Land O'Lakes, Inc.
today announced that it will close its
Research Seeds, Inc.
facility in St. Joseph effective June 30, 2003. The decision
follows an extensive analysis of today's competitive market and
the Land O'Lakes seed system, with a focus on achieving maximum
efficiency, while delivering optimal value to customers. The St.
Joseph facility processes, packages and distributes forages,
turfs and alfalfa.
Company officials met with employees during a 9 a.m. meeting
then contacted city officials and the St. Joseph Chamber of
Commerce.
"This was a difficult decision, because we've been in St. Joe
since 1970," said Dave Seehusen, Land O'Lakes vice-president of
seed. "The employees there have contributed greatly over the
years to Land O'Lakes many successes and growth in seed and we
recognize this change will have an impact on them and the
community."
The closing will affect 27 employees who will either be
offered relocation within the Land O'Lakes system, or severance
packages and outplacement assistance.
Customers previously served by the St. Joseph facility will
be served by operations in Madison, Wis., Hastings, Minn., and
Denver, Colo.
Land O'Lakes, Inc. is a national, farmer-owned food and
agricultural cooperative, with sales of $6 billion. Land O'Lakes
does business in all 50 states and more than 50 countries. It is
a leading marketer of a full line of dairy-based consumer,
foodservice and food ingredient products across the U.S.; serves
its international customers with a variety of food and animal
feed ingredients; and provides farmers, local cooperatives, and
customers with an extensive line of agricultural supplies (feed,
seed, crop nutrient and crop protection products) and services.
