I took over the general manager position at Alliance Seed in June. I love my job and I’ll tell you this: I’ve had more sleepless nights over the last six months than I’ve ever had in my life. My worry isn’t about our product portfolio – I know we’ve got strong, vigorous, dependable products that benefit producers. My worry is that a top-notch portfolio alone isn’t enough: we need to make sure that producers are getting what they need now and into the future.
Alliance Seed is an independent, nimble, responsive, all-Canadian supplier. I think that’s critically important to preserve. Our small size also means we’ve got direct and personal relationships with many of our growers. Our success is directly and immediately tied to our growers’ success and vice versa. I feel the weight of that responsibility every day.
Our team pushes hard to make Alliance Seed successful because keeping our corporate lights on ensures Canadian Prairie producers have access to a local, independent, relationship-focused seed supplier positioned and able to respond to their changing needs.
Long term success is everyone’s goal, that’s why, while I care deeply about the crops our farmers will be producing next year from our seed, I also remain focused a lot further out as well. Thinking long term is a challenge in any business and is critical to being successful as well as relevant in the future.
I spend my days (and the middle of many nights) thinking about: What is going to be important to growers in 2028 and 2029 and beyond? What changes in milling or processing demand fundamentals could impact markets, both the ones in commercial production now and the ones coming down the pipe? What influence will consumers have on primary production, especially relating to sustainability and climate change? How do we keep delivering what our producers need into the future?
I won’t claim to have all the answers or a crystal ball to see what’s ahead. What I can say, though, is that we’re working every day to make strong decisions and deliver independent solutions that will support our farmers, who are our partners. Are we on the right track? What is your number one priority?
I’d love to hear your perspective: give me a call at (877) 270-2890
We’re in this together.
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