Pioneer To Open New Corn Research Center
Pioneer Hi-Bred plans to expand its development and testing of new commercial corn hybrids.
DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred plans to open a new corn research center in northwest Iowa. The new research center will be located in Orange City, IA, and will provide expanded development and testing of new commercial corn hybrids for farmers in northwest Iowa, northeast Nebraska, southeast South Dakota, and southwest Minnesota.
“The new research center will further expand our efforts to provide products that fit the specific needs of farmers in this area,” says John Soper, vice president - Pioneer Crop Genetics Research and Development. “This investment in local product development and testing reinforces our commitment to helping farmers get the right product on the right acre to maximize productivity.”
Pioneer expects to break ground for the new research center early this fall and to officially begin operations in the spring of 2011, after construction is complete. However, Pioneer has already began research expansion in the surrounding area during summer of 2010 with increased acres for experimental hybrid testing in eastern Nebraska, southeastern South Dakota, and western Iowa.
The Orange City, Iowa Research Center is expected to employ about nine full-time positions once it is fully operational. In addition, Pioneer will hire approximately 60 temporary employees at the center during portions of the growing season.
