Asgrow

Asgrow is an American agricultural seed brand whose history is closely associated with the development and commercialization of field-crop genetics, especially soybeans. The business began in 1927 as Associated Seed Growers, Inc., created through the combination of the Everett B. Clark Seed Co., John H. Allen Seed Co., and N.B. Keeney & Son. Its original headquarters were in New Haven, Connecticut. The combination established a larger seed enterprise at a time when commercial crop breeding and the organized distribution of improved seed were becoming increasingly important to American agriculture. The company formally adopted the name Asgrow Seed Company in 1958. Its ownership subsequently changed several times as the seed industry consolidated. The Upjohn Company acquired Asgrow in 1968 through a stock swap. In 1994, Mexico-based Empresas La Moderna S.A. bought the business for $300 million. Contemporary descriptions identified Asgrow as the fifth-largest seed company, with reported sales of $270 million at that time. Monsanto purchased Asgrow from Empresas La Moderna in 1996 for $240 million. The business later moved its headquarters from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to the Des Moines area in 1997, placing it closer to a major center of United States row-crop agriculture. Asgrow became particularly significant in soybean production after the introduction of its first Roundup Ready soybean in 1996. The product incorporated Monsanto's herbicide-tolerance technology, allowing farmers to use glyphosate-based weed control in conjunction with the crop. The launch was an important event in the adoption of genetically modified soybean seed in the United States: more than one million acres were planted with the new seed in its first sales season, and the technology rapidly became dominant in American soybean production. Asgrow's soybean portfolio later included Monsanto technologies such as Roundup Ready 2 Yield, as well as yield-protection and herbicide-tolerance traits developed by Monsanto and other technology providers. Historically, the brand's product range also included sunflower, corn, alfalfa, spring canola, and winter canola. In its later form, however, Asgrow became primarily a soybean brand, with its varieties marketed alongside other Bayer or formerly Monsanto seed brands, including DEKALB. The brand's value proposition centers on genetics, yield potential, agronomic performance, and compatibility with crop-protection systems rather than on consumer-facing packaged goods. In 2012, Asgrow established a National Yield Contest for soybean producers. The contest was intended to recognize high-performing growers while providing a forum for sharing information about seed technologies and production practices. In 2018, Bayer AG completed its acquisition of Monsanto. Asgrow consequently became part of Bayer Crop Science, where it continues as a crop-seed brand. Its modern identity is therefore shaped both by its long corporate history and by Bayer's broader portfolio of seed, trait, and agricultural-input businesses. Public reference material does not establish a separate current headquarters, independent listing, or standalone financial reporting for Asgrow.

Asgrow's origins date to 1927, when Everett B. Clark Seed Co., John H. Allen Seed Co., and N.B. Keeney & Son combined to form Associated Seed Growers, Inc. The new company was headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut, and operated as a consolidated seed enterprise during the development of modern commercial seed production in the United States. In 1958, it formally changed its name to Asgrow Seed Company, making the Asgrow name the principal identity of the business. The company's corporate ownership changed repeatedly as seed production became more concentrated among diversified agricultural and life-science companies. The Upjohn Company acquired Asgrow in 1968 through a stock swap. In 1994, Empresas La Moderna S.A., a Mexico-based company, purchased Asgrow for $300 million. At that time, reference material described Asgrow as the fifth-largest seed company and reported sales of $270 million. Monsanto acquired the business from Empresas La Moderna in 1996 for $240 million. In 1997, Asgrow relocated its headquarters from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to the Des Moines area. The most important commercial turning point in Asgrow's history was the 1996 release of its first Roundup Ready soybean. The product built on Monsanto's work on herbicide-tolerant plants and enabled farmers to use glyphosate-based weed management with the soybean crop. The technology received rapid market adoption: more than one million acres used the seed in the first sales season, and within a short period more than 80 percent of United States soybeans were reported to have been produced with the seed. Asgrow thereby became closely associated with the transition toward genetically modified, herbicide-tolerant soybean production. Asgrow's historical portfolio was broader than soybeans. It sold seed for sunflower, corn, alfalfa, spring canola, and winter canola. Over time, the brand's practical focus narrowed toward soybeans. Its soybean offerings incorporated Monsanto technologies including Roundup Ready 2 Yield and combined seed genetics with yield-protection and herbicide-tolerance traits. Reference material also notes that technologies from third parties, including BASF, were used in the broader product context and that Asgrow products were marketed in conjunction with DEKALB. The brand expanded its grower-facing activities in 2012 by starting the National Yield Contest for soybean producers. The program recognized growers achieving high soybean yields and created an educational platform for discussing seed technology and production methods. It linked the brand to measurable farm performance rather than only to product specifications. In 2018, Bayer AG acquired Monsanto. Asgrow consequently became part of Bayer Crop Science. It continues as a Bayer seed brand, primarily identified with soybean varieties and agricultural biotechnology. The available reference material does not document a separate publicly listed Asgrow entity, a current standalone management team, or a current independent headquarters. It also records allegations that Monsanto's conduct in relation to Asgrow contributed to breaches or termination of soybean research and development agreements with DuPont and AgrEvo; the available material does not provide enough detail to characterize those matters as a confirmed Asgrow scandal.

• 2018

  Asgrow becomes part of Bayer Crop Science

  [1]Asgrowen.wikipedia.org

  Bayer AG acquired Monsanto, placing Asgrow within Bayer Crop Science.

• 2012

  National Yield Contest begins

  [1]Asgrowen.wikipedia.org

  Asgrow started a national contest recognizing soybean producers with high yields and sharing production knowledge.

• 1997

  Headquarters moves to the Des Moines area

  [1]Asgrowen.wikipedia.org

  Asgrow moved its headquarters from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to the Des Moines area.

