With the recent AstraZeneca and Novartis merger announcement, Garst Seed Company officials note that ownership of Garst Seed Company, AgriPro Seeds, AgriPro Wheat, Interstate Seed Company and PSA Genetics have not been announced as part of the proposed merger.

"We want to assure the industry and our customers that Garst Seed Company ownership remains intact and we will continue to move aggressively and independently forward in the marketplace," says Col Seccombe, President of Garst Seed Company.

Garst Seed Company, along with AgriPro Seeds, AgriPro Wheat, Interstate Seed Company and PSA Genetics all remain as members of the Advanta group of companies and marketing brands. AstraZeneca will retain the 50% holding in Advanta, but Advanta will not be a shareholder in the new company Syngenta.

"At this point in time there is no change in the position of Advanta or in its shareholders," explains Seccombe. "It's business as usual and we fully intend to continue our growth trends in North American seeds sales."

Garst Seed Company has recorded four consecutive years of increased seed sales and marketshare growth in North America.

In North America, Garst is a recognized leader in the development and production of multi-trait (Garst G-STAC) corn hybrids, non-biotech corn hybrids as well as technology-enhanced soybean varieties, grain sorghum and alfalfa. Garst is also the market leader in the development of high pH corn and by far, the leading provider of IT corn hybrids for Cyanamid's Clearfield Production System.

AgriPro Seeds is one of the leading US firms with an advanced and highly successful soybean research and breeding program providing some of top-performing soybean varieties to soybean growers.

AgriPro Wheat is one of just three or four wheat research and breeding programs in the world and is aggressively moving forward with technology-enhanced wheat varieties, including wheat with Imidazolinone herbicide resistance (Clearfield Production System).

Interstate Seed Company is a recognized leader in the production and distribution of sunflowers, canola and sugar beets across the northern plains of the United States.

Garst Seed Company is the largest member of the Advanta group of companies. With corporate and research headquarters in Slater, Iowa, Garst, along with AgriPro, AgriPro Wheat and Interstate and PSA are key components in Advanta's worldwide seed technology network that includes research, development and breeding facilities in 14 U.S. states and in 12 countries around the globe. Together, Advanta is one of the top five seed companies in the world.