DEKALB Genetics Corporation (formerly DeKalb Agricultural Association and DEKALB AgResearch) was a diversified company headquartered in DeKalb, Illinois

DeKalb, Illinois

DeKalb is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 43,862 at the 2010 census, up from 39,018 at the 2000 census. The city is named after decorated German war hero Johann De Kalb, who died during the American Revolutionary War....

 that marketed agricultural seed

Seed

A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...

s and other products. The company was best known for its leading role in the development of hybrid corn and for its "winged ear" logo. DEKALB Genetics Corporation was purchased by the Monsanto Company in 1998. The DEKALB seed business, the DEKALB brand and the winged ear logo are now owned and managed by Monsanto.

Corporate history

The history of DEKALB Genetics Corporation can be traced back to the Farm Bureau county organization, founded in DeKalb. Illinois in 1912. Tom Roberts, Sr. became the assistant manager in 1919 and then manager from 1920 to 1932. In 1923 Henry C. Wallace

Henry Cantwell Wallace

Henry Cantwell Wallace was a United States farm leader. He served as the Secretary of Agriculture between 1921 and 1924. He was the father of Henry Agard Wallace, who would follow in his footsteps as Secretary of Agriculture under President Franklin D. Roosevelt...

, the Secretary of Agriculture, spoke at the DeKalb Farm Bureau picnic and recommended development of hybrid corn

Maize

Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...

. Roberts took up the project, even though he understood there would be a 12 year lead time before he could bring a product to market. As a result of this effort DeKalb AgResearch sold hybrid corn seed beginning in 1935. Sales expanded rapidly as Roberts organized a force of farmer-dealers, who were paid a 15% commission. The first popular hybrid was DEKALB 404A, which sold 508,000 bags in 1947, the same year total DEKALB sales exceeded 2,000,000 bags of seed corn. The first popular full- and short-season, large volume, single-cross maize hybrids were DEKALB hybrids 805 and XL 45. As a result, DEKALB was the leader in U.S. hybrid seed com sales from the mid-1930s until the mid-1970s (Crabb 1948. Roberts 1999).

In 1982 DEKALB formed a joint venture with Pfizer

Pfizer

Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...

, called DEKALB-Pfizer Genetics, and in 1985 the name was changed to DEKALB Corporation. The seed business was spun off as DEKALB Genetics Corporation in 1988.

Monsanto first entered the maize seed business when it purchased 40% of DEKALB in 1996. It purchased the remainder of the corporation in 1998.