About “Beyond the Rows”

Beyond the Rows is a Monsanto Company blog focused on one of the world’s most important industries, agriculture. Monsanto employees write about Monsanto’s business, the agriculture industry, and the farmer.

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Tag Archives: Seed

Tomatoes in Tight Spaces: Sprouting the Seeds Featured Article

By Amalia Atkins
Vegetables Division

Growing plants from seed has always seemed a little too scary for me to attempt, so you can imagine my trepidation at the thought of trying to grow seeds and then blogging about it. What if I couldn’t get them to grow? But I really wanted to try growing the varieties I learned about from our Home Garden Sales Lead, John Marchese – Debut for the fantastic flavor and Yaqui for home canning and sauce – both perfectly suited to the pots on my deck. John had offered to try to get me some … Full Article »

Tags: home gardening, Monsanto, Seed, tomatoes, Vegetables

Originally published
April 23, 2013 by Monsantoco

Monsanto’s Seminis Home Garden Seed Business Featured Article

Spring has arrived in the northern hemisphere, and home gardeners are itching to plant their favorite fruit and vegetable varieties in their backyard gardens. Monsanto sells fruits and vegetable seeds through its subsidiary, Seminis Vegetable Seeds, for commercial farmers and home gardeners. Here’s a quick Q&A about the Seminis home garden business.

What is Seminis?

Seminis Vegetable Seeds, Inc. (“Seminis”) has grown to be the world’s largest developer, grower and marketer of vegetable seeds. Monsanto purchased the Seminis business in 2005. Seminis offers seed for commercial farmers and home gardeners. For the home garden market, Seminis offers bean, … Full Article »

Tags: home garden, Monsanto, Seed, Seminis, Vegetables

Originally published
April 9, 2013 by Monsantoco

Bowman v. Monsanto: Major Implications for Innovation Featured Article

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments today in Bowman v. Monsanto, a case that highlights the crucial role that patent protection plays in fostering and protecting U.S. innovation across a broad range of industries—including agriculture, medicine, computer software, and environmental science—that deliver benefits to millions of Americans.

Monsanto’s arguments to the Court underscored the role that patent rights play in enabling innovation in biotechnology and other fields where breakthrough discoveries require substantial R&D investments that depend upon the protections afforded under U.S. patent law.

“Today’s case highlights the importance of intellectual property protection in supporting America’s continued investments in … Full Article »

Tags: Bowman, Monsanto, patents, property rights, Seed, Soybeans, Supreme Court

Originally published
February 19, 2013 by Monsantoco

Supreme Court to Hear Saved Seed Case Bowman v Monsanto Featured Article

The United States Supreme Court agreed Friday to hear the court case Bowman v. Monsanto that explored whether Monsanto’s intellectual property rights extend to second generation seeds.

In a brief statement to the press, the company said:

The key issue in Bowman v. Monsanto was whether Monsanto’s intellectual property rights extend to second generation seeds. The infringer argued that Monsanto’s patent rights in seeds obtained from a grain elevator that were harvested by other farmers had been exhausted. The district court rejected this argument and awarded damages to Monsanto for the infringement. The Federal Circuit affirmed, holding that Monsanto’s intellectual

… Full Article »

Tags: Bowman, Intellectual property, lawsuit, Monsanto, Patent, Seed, Supreme Court, United States Supreme Court

Originally published
October 5, 2012 by Monsantoco

A Picture of a Reduced Refuge Concept is Worth…

A few weeks back, I wrote a post attempting to explain simply in words the difference between current and future corn products offering a reduced refuge. (“Refuge in the Bag: Will that be one bag or two?”)

I reviewed Monsanto’s current Genuity® VT Triple PRO^TM and Genuity ® SmartStax ^TM products versus Pioneer’s Optimum® AcreMax^TM1 and Monsanto’s in-development RIB Complete concept (not yet available).

Sometimes a picture is better than words. This technical piece provides an effective visual of the four products below.

Much better. Thanks team.

UPDATE: I received a comment (see below) that … Full Article »

Tags: Corn, Genuity, Monsanto, Optimum Acremax, Pioneer, reduced refuge, refuge in a bag, Seed, SmartStax

Originally published
August 19, 2010 by Mica Veihman

Monsanto's Genuity Smartstax compared to Pioneer's Optimum Acremax

Refuge in the Bag: Will That Be One Bag or Two?

Seed companies—including Monsanto—have been developing the concept of “refuge in the bag,” or RIB for short, for a number of years now. The goal is to make refuge compliance for insect-protected (B.t.) crops easier and simpler for farmers. Today, for most products, the U.S. EPA requires a corn farmer to set aside a percentage of land and plant a structured refuge.

Ideally, a refuge-in-the-bag option provides both types of seed—insect-protected and non-insect-protected—in one bag. The seed company manufactures the right mix based on the refuge percentage required for a particular corn technology. In a true RIB concept, farmers … Full Article »

Tags: Corn, Genuity, Optimum Acremax, Pioneer, Refuge, Seed, SmartStax

Originally published
July 14, 2010 by Mica Veihman

Mike Williams: Managing a Hundred Details, Often All at Once

Mike Williams in another Monsanto employee who works to support customers like Dave Morris. Dave is a farmer/dealer in southeastern Minnesota, and his operations are supported by a network of Monsanto people.

Mike sits in an office building in suburban St. Louis, about 350 miles from the Morris farm. But what he does, often daily, is critical.… Full Article »

Tags: Agriculture, Minnesota, Seed, Seed Dealers

Originally published
January 27, 2010 by Glynn Young

Beyond the Rows