MONSANTO Company, through its subsidiary American Seeds Inc. (ASI), recently purchased five seed companies for a total of $52 million. Four of the companies are share owners of the CORE Group, an association of seed companies: Fontanelle Hybrids, Fontanelle, NE; Stewart Seeds, Greensburg, IN; Trelay Seeds, Livingston, WI; and Stone Seeds, Pleasant Plains, IL. The fifth company purchased by ASI is Specialty Hybrids.

Monsanto reports that the CORE Group will continue operating as a single independent company within ASI. Specialty Hybrids also will retain its current structure. Together, the five companies represent 1% of the U.S. corn seed market, according to Monsanto.