Switch To Dairyland Seed Brings Success

On nearly 1,700 acres in Northwest Indiana, Aaron Freyenberger operates his family farm alongside his uncle. Raising about 700 acres of soybeans and 1,000 acres of corn near Valparaiso, Ind., Freyenberger is an advocate for Dairyland Seed products, which have helped him meet the high standards required to grow corn for specialty markets.

Aaron Freyenberger has found success growing non-GMO Dairyland Seed corn products, citing high-quality genetics as a driver of performance

Six years ago when his father passed away, Freyenberger stepped in to take over the family farm, which has grown by more than 300 acres since that time. Although it’s not the way he expected to return to his roots, Freyenberger is proud to carry on his family’s farming legacy. As a fourth-generation farmer, Freyenberger continually strives to improve on-farm practices. He hopes that through his efforts, future generations in his family will have continued success on the farm.

“We strive to be good stewards of the land and do what we can to take care of it,” says Freyenberger. “After introducing Dairyland Seed products on our farm, we’ve noticed increased yields and better performance overall. As we continue to work ground that has been in our family for more than 100 years, it’s important that we work with companies who value our goals and Dairyland Seed does just that.”

Quality as the gold standard

Three years ago Freyenberger made the switch to Dairyland Seed, using corn and soybean products in the field and selling seed to customers as well. In his first year growing Dairyland Seed, Freyenberger saw increased yields.

High quality corn seed is important to Freyenberger as he grows non-GMO corn for specialty markets. After harvest, Freyenberger bags his corn and ships it off to be tested for purity. His crop must meet a 99.1 percent purity standard—something not taken lightly. When evaluated, corn is tested to ensure no foreign DNA or input traits are present from unintended cross pollination during corn seed production or in the field.

“It’s incredibly important my crop is pure because if an entire field doesn’t reach that standard, it’s a waste of my hard work and time,” says Freyenberger. “In my three years with Dairyland Seed, I’ve never fell short on purity and I believe that’s a testament to the high-quality products the company offers.”

Beyond buying seed corn that upholds its end of the bargain with high purity, Freyenberger attends to other areas of his operation to maintain crop integrity. From checking what neighbors are planting to routinely cleaning equipment, Freyenberger takes action to limit cross contamination across all areas of his farm.

In addition to non-GMO corn products, Freyenberger also plants Enlist E3^® soybeans. This is the first year he’s planted Enlist E3 and is happy with yield results. Freyenberger notes that success in the field is in part due to Dairyland Seed’s regional testing.

“A product might perform well 100 miles from my farm but unless it’s tested on soil similar to what I’m planting in, those results mean nothing to me,” says Freyenberger. “Dairyland Seed is diligent in regionally testing products. That gives growers like myself and my customers peace of mind to know how products will perform on our farms.”

Beyond the farm

As a Dairyland Seed dealer, Freyenberger helps growers in Northwest Indiana gain success. Dairyland Seed products equip him with the tools and expertise to not only grow his business, but also help customers reach their goals.

“I know when I step foot on a customer’s farm, I’m bringing them the best products around,” says Freyenberger. “Customers continue to tell me that they enjoy working with Dairyland Seed because of the convenience and trustworthiness associated with the company.”

Freyenberger, alongside his wife Kari and their four children, resides in Northwest Indiana where he farms 1,700 acres of corn and soybeans		Outside of the fields, Freyenberger raises Scottish Mule sheep and sells the meat to ethnic food markets in Northwest Indiana

In his spare time, Freyenberger raises Scottish Mule sheep—a crossbreed between Scottish Blackface and Bluefaced Leicester sheep. When’s he’s not tending to the farm, sheep or customers, you can find Freyenberger vlogging for his YouTube channel, The Indiana Farmer, recording a podcast or spending time with his wife and four children. And ultimately, Freyenberger recognizes that Dairyland Seed has and continues to propel his operation to success.

“I recently told my wife how happy I am that we made the switch to Dairyland Seed,” says Freyenberger. “Those transitions aren’t always easy but Dairyland Seed made it seamless.  We couldn’t be happier to work with such a great company.”