Midwest Seed Genetics

What Midwest Seed Genetics does

Midwest Seed Genetics is a privately-held, family-owned agricultural seed company headquartered in Kentland, Indiana, with operating roots extending to 1859 and the formal seed business established in 1935 as Edward J. Funk and Sons. Under sixth-generation owner Dan Funk, the company breeds, markets, and distributes proprietary corn hybrids spanning 77RM to 109RM and soybean varieties spanning maturity groups 0.1 to 4.8, incorporating trait technologies licensed from Bayer, Corteva, BASF, and Syngenta (including XtendFlex, VT2Pro RIB, SmartStax/SmartStax Pro RIB, Trecepta, VT4P, PowerCore Enlist, LibertyLink, Agrisure Viptera, and Agrisure Duracade). The firm maintains an in-house quality threshold of less than 1% off-type plants per seed lot and positions itself around a founder's principle of refusing to sell seed the family would not plant on its own farm.

The company's commercial model is direct-to-farmer: field-based Seed Representatives (e.g., Mark Berlinger) provide variety selection, agronomic advice, and order processing, while a direct online storefront at midwestseed.itemorder.com and consent-based SMS marketing extend reach. Customer segmentation centers on US Corn Belt and Northern-growing-region farmers, with a secondary premium tier — the 500 Bushel Club membership — that gates access to the legacy Super Crost sub-brand of corn hybrids. The firm operates without outside investors, retains an 11–50 employee footprint, and does not disclose revenue, making it a regional, relationship-based seed marketer whose differentiation rests on heritage, trait breadth, and personal service rather than scale economics.

Name

Midwest Seed Genetics

Legal name

Midwest Seed Genetics

Website

https://midwestseed.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Midwest Seed Genetics is a privately-owned, family-run seed company in Kentland, Indiana that breeds and sells proprietary corn hybrids and soybean varieties to US Corn Belt farmers, operating through direct Seed Representatives, an online store, and the 500 Bushel Club membership program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Seeds

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Hybrid Seed Production (AFAGAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Plant Breeding & Variety Development (Conventional) (AFAGAIAF), Cereal & Grain Seeds (Wheat, Barley, Oats, Rye) (AFABAFAB)

Keywords

• Corn hybrid seeds
• Soybean varieties
• Agricultural seed production
• Seed genetics
• Crop seed sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Kentland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Corn Seed Sales: Sale of proprietary corn hybrid seed products across multiple trait technologies including VT2Pro RIB, SmartStax RIB, SmartStax Pro RIB, Trecepta RIB, VT4P RIB, PowerCore Enlist, and Conventional varieties. Products span maturity ranges from 77RM to 109RM.
2. Soybean Seed Sales: Sale of proprietary soybean varieties primarily featuring XtendFlex herbicide tolerance trait. Products span maturity groups from 0.1 to 4.8 MG with various disease resistances including Phytophthora Root Rot genes, Brown Stem Rot resistance, Sudden Death Syndrome tolerance, and Iron Deficiency Chlorosis tolerance.
3. Super Crost Brand Products: Access to Super Crost hybrid products through 500 Bushel Club membership. Super Crost is the original Funk Family brand founded in 1935, reintroduced as exclusive offering for club members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Midwest Seed Genetics develops, breeds, and sells proprietary corn hybrid seed and soybean variety seed products directly to American farmers. The portfolio spans corn hybrids from 77RM to 109RM and soybeans from MG 0.1 to MG 4.8, incorporating licensed trait technologies for herbicide tolerance and insect resistance. Distribution runs through Seed Representatives, an online store, and the exclusive 500 Bushel Club membership that unlocks the legacy Super Crost Funk Family brand.

Product overview

Midwest Seed Genetics is a privately-owned seed company offering a portfolio of corn hybrid seeds and soybean varieties. The product lineup includes corn hybrids spanning maturity ranges from 77RM to 109RM with various trait technologies (VT2Pro RIB, SmartStax, PowerCore Enlist, TREC, and conventional), and soybean varieties from maturity groups 0.1 to 4.8 featuring XtendFlex technology. The company operates the 500 Bushel Club membership program which provides access to Super Crost, the legacy Funk Family brand hybrids originally founded in 1935.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Super Crost: The legendary, original Funk Family brand, founded in 1935 by Edward J. Funk, now available exclusively to members of The 500 Bushel Club.
• 500 Bushel Club

