of the biggest events of the year, the presidential election on Nov. 2, television spots will air during coverage of the night’s returns. 
 

During the winter months, television ads will appear during the major football bowl games in the Big Ten Conference and the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) games in selected TV markets. In addition, ESPN Plus will also air advertisements during the Iowa State Cyclones and University of Illinois Illini college basketball games, along with the Iowa State High School State Final Wrestling Tournament in February.
 

For more information on FS Seed, contact your local FS member cooperative.
 

GROWMARK, Inc. is a federated regional cooperative that provides agriculture-related products and services primarily in the Midwest and Ontario, Canada. FS-brand farm supplies and related services are marketed to farmers in these areas by nearly 100 GROWMARK member cooperatives.