About Us
Founded in the winter of 1995/1996, NorthStar Genetics, Ltd. came out of Minnesota Crop Improvement Association member's desire to enhance their soybean and wheat business beyond public varieties.
Twenty members of MCIA purchased stock that winter, and the company was organized.
Seedstock was purchased and planted in the spring of 1996. It consisted of conventional soybean lines, and a hard red spring wheat called Mercury.
In the fall of 1996, NorthStar secured a license from Monsanto to grow and market Roundup Ready™ soybeans.
As earlier maturing RR beans arrived on the scene, NorthStar gathered more investors from South Dakota and North Dakota. New distributors became involved, and sales grew.
In 2004, NorthStar Genetics formed NorthStar Genetics Manitoba, Inc. to distribute RR soybeans in Manitoba. NS shared ownership with 10 outstanding seedsmen in the province, and our brand is current the number one brand of RR soybeans in this market.
In 2007, NorthStar Genetics purchased the assets of Ziller Seed, a family-owned soybean seed company based in Bird Island, Minnesota. Ziller's 75 dealers continue to sell Ziller brand soybeans, and have joined NorthStar dealers in selling NS brand seed corn.
From a very small, humble beginning, NorthStar currently has nine employees, and has sales in 4 states and two Canadian provinces. Special thanks to Andy Beyer for his leadership as Chairman of the Board, and to the employees who have made NorthStar a special place to work.