Products and services

• Corn Hybrid Seeds Proprietary corn hybrid seed products spanning maturity ranges from 77RM to 109RM with multiple trait stacks including VT2Pro RIB, SmartStax RIB, SmartStax Pro RIB, Trecepta RIB, VT4P RIB, PowerCore Enlist, and Conventional varieties; sold to U.S. Corn Belt farmers for row-crop production.
• Soybean Varieties Proprietary soybean seed varieties spanning maturity groups 0.1 to 4.8, primarily featuring XtendFlex herbicide tolerance with disease resistance packages including Phytophthora Root Rot genes, Brown Stem Rot resistance, Sudden Death Syndrome tolerance, and Iron Deficiency Chlorosis tolerance; sold to U.S. farmers.
• 500 Bushel Club Membership Exclusive membership program that provides farmers access to Super Crost hybrid seed products and a performance-based farming community; membership is initiated through Seed Representatives.
• Super Crost Hybrid Seeds Legacy Funk Family brand corn hybrids (including SC10T8484RM, SC10L8888RM, SC42R9393RM, SC42W9696RM, SC42U9797RM, SC70L03103RM, SC70G04104RM, SC77P13113RM, SC77C14114RM, SC77A14114RM) sold exclusively to 500 Bushel Club members.

Quantifiable outcome

• Seed quality standard of less than 1% off-type plants per seed lot

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bayer Crop SciencecoreTechnology or IntegrationLicense agreement for Bayer seed trait technologies including Roundup Ready 2 Xtend, Roundup Ready 2 Yield, XtendFlex, SmartStax, SmartStax Pro, Trecepta, VT Double PRO, VT4P, and DroughtGard. Bayer is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship (ETS) and Midwest Seed products comply with Bayer's Technology Use Guide requirements.
• Corteva AgrisciencecoreTechnology or IntegrationLicense agreement for PowerCore Enlist and Enlist corn trait technologies. Products incorporate Corteva's herbicide tolerance traits for glufosinate ammonium (Liberty) application. Corteva is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship (ETS).
• BASFcoreTechnology or IntegrationLicense agreement for LibertyLink herbicide tolerance trait and Liberty herbicide (glufosinate ammonium). LibertyLink varieties allow application of Liberty herbicide for weed control in corn.
• SyngentacoreTechnology or IntegrationLicense agreement for Agrisure Viptera and Agrisure Duracade insect control traits, and Herculex technology. These traits provide control of above-ground and rootworm insect pests. Vip3A technology provided under license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG.
• Excellence Through Stewardship (ETS)minorOthersBoth Bayer and Corteva are members of Excellence Through Stewardship (ETS), an industry initiative for responsible product launch stewardship. Midwest Seed complies with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance for biotechnology-derived plant products.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• LG Seeds (AgReliant Genetics): Independent corn and soybean seed brand operating across the US Corn Belt. Comparable as an independent with multi-trait corn offerings, soybean varieties, and direct farmer sales channels competing for similar customer segments.
• Syngenta: Sells NK corn and soybean seeds and is the licensor of Agrisure Viptera and Duracade traits that Midwest Seed incorporates. Direct competitor in commercial corn and soybean seed markets across similar geographies.
• Wyffels Hybrids: Independent family-owned corn seed company based in Illinois focused exclusively on corn hybrids. Comparable as a regional independent with strong farmer relationships and a concentrated corn hybrid portfolio competing in overlapping geographies.
• Bayer Crop Science: Markets Dekalb corn and Asgrow soybean seeds, the other dominant competitor in the US Corn Belt. Direct competitor offering the trait technologies (XtendFlex, SmartStax, VT Double PRO) that Midwest Seed licenses and incorporates into its own branded products.
• Becks Hybrids: Family-owned independent seed company headquartered in Indiana, selling corn and soybean seed across the eastern Corn Belt. Highly comparable as a regional independent competitor with direct farmer relationships, multi-trait corn offerings, and similar go-to-market approach.
• Rob-See-Co: Independent regional corn and soybean seed company serving the central US. Comparable as another family-oriented independent offering multi-trait hybrids and soybean varieties through a dealer/rep network across overlapping geographies.
• Burrus Seed: Family-owned independent seed company based in Illinois selling corn and soybean seed. Comparable as a regional independent with similar trait portfolio depth, direct farmer relationships, and Corn Belt geographic focus.
• Stine Seed: Large independent corn and soybean seed company based in Iowa. Closely comparable as another family-owned independent with proprietary breeding programs, multi-trait corn portfolios, and soybean varieties competing for the same Corn Belt farmer customers.
• Corteva Agriscience: Operates Pioneer, the largest corn and soybean seed brand in the US. Direct head-to-head competitor in hybrid corn and soybean varieties across the Corn Belt, with overlapping trait portfolios and similar maturity range coverage.

Broad incumbents

• BASF Agricultural Solutions: Global ag-input company that licenses LibertyLink traits to Midwest Seed while also selling its own seed and trait offerings. Both a critical supplier/partner and a broad competitive presence in the seed and crop protection market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/midwestseed
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/midwestseedgenetics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Midwest Seed Genetics