The plant breeding programs conducted by Dairyland Seed are among the oldest and most established for their crops in the industry. The Dairyland breeding programs for alfalfa, corn, soybeans and red clover were established in 1966, at a time when investment by private industry into plant breeding efforts was rare. These programs were acquired by Dairyland in 1977 as part of Dairyland's commitment to bringing the third generation of family members into the business.

Today, Dairyland's breeding efforts are known and respected throughout the seed industry for their focus, efficiency and productivity. This in large part is due to Dairyland's commitment to fund these efforts at unprecedented levels-15% of revenues compared to the industry average of 7-8%.

The alfalfa research effort has generated an unprecedented track record of over 200 state trial wins since 1977. Currently led by Magnum V, this program has generated over 100 more wins than its closest competitor. The alfalfa program is among the oldest in the industry and is one of merely a very few (less than a dozen) still in existence.

The hybrid corn breeding program is one of Dairyland's most dynamic areas of research, with emphasis on efficiency and focus on one goal alone-increasing yield. Since 1995, Dairyland's Stealth hybrids have finished with over 500 top ten placements in University trials. In addition, Dairyland breeders have developed high yielding proprietary lines with natural corn borer tolerance, as well as proprietary lines with the soft kernel trait for silage purposes.

The DSR soybean program is perhaps the oldest private soybean program established by any one company. More importantly, the products developed have respect throughout the world. The DSR program was the first to release herbicide tolerant soybean varieties in 1993. (Dairyland released three products that year, each lasting at least five years in its lineup. A larger company released only one product, and it was dropped the next year.) Since then, Dairyland has recorded the first 70, 80 and 90 bushel yield ever in University trials with herbicide tolerant soybeans. From a consistency viewpoint, the DSR program has finished in the top ten in University trials over 1000 times since 1990.

Based on the above results, this family company views its high level of research expenditures as an investment in its very future.