Golden Harvest member companies strive to provide their customers value through consistent product performance and customer service.  The foundation for the proven performance of Golden Harvest products lies in the superior genetics that are present in each new product the brand develops.   Central Golden Harvest Research welcomes to the Golden Harvest team of corn breeders, Dr. Natalia de Leon of East Lansing, Michigan. 

Dr de Leon comes to Golden Harvest with considerable corn breeding experience.  Dr. de Leon earned her doctorate from the University of Wisconsin in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics.  Since earning her Ph.D. in December of 2002, de Leon has worked at Michigan State University as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate for the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences in the Soybean Breeding and Genetics Program. She has been involved in extensive plant breeding research through her education, including a long-term selection project for prolificacy in the Golden Glow population, and participation in the Corn Silage Breeding Program at the University of Wisconsin. 

“Golden Harvest has a remarkable reputation as a company that cares about its employees and customers.”  Dr. de Leon said.  “I am looking forward to applying the knowledge and experiences that I have gained during my masters and Ph.D. work in corn breeding and genetics, as well as my post-doctorial fellowship at Michigan State University where I put my emphasis on the evaluation of plant phenotypes, experimental design and statistical data analysis.”

As a native of Uruguay, de Leon has visited nurseries and yield trails at research stations in the U.S., Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.  While at the University of Wisconsin, she worked at the winter nursery corn breeding and genetics winter nursery site in Puerto Rico. 

“Dr. Natalia de Leon brings several years of field corn breeding experience to Golden Harvest.” said Nelson Thorp, president of Central Golden Harvest research. “We are excited to have her as a part of the Golden Harvest research team.  She brings an enthusiasm for hard work and a willingness to do whatever it takes.”

As Corn Breeder and Research Station Manager, Dr. de Leon’s primary research program will be located southeast of Lansing in Dansville, Michigan, with additional research efforts located throughout Indiana, Ohio and Canada.  The station develops competitive and consistent hybrids in the 85 to 105 day maturity range and provides a better understanding of how the hybrids perform in this region.

The Dansville station opened in 1995.  de Leon joins a team of three full-time technicians at the station.  Nationwide Golden Harvest continues to expand its research efforts.  Golden Harvest member companies currently operate 19 breeding programs at 17 stations.  

Dr. de Leon says her goal is to maintain an efficient inbred line development program, comprehensive hybrid testing and evaluation program, run the Golden Harvest Danville research station competently, and encourage the interaction of ideas and collaboration with other Golden Harvest breeders, producers and cooperators.

Golden Harvest is the nation’s largest independently owned seed brand and one of the fastest growing agricultural seed brands.  Golden Harvest brand of hybrid corn, soybeans, sorghum and alfalfa is produced and marketed by five family-owned and managed seed companies serving farmers throughout the U.S. Corn Belt, Europe, South American and Canada.  These five companies share research and marketing resources nationally, while continuing to offer nearby service that is at the heart of the seed industry.

Golden Harvest is a registered trademark of Golden Harvest Seeds, Inc.