US
April 2, 2025
Funk Agriculture LLC, owned by Dan Funk, announces the formation of the Republic Regional Seed Network. Funk, son of legendary seedsman Don Funk, acquired Midwest Seed Genetics and NC+ from his family in 2023. Further investments and acquisitions now form Republic.
Republic comprises NC+ in the West, Midwest Seed Genetics in the Central and Upper Corn Belt, and Crow’s in the East, and offers entrepreneurial growers and seed professionals the freedom to operate across an independent seed network, focused on elite, high-value products.
“My family has been in the seed business for 90 years,” says Funk. “I’m honored to now be the fourth generation committed to the mission of serving the independent American farmer.”
Brad Schwartz, Republic’s Head of Sales & Business Development shares, “The seed industry is at an inflection point. The main question is, are companies agile enough to meet the needs of next-generation farmers with tightening industry cost structures? It’s no longer who can just offer the right seed to the right acre, but also who can deliver the right model to the right acre.”
“To deliver a better value proposition to customers, we’re methodically addressing the legacy inefficiencies of the seed business,” says Krista Mathisen, Republic’s Head of Finance & Operations. She continues, “Our operating system of decentralizing brands to fit the regions and cultures they serve, while centralizing operations to scale with greater efficiency and expertise will serve as a strong foundation for growth over the coming decades.”
“We enjoy strong partnerships with all major genetics and trait providers and have shaped our portfolios to address the biggest needs of our brands’ regions,” adds Steve Sick, Republic’s Head of Product. “Frankly, we’ll put our lineups against any in the industry. And with our production partner, we maintain one of the highest standards of seed quality across the industry, always a hallmark of a Funk-owned business.”
Dan Funk concludes, “We know farmers and seed professionals are not satisfied with the current status quo. We also know this is a time of great transition: for generations on the farm, for a generation of trusted advisers, and for succession at the seed company level. I learned from my father the most important component of a seed business are the people who represent it. With Republic, we will be a home for those who want a consistent, long-lasting opportunity with independent seed brands. We’re operating in terms of generations. That takes resources, runway and long-term vision. While we focus on executing and delivering value today, we are committed to relentlessly creating even more value in the future.”
Visit www.republicseed.com.
About Republic Regional Seed Network:
Republic Regional Seed Network represents the next-generation model of independently-owned and operated seed sales. It offers elite, high-quality corn, soybean and sorghum products across customized brand platforms for specific regions and segments. Through its Midwest, NC+ and Crow’s brands, the company is committed to providing future generations of customers the best possible seed products delivered at great value. www.republicseed.com
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