Success Story

In the tough growing conditions of northeastern Texas, farmers like Alexander Frick and David McMahan rely on seed brands that provide proven performance and are supported by professional, knowledgeable salespeople to assist them in getting the most out of every acre planted.

In this neck of the woods stretching from the Red River Delta to the outskirts of Dallas, farmers plant DEKALB®, Asgrow® and Deltapine® seed brands to ensure every field can meet its highest yield potential.

"I absolutely think DEKALB and Asgrow offer proven performance," said Alexander Frick of Frick Farms, LLC in Lake Creek, Texas. "When I plant an Asgrow soybean or a DEKALB corn product, I just know it's going to do well. For the last few years, they have never really disappointed."

The Frick farming family relocated from central Europe in the 1980s to farm in Texas. Today, the operation is some 3,000 acres large with a corn-soybean rotation grown in a no-till environment. Yield and trait protection has positioned DEKALB, Asgrow and Deltapine brands at the top of Frick's list of seed brands to plant.

Frick plants DEKALB® SmartStax® and VT DoublePRO® corn products and believes the protection from earworm has helped increase his yield average. In 2018, he planted Asgrow® Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans in some of his fields for the first time. He enjoyed good weed control and the ability to add dicamba to his herbicide program.

The 2018 growing season was a tough, droughty season, and yields across the board were down for Frick. Despite the bad season, Frick will stick with DEKALB and Asgrow seed in the future.

"We will absolutely go back to DEKALB and Asgrow," he said. "In fact, we will probably even broaden the spectrum of seeds from DEKALB and Asgrow just because of performance over the last few years, and also because of the support we receive. I think the ROI on DEKALB and Asgrow seed is really good."

West of Frick Farms, close to the fringes of the Dallas Metropolitan area in what's known as the Blackland Prairies, David McMahan farms 2,700 acres of corn, cotton and wheat. His planting decisions are based on market prices, weather and rotational needs of his fields. Markets and weather delays can cause him to switch crops late in the game, and at planting time, he says DEKALB and Deltapine offer flexibility.

"We rely heavily on our sales rep for expertise, or their agronomy staff, when there's a switch needed or even a change in cropping plans," said McMahan. "I've grown to trust those folks to help guide me through it. Rarely have I ever had a problem with supply when we're looking to switch seeds at the last minute."

McMahan is a third-generation farmer near Princeton, Texas. He studies all the research he can get his hands on, and prefers to do business with a company that will stand behind their products. DEKALB and Deltapine have been his main brands for several years. He's been to the DEKALB facility in Nebraska and he has toured the Learning Center in Scott, Mississippi to learn about the research behind the products.

"I know the products are backed by research, and when we do get into questions or trouble, there's a support staff there to help. I'm a believer in relationships. Even though occasionally we'll have an off year for whatever reason, I'm one to stick with a brand if it's backed by support."

McMahan is impressed with the genetics and trait packages offered in DEKALB and Deltapine seed. He believes new products are proven to perform before they are taken to farmers for planting because he has seen the research. The 2018 season was tough, plagued by two months of drought during the growing season. Still, his DEKALB and Deltapine crop delivered in tough conditions.

"DEKALB and Deltapine both have given me proven performance, and good results year in and year out," he said.

In Lake Creek, the fields that Frick Farms plant are mostly black river delta clay, not the most fertile soils found in the Lone Star State. Making the right seed choices means using all available resources, and none are as important to Frick Farms as his DEKALB Asgrow salesman and technical agronomist. The sharing of data and information by his DEKALB Asgrow representative prior to planting makes selecting the right hybrids and varieties to plant easier, said Frick. The in-season agronomic support is also important.

For McMahan, new genetics and traits are being commercialized quickly, and he relies on his DEKALB Deltapine support network to help him wade through the data to make solid planting decisions. Many years ago, he planted a different brand of corn, and when he got to the field to plant, there was confusion on the refuge requirements. The seed brand's rep could not provide an answer and sent him to a website instead. Today he plants DEKALB corn not only for performance, but for the expertise and support backing the brand.

"With Glenn Winsauer, our DEKALB Deltapine rep, I can ask what's the refuge on this and he'll give me an answer instantly," said McMahan. "The knowledge is there, and when you call, you know you're going to get a response, probably within the day. And if he doesn't know the answer, he's going to find it out for you."