/7j2\ FARMER OWNED
I I NC+Hybridsisafarmerownedseedproduction-marketing ** JL tI 1 A
I tt m I organization headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. The . * ill. I
1 I organization is owned entirely by lowa, Nebraska and Kan- * I k
\ / sas farmer seed growers. These grower owners produce a - , J t i ~ ■
\ X high percentage of the total NC+ seed marketed each year. ,
\ Seed commodities include hybrid corn, hybrid grain sorg
forage sorghum
beans
WE BEGAN IN 1958
That year, a group of farmers who had been growing hybrid
seed for many years joined together to incorporate and form
NC+ Hybrids. They had the experience and expertise to pro
duce a high quality seed product. Yet, they were in effect
competing with each other at the market place. Motivated by
the idea that collectively marketing their product would be
more efficient, NC+ Hybrids was incorporated in 1958. Many
of the original members have sons who continue or are
assuming the family tradition of growing seed.
OUR NAME
Although the official name of our company is NC+ Hybrids,
we are often referred to as NC+ for short. And we are often
asked what our name represents.
Originally, the letters NC denoted seed grown in and predo
minantly for the North Central States. However, since
growth has moved our production and marketing areas far
beyond the North Central States, this interpretation may be
less significant. In contast, the plus sign in our name is even
more significant today. It represents the extra precautions,
safeguards and quality control procedures utililzed to assure
our customers we are marketing a high quality seed product.
These procedures have and continue to be modified and
improved as new technology becomes available. In sum
mary we continue to use NC+ Hybrids as our official com
pany name, while NC+ is the brand name for our products.
MAJOR GROWTH
In the 1960’s a period of intense growth began and has con
tinued through the present time. In response to the wide
acceptance and demand for NC+ corn and sorghum hybrids,
this expansion included facilities, personnel, geographical
sales area, seed research and market support programs.
A major transaction in 1967 involved the purchase of 180
acres and 32 concrete buildings formerly part of the Hast
ings, Nebraska Naval Ammunition Depot. Approximately
half of all NC+ employees now office and work at this loca
tion. It serves as headquarters for NC+ research, seed con
ditioning and distribution. We have over 7 acres of ware
house space that provides storage capacity for well over one
million bags of conditioned seed. Additions include two
research greenhouses, a seed conditioning plant, bulk seed
storage bins, a distribution center and modern ear corn seed
drying equipment. Recently several NC+ grower members
installed similar ear corn drying and sorting facilities on their
farms which added to the organizations overall seed harvest
capacity.
Acquisitions of other regional seed companies have also
been a part of NC+ growth. The first, Wmterset Hybrids at
Winterset, lowa was purchased in 1981. An acquisition
merger brought YW Hybrids at Grand Junction, lowa into the
NC+ organization in 1983. A regional distribution and sales
office is now located at Grand Junction to serve NC+ sales
agents in this area. The YW acquisition-merger brpught sev
eral Pennsylvania sales agents into the NC+ group. They
andJhe growing number of newer agents are served by a
regional warehouse at Elizabethtown, Pa., and a regional
sales office located at Manheim, Pa. '
NC+ RESEARCH
and a winter sorghum
nursery in Puerto Rico. Thousands of new hybrids are tested
each year in search of superior yield and performance traits.
Each hybrid or variety is thoroughly tested in its adapted
area to assure environmental compatibility prior to its
release.
NC+ SEED PRODUCTION
NC+ corn and soybean seed is produced primarily by NC+
grower members in Nebraska and lowa. Grower Members in
Kansas produce a high percentage of the NC+ forage sorg
hums and sorghum sudangrass hybrids.NC+ grain sorghum
seed is grown primarily in the High Plains of Texas where cli
mate and isolation factors favor the betterment of purity and
overall seed quality.
We know that seed quality is determined to a large extent in
the seed production field. Throughout the growing season,
and especially at pollination time, these fields are monitored
closely by NC+ production personnel to assist growers in
meeting the high standards set for NC+ seed production.
NC+ QUALITY CONTROL
This important aspect of the seed business receives our
highest priority. Strongly emphasized in production, condi
tioning and in our marketing programs, we have established
and continue to maintain a reputation for high quality. Fol
lowing seed harvest warm germination tests are conducted
in both the Nebraska Crop Improvement Association and
NC+ Quality Control Seed Laboratories. Cold tests are con
ducted in the NC-i- laboratory to evaluate seed vigor. Purity
tests, known as "growouts" are planted in October in Hawaii,
Mexico and Puerto Rico. Visual observations are made dur
ing the winter months to determine the purity of each hybrid
seed lot. Any that do not meet germination specifications are
not marketed as NC+ seed.
The development of new
hybrids and new lines
receives top priority. The
basic research in their
development is done at
the Hastings Research
Center where approxi
mately 120 acres of irri
gated land is devoted to
nurseries, test and
demonstration plot plant
ings. A winter nursery for
corn Is located in Hawaii
*t*A
NC+ SALES
The actual sales of NC+ seed is made by a local sales agent.
They promote the sale of NC+ products by sponsoring plot
tours, customer meetings and local media advertising. They
work under the direction of company employed district sales
managers.
NC+ district sales managers are assigned a geographical
sales area. Within this area, they are responsible for con
tracting an NC+ sales agent force and providing them with
product education and assistance.
The NC+ Hybrids marketing area extends from New Jersey
to the West Coast, and from Minnesota toTexas. Altogether,
NC+ seed is sold in thirty-one states.
INNOVATIVE COMPUTERS
This is the most recently formed department in the NC+
organization. This department markets small to intermediate
sized computers, programs and related services to farmers
and small businesses.
Developing programs and incorporating them into the NC+
Computer systems is also a responsibility of this depart
ment. These programs pertain to NC+ accounting, inventory
control, research and seed conditioning.
NC+ HYBRIDS
A PERSONAL COMMITMENT
FROM A TEAM OF
PROFESSIONAL SEEDSMEN
A company's products are no oat'.er than the people
associated with them. And in a highly competitive industry, a
successful seed company requires quality people. Exper
ienced seed growers, a dedicated, informed sales organiza
tion and a professional staff from a variety of disciplines...
plant breeding... production agriculture...computer technol
ogy... marketing, all work together in a team effort.
Today, NC+ Hybrids is recognized as a strong, progressive,
successful seed company. Yet the challenge for each team
member continues. To us, personal accountability is still
important. Enhanced by the tradition of being a farmer own
ed seed company, our objective continues to be that of deve
loping, producing and marketing high quality seed the
kind that is profitable for American Farmers.