Lyle Marcus has joined Latham Hi-Tech Seeds as its corn product manager.
“Lyle is so well respected within the seed industry, and we couldn’t be more pleased that he has joined the Latham Team. He brings a wealth of experience working with different seed companies and with multiple technology partners,” says John Latham, president of third-generation, family-owned Latham Hi-Tech Seeds in Alexander, Iowa. “Lyle will bring a fresh perspective and new ideas for managing Latham’s corn product lineup.”
Latham Seeds has seen 10 consecutive years of corn business growth. Managing inventory is complex for corn because farmers’ needs must be met across many unique, local environments while still managing the corn product line as a business, says the company’s General Manager Ryan Schon. Hiring a second product manager was necessary to accommodate Latham Seeds’ growth.
“Mark Grundmeier has done an excellent job of managing both Latham’s corn and soybean product lines for decades. Adding Lyle to the team will allow Mark to focus on managing the soybean product lineup. Mark and Lyle will be able to invest more time in finding the very best products for each of their respective product lines,” says Schoen. “As a result, I believe Latham Seeds will respond even more quickly to farmers’ evolving needs. Latham Dealers will benefit from having even more support to place products and to manage our Latham products for their greatest success.”
The company’s focus on putting its farmer-customers and dealers first is one reason Marcus says he was drawn-to Latham Hi-Tech Seeds.
“Focusing on customers and selling really great seed products that fit their needs fits well with my ideals,” says Marcus, who grew up on a farm near Prinsburg, Minnesota. “My dad was a very curious person. He always looked for ways to improve profitability in his business. He inspired me to learn more about how plants work, how crop inputs affected profitability and how we could produce crops more efficiently. That eventually led me to South Dakota State University where I studied Agronomy.”
Marcus’ path to college involves a turn many people wouldn’t expect. The 1980s Farm Crisis didn’t make it possible for him to pursue his dream of farming upon graduating from high school, and finances were tight. Inspired by one of his uncles who had served in the U.S. military, Marcus enlisted in the Army Reserves during his junior year of high school. He served from 1980 to 1986.
“My wife, Jean, and I were married in 1984. We were working okay jobs. One night, in the spring of 1986, we sat down and decided it was time to pursue the degree I had longed for. We quit our jobs and headed to Brookings where I finished my B.S. in agronomy in 3¬Ω years.”
After graduating from South Dakota State University, Marcus started his seed career as a district sales manager (DSM)/regional agronomist in 1989 with Keltgen Seed. In 1997, he became agronomy product lead for Midwest Seed Genetics where he launched Roundup Ready soybeans and managed the transition from conventional to traited corn products. That experience led Marcus to accept a position as corn broker at Thurston, Inc. Then in 2013 Marcus joined NorthStar Genetics where he served as product manager, COO and CEO.
“My goal is to bring value to Latham Seeds in the corn portfolio management process from product selection, based on customer needs, to building on strategies of efficient inventory management,” says Marcus. “I look forward to working with a group of people, who believe in a farmer-focused business that helps create success for those growing and selling Latham brand products. I enjoy sharing information with seed sellers and farmers on product positioning, crop growth and development, as well as best production practices.”
