JUNE 2026  SEEDWORLD.COM /  37
FOR MIKE PETERSON, success in 
the independent seed sector comes 
down to one word: momentum.
“Seed companies have to stay aggres­
sive,” Peterson says. “Every year we’re 
coming up with new and improved 
soybean varieties, and the only way to 
be competitive is to stay as aggressive as 
possible.”
As CEO and owner of Peterson 
Genetics, he has spent decades helping 
independent companies navigate the bal­
ance between innovation and practicality. 
In soybeans, he says, that balance is more 
achievable than many realize.
“It doesn’t really cost that much in the 
long run to introduce a new product,” he 
explains. “It allows you to roll your lineup 
quickly.”
That speed is critical. The compa­
nies that succeed, he says, are the 
ones that move decisively.
“The ones with the greatest 
success and the best lineups are 
the ones that roll them quickly.”
Still, speed without con­
fidence can slow everything 
down. Peterson believes one of 
the industry’s biggest chal­
lenges is trusting the data that 
drives those decisions.
“The most aggressive 
programs have learned to trust 
the data and just roll,” he says. “If 
you take a line and test it again for 
another two years, you’re probably 
going to release it anyway, but you’re 
just slowing down the process.”
To address that, Peterson Genetics 
built a system designed to accelerate 
decision-making while maintaining rigor.
“We moved to a two-year release 
cycle,” he says. “If it’s good the first year 
and good the second year, then you’ve 
got consistent performance.”
That consistency has helped inde­
pendent seed companies compete in a 
landscape shaped by major technology 
shifts. Peterson points to one as a turning 
point.
“When Enlist E3 came along, we made 
the decision to move aggressively to that 
technology,” he says. “It gave independ­
ent companies a choice for the first time 
ever.”
That decision, he adds, changed the 
trajectory for many businesses.
“It proved to be wildly successful.”
Throughout his career, Peterson has 
taken a firm stance on accessibility. 
Rather than limiting top-performing 
genetics, he has pushed for broader 
availability.
“Every line we develop should 
be available to every company,” he 
says. “Every company, regardless 
of size, has the potential to have 
a wonderful product lineup.”
It’s a philosophy rooted in 
partnership, not competition.
“Treat your customers as your 
partners,” Peterson says. “That’s 
something we’ve tried to do over 
the last 50 years.”
For the next generation, 
his advice is straightforward but 
demanding.
“It’s a wonderful industry,” he says. 
“Work harder and smarter, and it will give 
you a great opportunity to succeed.”
Speed Wins in Seed
In a market driven by genetics and timing, Mike Peterson explains why hesitation is the 
biggest risk independent seed companies face.
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Seed companies 
have to stay 
aggressive.
—Mike Peterson

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