Seed Producer Beck's Buys Bayer Plant

LINCOLN, Neb. (DTN) -- Atlanta, Indiana-based Beck's Hybrids acquired a Bayer soybean production and seed-processing plant in Beaman, Iowa, adding to Beck's capabilities as the largest family-owned retail seed company in the country.

Beck's announced in a news release the hiring of 10 former full-time Bayer employees to continue operations at the Beaman facility.

The company said the plant will be ready to ensure that soybean seed is ready for spring 2022 planting.

"The facility features approximately 30,000 square feet of warehousing and is configured with all the modern equipment necessary for Beck's to process and treat one million units of soybeans per year," the company said in a news release.

Beck's already operates three other locations in Iowa, including a processing and distribution facility in Mount Pleasant, a research facility in Marshalltown and a distribution and research site in Colfax.

"Situated 15 minutes north of our Marshalltown, Iowa, facility and approximately an hour northeast of our Colfax location, the addition of this new facility will take the pressure off of our distribution channels," Beck's CEO Sonny Beck said in the news release.

"More importantly, it will help us ensure we are fulfilling our customer's soybean needs quickly and efficiently. We're excited to put down roots in Beaman and for the opportunity to provide our growing family of customers with more regionally selected, grown, and processed soybeans."

Beck's said its business has "doubled in size" during the past six years. Beck's is the third-largest corn and soybean brand in the U.S. producing corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa treated with the company's Escalate yield enhancement system, a proprietary seed treatment. Beck's also offers cover crops, forages, and milo/grain sorghum.

"At Beck's, we base our growth and acquisition strategy and decisions with a focus on helping farmers succeed," Beck said.

"As we continue to expand into new states and grow our customer base, our family of employees and farmer-dealers remain dedicated to providing exceptional localized service. This new facility will allow Beck's to maximize efficiency, stay ahead of demand, and deliver products faster."

(c) Copyright 2021 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved.