b'GREG STAMPThe seed industry has always been a family business for Greg Stamp, seed sales manager for Stamp Seeds in Enchant, Alberta, Canada. Though hes only been involved for 16 years, his familys company has been up and running for 38 years now. In addition to working on the family business, they maintain a family farm as well with his brothers Matthew and Nathan.Though, his passion still lies with the seed industry in Alberta, where he notes things are done a little differently.Seed in Western Canada is fairly unique because we connect the production, processing and retail sale within one entity, allowing us to be flexible, as well as manage quality and timelines, he says. Some areas have a lot of planning and predictability, while others have very little, and a lot of seed is grown on spec. The biggest thing hes been able to bring to his familys operation? Better and new social media use and new ways to connect with customers. The biggest success hes found are farm trials and demonstrations with customers and on farm research. The farming side of the business imple-mented cloud traceability and sales software as well as farming traceability record-keeping and tracking software.The key for us was, we were facing the same challenges as our customersso these helped us understand what our customers needed and gain reputation and trust, he says.As he continues in his own career, though, he notes that getting active and involved with the industry has helped expand his skills.Farm industry groups, boards and commissions really helped me grow and learn while also contributing to the ag industry and helping direct it, Stamp says. I also tried to attend many conferences and events to learn about the industry but what I see now is the learning and visiting between the speakers is just as important.BRYAN STOBAUGHWhen it comes to growing and chang- acres. The trial and error make each day ing, Bryan Stobaugh says its importantinteresting for me and my fellow research-to ensure youre not doing something justers, he says, noting that hes enjoyed because its always been done that way. learning about the vast varieties and com-Our industry has changed and willbinations of genetics that can produce continue to change, Stobaugh, directorstellar soybeans. of licensing and commercialization forBut, even after years of working and Missouri Soybeans, says. But luckily, evenhelping to launch SOYLEIC soybeans, though change is afoot in the industry,hes eager to see change in the industry Stobaugh says its exciting change.primarily within the complementary Growing up on a 6,000-acre rowresearch between private companies and crop farm with rice, corn and soybeans,public breeding. Stobaugh grew a passion for breed- As our world population grows, we ing after taking an interest in evolution- must think outside the box, Stobaugh ary genetics. After working on a specialsays. Each private industry and public project that allowed him to work withuniversity have a limited source of genet-As our world populationscorpion toxin, his education eventuallyics because they have each been readily took him back to his roots with soybeansfocused on creating the best genetics/grows, we must think and finally, to Missouri Soybean, where hisvariety that works for their customer base. teams goal is to launch soy-based prod- But the ability to create new traits and outside the box. ucts into the commercial space.varieties for soybean across the country My desire is to give soybean pro- through public/private breeding projects ducers a competitive crop and make itwill inevitably create the U.S. as the more-prosperous on previously less productivedefined soybean producer in the world.SEPTEMBER 2022SEEDWORLD.COM /21'