Great Lake Hybrids expands research farm

DAN DERYCKE, left, of Victor, talks with David Hoy, Great Lakes Hybrids sales agronomist for Iowa and South Dakota at the company’s tent on Aug. 28 during the Farm Progress Show in rural Boone.
By KRISS NELSON
“mailto:jknelson@frontiernet.net”>jknelson@frontiernet.net
BOONE – Seed companies were in abundance at the Farm Progress Show, each displaying their top hybrids of 2012 and what some can expect to be in production in years to come.
Great Lakes Hybrids was among the many companies on display during the three-day event showing customers what’s new and available for 2013 and beyond.
David Hoy, Great Lakes Hybrids sales agronomist for Iowa and South Dakota, said the company has created its own research farm near Central Iowa Expo where the Farm Progress Show is held every other year, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 30 and Iowa Highway 17.

“We will be making (corn) born in Iowa, for Iowa.” —David Hoy Agronomist, Great Lakes Hybrids
“We already had an existing station in Ames, but wanted to expand,” said Hoy. “We will be making (corn) born in Iowa, for Iowa.”
The new research station, Hoy said, sits on 160 acres and joins other research areas the company has throughout Iowa.
Great Lakes Hybrids chose to introduce its new research station on Aug. 29 at the Farm Progress Show, finding it a prime time to take advantage of company professionals being there as well as producers.
Hoy said the research station will be staffed by two researchers – Dr. Steve Schuetz and Idiris Amundson.
Both researchers, Hoy said, are developing hybrids from the infant stage to production.
“They take it from the very initial stages to production,” said Hoy. “They take ownerships of these hybrids. It’s personal for them and the reason our hybrids do so well in Iowa, is they were born and raised in Iowa.”
Vistors to the GLH tent ere given a virtual plot tour, Hoy said, showcasing the campany’s drought-tolerant hybrids against other competitors and also had a Hawaiian theme to help entice show-goers with the company’s 2013 Hawaii customer-incentive trip in January 2013.
Something new to the Boone location Farm Progress Show is a tractor pull.
The Great Lakes Hybrids tractor pull was held on Aug. 28 and Aug. 29 during the show.
It was decided after such a great attendance at the tractor pulls during last year’s event in Decatur, Ill., that Great Lakes Hybrids and Farm Progress Show would join resources to bring the night-time entertainment to Boone.
Great Lakes Hybrids can trace its roots to 1921. It’s a brand of AgReliant Genetics LLC, which is owned by the fourth- and fifth-largest seed companies in the world – KWS SAAT AG and Limagrain.
In the United States, AgReliant is the fourth-largest in corn sales.
- “We will be making (corn) born in Iowa, for Iowa.” —David Hoy Agronomist, Great Lakes Hybrids