South Dakota’s Millborn Seeds is expanding their North American footprint with the acquisition of Union Forage in Alberta. The acquisition further delivers on Millborn’s commitment to create a vertically integrated seed supply chain, the company said.
“Union Forage focuses on selling perennial and annual forages through a network of top-tier dealers. We are ready to make a bigger impact on the land and the people who serve it, and we know Millborn is the right fit to grow this market,” shared Geoff Barker, general manager of Union Forage.
Calgary-based Union Forage was established in 2014 and has built a dealer-focused seed business that is complimentary to Millborn and their go-to-market brand, Renovo Seed. The acquisition of Union Forage allows Millborn to continue their growth trajectory throughout North America, and enables Canadian customers access to a broader portfolio of seed solutions, Barker added.
“Millborn’s goal is to create an integrated seed supply chain and provide the highest quality products for our customers. Union Forage’s established dealer network and product offering is top-tier and allows us to reach even more producers in Canada,” says Matt Fenske, CEO of Millborn. “We’re looking forward to adding Union Forage to the Millborn team and advancing the seed supply chain in North America.”
Union Forage is closely aligned with the needs of the customer, as they were developed from a need to evolve grazing plans for the farming and ranching community in Western Canada, says Graeme Finn, Union Forage founder, president and senior forage specialist.
“The idea for Union Forage was born from my need to extend the grazing season for our family-owned yearling and cow-calf operation north of Calgary. Since then, we’ve led the way in Canada by using different forage blends to achieve this for all cattlemen, as well as improving soil health, lowering grazing costs, and decreasing fertilizer inputs. We are looking forward to continuing to support producers throughout Canada with the Millborn team,” says Finn.
Union Forage will also continue to offer their existing lineup, including silage corn, in Canada. Shannon Kubik, brand president of Renovo Seed, says the brands will positively impact one another.
“Union Forage has a well-established dealer network and a product lineup aligned with Renovo’s product offerings. The brands will work together to share expertise and build a robust portfolio of pre-built seed mixes that simplify forage, cover crop, conservation, and food plot seed,” Kubik shares.
Union Forage officially became a Millborn location on March 6, 2024 and will continue to operate as Union Forage in 2024.