February 9, 2010

Dear Wilken Seed customer,

By now, you probably have heard that the Swartz family has decided to exit the seed business after the spring 2010 planting season.  We know this comes as a disappointment to many of you who have done business with Wilken Seed for many years.  They have been a dependable supplier of high yielding seeds for 58 years and are well respected in the community.

In talking with the Swartz family (Gene, Jan, Doug, and Heather), we have made arrangements that will allow Doug and Heather to continue in the seed business by selling Beck’s Hybrids seed products.  They will also work for Beck’s and continue to source local growers to raise soybeans for Beck’s Hybrids that will be cleaned and packaged in the Wilken Seed facilities, now owned by Beck’s.

Since many farmers have already made seed buying decisions for this spring, the Swartz family will supply their current customers with the Wilken Seed products that they currently have on order.  Billing and payments for those products will be handled the same as they have been in the past. 

For any new seed orders after February 8, 2010, Doug, Heather, and/or a Beck’s Sales representative will be working with you to find products from the Beck’s Hybrids lineup that will be high yielding and meet the other agronomic needs that you have for your particular farm.  We look forward to earning your business just like the Swartz’s have done year after year.

Beck’s is a family-owned business that offers high yielding corn, soybean, wheat, alfalfa and forages and has served farmers for 73 years.  Our relationship with many different suppliers of traits and genetics allows us to offer our customers several choices of products, which is somewhat unique in the seed industry.  Doug said, “We are thrilled with the opportunities and exciting new products that the relationship with Beck’s brings to our customers and the chance that it brings for our family to continue in the seed business.” 

We hope to have an opportunity to work directly with you this year.  Doug, Heather and/or a Beck’s Sales representative will help you find the Beck products that fit your operation and help you gain experience with Beck’s seed products on your farm.  We look forward to working with you in the same family-friendly manner that the Swartz family has provided to you in the past.

President		Vice President
Sonny Beck		Scott Beck