Mergers, acquisitions, alliances, and partnerships in the seed industry create interesting choices for growers. Doing business with a trusted supplier becomes more difficult as seed companies are sold to chemical companies. Long standing relationships suffer when new ownership changes the company’s ability to offer personal service and optimum product choices in favor of corporate directives. Access to technology becomes limited by the seed company’s relationship to the supplier.

When a seed company makes decisions focused on growers’ needs, it represents a change in status quo. Being American-owned and independent has also become a unique trait among the most progressive seed companies as well.

In some instances, old things become new again. Stauffer Seeds has been serving Midwestern growers for generations. And they intend to continue serving their customers without regard to corporate politics or boardroom decisions. Their people are dedicated to building long-term relationships with their customers.

Owned by Lawhon Farm Services of McCrory, Arkansas, Stauffer Seeds enjoys the guidance and vision of Noal Lawhon, the company patriarch. “We believe in the partnering concept and try to find a win-win situation for everyone we do business with. I believe there’s always opportunity for growth if you treat your customers like you want to be treated,” he remarked.

Partnerships with Midwestern growers, not other companies, change the business model. “Our independence allows us to do the right thing for our customers without political pressure from any corporate interests. We have the ability to offer the best genetics and latest technology to farmers,” stated Craig Williams, Managing Director of Stauffer Seeds.

Innovation and Independence

Innovation remains a priority. All Stauffer products are designed to perform optimally on Midwestern farms with a wide selection of conventional and enhanced choices, including triple stacks (YGCB, YGRW, and RR2). Independence gives this seed company the freedom to evaluate and implement the most beneficial traits and genetics. Product managers select only the products best suited to the sales area for the company. Product decisions are based on input from dealers, customers, and large scale testing.

Innovation extends beyond seed as well. Stauffer Seeds’ Williams worked with experts to design eGronomist, a software application that allows field sales staff to enter appropriate information on the growers’ management style, soil types, desire for technology, and maturity. eGronomist uses the inputs to identify the products with the best fit for the customer. Growers can access eGronomist and use this tool for their farms by visiting www.staufferseeds.com.

With eGronomist and the company-wide focus for optimum product positioning, Stauffer Seeds proves its philosophy in the field. “We know there are seed companies driven by selling the product in their warehouses rather than delivering the best product for their customers,” said Mike Smidt, Stauffer Seeds’ Director of Sales and Marketing. “Our focus is on our customers. Their success depends on our integrity. We must offer the best genetics, newest traits, and personal service to our growers or we have not lived up to our responsibility.”

Even Stauffer Seeds’ packaging changes the norm of the industry. Rather than delivering bulk soybean seed in a bag bearing the company logo, they are providing added value with an exclusive Mossy Oak^© camouflage-patterned container. While delivering top quality seed is the first priority for Stauffer Seeds and its parent company, service doesn’t stop there. They recognized that disposal of bulk bags was becoming an issue for some growers, so finding a way to give those containers additional purpose was logical.

“The camo bag can be used as a duck blind, deer stand, or even a container to store duck decoys and other hunting materials,” Mike Osier, Director of Operations for Lawhon Farm Service, Stauffer Seeds’ parent company commented. “With this product, we are able to provide a service for our customers for their livelihood and their relaxation time as well.”

Offered by Stauffer Seeds as well as Lawhon Farm Service’s southern seed companies, the Mossy Oak© camouflage bulk bags will be offered for the third year in 2006. According to Osier, some customers come in requesting “… those camo bulk bags” as their first priority.

Value and Vision

“I have always surrounded myself with associates who think outside the box. The best leaders are the ones who have sense enough to pick good people to do what they want done and self restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If you follow this rule, you will be successful. I believe in helping your fellow man whether in business or your personal life,” stated Lawhon.

Customers return to Stauffer for the value they receive – performance, service, and beneficial relationships with company staff. “We pride ourselves on being easy to do business with and felt there was a need for a family-owned business with an easy-to-do-business-with attitude in the Midwestern seed market,” Lawhon observed.

Stauffer Seeds customers continue to increase the number of acres planted. “Along with our parent company, Lawhon Farm Services, our seed products are planted on more than 2 million U.S. acres,” said Williams.