Further enhancing its ability to bring cutting edge genetics and crop traits to Midwestern farmers

Dennis Kruger, President of Kruger Seed Company (“Kruger Seed”), and American Seeds Inc. (ASI), a Monsanto holding company, announced today that Kruger Seed Company will transfer its sales and marketing business, including its sales team, to the ASI team of leading edge independent operating regional seed companies.

Kruger Seed Company, founded in 1963 by Dennis Kruger, has grown to become one of the Midwest’s largest suppliers of corn and soybeans, serving farmers in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, the Dakotas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Kansas. Kruger Seed’s growth started with an entrepreneurial spirit early on, becoming the first certified seed processing plant in Iowa. It has continued to aggressively provide farmers with a constant supply of the newest soybean genetics that the industry could offer. This same spirit led Kruger Seed into the hybrid seed corn market in the 1980’s with expansion into other states quickly following.

The introduction and quick adoption by Kruger Seed of single traited corn products in the 1990’s and stacked traits as they came to the market propelled the company to where it is today. “I have always felt I had to provide the customers we serve with the best products and genetics available. To do so, we have positioned ourselves as an independent in the marketplace, pulling genetics from many different sources,” said Kruger.

“Joining American Seeds Inc. not only expands our pool of genetics and traits, but ensures our ability to do so in the future. In short this new relationship provides our customers with the better of two worlds – the ability to provide the newest innovations in the industry while continuing to operate autonomously and regionally. These things will allow us to keep our close relationship with our customers.”

The KSC business will be operated by a newly-formed independent operating company called Kruger Seeds, Inc. and will remain headquartered in Iowa as part of ASI’s Western division.

Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality.