ALBERT LEA, MINNESOTA, US —Albert Lea Seed House, owner of Viking Corn & Soybeans and one of the largest suppliers of organic field seed in the United States, has acquired Blue River Organic Seed, the nation’s longest-established organic seed corn brand from the Farmers Business Network (FBN).   

Blue River Organic Seed was founded in 2005. Based in Ames, Iowa, US, the company’s product line includes organic corn, silage, soybean, alfalfa, forages and sorghum.

Headquartered in Albert Lea, Minnesota, US, Albert Lea Seed offers organic seeds, small grains, cover crops, wildflowers and native grasses.

“We firmly believe that integrating the Viking & Blue River Organic seed brands will be a real benefit to organic farmers,” said Mac Ehrhardt, president of Albert Lea Seed. “The combined company will provide the best selection of organic-specific genetics, delivered by a farmer-focused team that specializes in organic agriculture and from a family-owned company that is committed to the long-term growth and success of organic agriculture.”

The acquisition makes Albert Lea Seed one of the largest organic field seed suppliers, producers and commercialization experts in the United States.

It also brings together experienced industry leaders to the Albert Lea Seed team and adds Blue River’s 40,000-square-foot climate-controlled seed warehouse and office for support and distribution of the combined Viking/Blue River Organic Seed brand.

The combined Viking/Blue River Organic seed brand will operate out of Albert Lea, Minnesota, and Ames, Iowa.

“We have long admired the success of Albert Lea Seed,” said Maury Johnson, co-founder of Blue River Organic Seed. “We are proud to join forces with them to accelerate our successes and seize the opportunity to further evolve the organic farming industry. We cherish our Midwest roots, and we remain committed to ensuring that farmers all across the country will benefit from the responsible production, sale and use of our organic products.”

Albert Lea Seed currently serves more than 6,000 customers. The addition of Blue River will double the size of its organic corn and soybean seed business and will enable it to serve customers and dealers across the United States more efficiently.