The Importance of Seed Around the World

There’s so much promise in a tiny seed—especially in war-torn countries. This past spring, representatives of the Farm Journal Foundation traveled to Afghanistan and Iraq to witness food insecurity firsthand. While in Iraq, they had the opportunity to stop by this seed house. For more information about the trip, visit www.FarmersFeedingTheWorld.org.

Stat Rack

Today, farmers have access to

10

seed corn companies, and each company offers

45

different hybrids in

6

sizes with

39

technology choices,

27

treatment options and

2

delivery options.

The total number of purchase options for corn hybrids is

5,686,200

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Farmers also have access to

8

soybean seed companies, and each company offers

28

different soybean varieties with

5

technology choices,

28

seed treatment options and

2

delivery options.

The total number of purchase options for soybeans is

62,720

Corn Vanity

Who says seedsmen don’t have a little vanity? We found two Illinois seedsmen who like to promote their favorite crop via special license plates.

Bill Wyffels of Wyffels Hybrids wasn’t fooling around when he chose Zea mays, the scientific classification for maize or corn, as his travel tag. Tom Burrus of Burrus Hybrids boasts "1 BG EAR" to fellow motorists.