• 1996

  Monsanto acquires Asgrow

  [1]Asgrowen.wikipedia.org

  Monsanto purchased Asgrow from Empresas La Moderna for a reported $240 million.

• 1996

  First Roundup Ready soybean reaches the market

  [1]Asgrowen.wikipedia.org

  Asgrow released its first Roundup Ready soybean, initiating rapid adoption of herbicide-tolerant soybean seed in the United States.

• 1994

  Acquired by Empresas La Moderna

  [1]Asgrowen.wikipedia.org

  Empresas La Moderna purchased Asgrow for a reported $300 million.

• 1968

  Acquired by Upjohn

  [1]Asgrowen.wikipedia.org

  The Upjohn Company acquired Asgrow through a stock swap.

• 1958

  Name changes to Asgrow Seed Company

  [1]Asgrowen.wikipedia.org

  The company formally adopted the Asgrow Seed Company name.

• 1927

  Associated Seed Growers is formed

  [1]Asgrowen.wikipedia.org

  Everett B. Clark Seed Co., John H. Allen Seed Co., and N.B. Keeney & Son combined to establish Associated Seed Growers, Inc., the business that became Asgrow.

A field-crop seed brand focused primarily on soybean genetics, yield potential, and integration with herbicide-tolerance and crop-protection technologies.

• Agricultural seed

  Soybean seed

  Soybeans are Asgrow's principal current product category. The brand's varieties are positioned around yield potential, agronomic performance, and compatibility with crop-protection systems. Product technologies associated with the portfolio include herbicide tolerance and yield-protection traits from Monsanto and other technology providers, with modern Asgrow offerings operating within Bayer Crop Science's broader seed platform.

• Herbicide-tolerant soybean seed · 1996

  Roundup Ready soybean

  Introduced commercially by Asgrow in 1996, the first Roundup Ready soybean was designed to tolerate glyphosate-based weed control. Its release marked a major change in soybean production practices and achieved rapid adoption in the United States, with more than one million acres planted during the first sales season.

• Soybean seed technology

  Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean varieties

  Roundup Ready 2 Yield is a Monsanto-developed soybean technology associated with Asgrow's portfolio. It represents a later generation of herbicide-tolerance and yield-oriented traits used in soybean varieties marketed to commercial growers.

• Agricultural seed

  Corn, sunflower, alfalfa, and canola seed

  Asgrow historically sold seed for several additional field crops, including corn, sunflower, alfalfa, spring canola, and winter canola. Reference material indicates that the brand later became focused solely on soybean varieties rather than maintaining this earlier multi-crop range.

• 2012Asgrow National Yield Contest

  United States

  Asgrow created a national contest for soybean producers, rewarding leading yields and giving growers an opportunity to learn about seed technologies and production practices.

  Outcome. The contest became a grower-engagement and education initiative associated with Asgrow's soybean business; a specific winner or later outcome is not established in the available reference.

  Source

• 2018

  Integrate Asgrow into Bayer Crop ScienceM&A

  Background

  Bayer AG acquired Monsanto, Asgrow's corporate owner at the time.

  Action taken

  Asgrow became a brand within Bayer Crop Science.

  Aftermath

  The brand continued primarily as a soybean seed business within Bayer's integrated seed and crop-science portfolio.

  Source

• 2012

  Create the National Yield ContestStrategy

  Background

  Asgrow sought to connect its soybean brand with grower performance and the exchange of agronomic knowledge.

  Action taken

  The company launched a national soybean yield contest for producers.

  Aftermath

  The initiative provided recognition for high-yield growers and a platform for discussing seed technologies and production practices.

  Source

• 1996

  Commercialize the first Roundup Ready soybeanProduct launch

  Background

  Monsanto had developed herbicide-tolerance research, and Asgrow served as the seed brand through which the first Roundup Ready soybean reached the market.

  Action taken

  Asgrow released the soybean seed commercially in the United States.

  Aftermath

  The seed was planted on more than one million acres in its first sales season and rapidly became widely used in United States soybean production.

  Source

• 2018

  Bayer completes Monsanto acquisition; Asgrow joins Bayer Crop Science[1]Asgrowen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Bayer AG acquired Monsanto, after which Asgrow became a Bayer Crop Science brand.

• 2012

  Asgrow launches National Yield Contest[1]Asgrowen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  Asgrow began a national soybean yield contest to recognize producers with leading yields and share information about seed technologies and production practices.

• 1997

  Asgrow moves headquarters to the Des Moines area[1]Asgrowen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Following its acquisition by Monsanto, Asgrow moved its headquarters from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to the Des Moines area.

• 1996

  Monsanto purchases Asgrow from Empresas La Moderna[1]Asgrowen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Monsanto bought Asgrow from Empresas La Moderna for a reported $240 million, bringing the seed company into Monsanto's expanding agricultural biotechnology portfolio.

• 1996

  Asgrow introduces its first Roundup Ready soybean[1]Asgrowen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  Asgrow released the first Roundup Ready soybean to the market. More than one million acres were planted with the new seed during its first sales season, and adoption quickly became widespread among United States soybean growers.

• 1994

  Empresas La Moderna purchases Asgrow[1]Asgrowen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Mexico-based Empresas La Moderna acquired Asgrow for a reported $300 million. At the time, Asgrow was described as the fifth-largest seed company, with reported sales of $270 million.

• 1968

  Upjohn acquires Asgrow through a stock swap[1]Asgrowen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The Upjohn Company acquired Asgrow in a stock transaction, beginning a succession of ownership changes for the seed business.

1. 1Asgrowen.wikipedia.org