Seed Industry and Sat Shots

Last week we heard a presentation by Denny Wickham of Pioneer on the seed industry.  It seems there are only a few big players out there selling under various brand names.  It was interesting to learn that certain brands serve certain purposes for the parent companies.  He also discussed the sharing of technolgies in the industry.  It seems it would be an advantage to keep certain trade secrets like in the old days, but I guess by sharing, everyone gets better seed.  On the other hand, some of the independent companies like Beck's and Wyfell's. Yes i know they are buying genetics from the big guys too.  Here is interesting paper on mergers.  One of the things that surprised me was that I have thought certain brands belonged to particular companies based on the genetics they use.  I was wrong more than right. 

We also had a good presentation last week by John Illich of Agri ImaGIS Technologies on satellite imagery they are making available.  The imagery is 5 meter resolution, so it shows about the same resolution that can be seen on a yield map made with a 6 row 30 inch corn head.  Prices appear to be reasonable.  I am planning to pay for the home farm and see how it might fit into the business as well.