Tom HeadKey Account Team Lead for Thurston Genetics
With experience in agronomy, genetics and seed brand product management, Tom has seen plenty of industry evolution in his 20+ year career. Today, he leads the Key Account Team for Thurston Genetics, a key contributor to the growing success licensees and their farmer-customers are experiencing with Corteva Agriscience genetics and traits. In a recent wideranging discussion with the Groundwork team, Tom shared thoughts on the here-and-now and on what’s in store for the future with Thurston Genetics and Corteva.
Q: Let’s start with a review. What did you see in the field this past season?
A: There were some challenging conditions in 2024. But hybrids in trials with our customers did well and overall yields were outstanding in many areas.
That’s not to say things are easy. Competition is fierce in capturing the acre. That said, we see lots of opportunity for our customers. There are advantages in bringing new traits forward and there’s yield improvements being made in seed production fields. Lots of excitement and opportunity.
Q: A shift in seed yields?
A: Yes. Top-end yields have ratcheted up. The old mindset was 40-50 bushels for a seed yield target. Today, it’s not uncommon to hit much high production numbers, and results with Corteva genetics have been positive. Seed production characteristics are a key part of our vetting process at Thurston Genetics. We spend just as much time looking at parents as we do at hybrids.
We get baseline information from Corteva and then run our own inbred nurseries. We take daily observations. Our team spends a lot of time looking at these parent lines, taking flowering and disease notes all summer before shifting to hybrid observations in the fall. Our goal is to help licensees forecast and set the right expectations in both inbred and hybrid fields.
Q: You mentioned genetic diversity. Where do things stand today?
A: We’re putting an extremely deep portfolio of genetics into our trials each year. The pipeline our customers can tap into is full. It’s no longer two or three choices. The relative maturity spread and the geographic fit of the germplasm continues to expand. And with PowerCore® Enlist® corn, Corteva has introduced a completely different set of traits and plant characteristics to the market that independent seed companies have not had access to. They’re getting different germplasm and different disease tolerance packages. This means our customers have the opportunity to evaluate germplasm from the widest base they’ve ever had access to, to build a product offering to fit their customer and target acres. They can leverage ear flex and the ability to work in a wide range of different yield environments. Again, lots of choice, lots of diversity, and lots of opportunity for the independent seed companies that we support.
Q: With so many choices in corn genetics and traits, how can independent seed companies go about making the right product portfolio decisions?
A: The business is more complex, and the decisions for the seed company are more complicated. What is your brand promise? Is it stability? Health? Consistency? Top-end NCGA-level yield, at all cost? What will you deliver that will set you apart from your competition? That’s where the difficult decisions come in. And that’s where Thurston Genetics and Corteva fit into the equation, helping seed companies with decisions around germplasm and traits. It’s about packaging everything together to offer a differentiated experience.
Our team of Key Account Managers are focused on evaluating germplasm, and characterizing product so that we can provide the best recommendations possible when we meet with our customers to help coach them into the best products for their brand.
Q: Where does PowerCore® Enlist® corn fit in?
A: It’s an exciting, new above-ground trait platform with additional benefits to target challenging weeds and pest pressures. We’ve evaluated it in lots of environments over multiple years in all major corn-growing states and Canada. Earlier, I mentioned the genetic diversity. The germplasm fit, disease tolerances and yield is there with PowerCore Enlist corn. There are four herbicide tolerances — a lot broader than what farmers are accustomed to. And this takes some education. Most folks know there’s a label for 2,4-D choline, so, on the surface, it may not seem interesting. But in areas with difficult-to-control grassy weeds like barnyard grass, the FOP herbicide* tolerance comes into play. PowerCore Enlist corn brings an above-ground insect trait package with more modes of action for weed control than other competitive platforms. For instance, it can be a great tool for growers close to my home in northern Missouri. We can cover black cutworm outbreaks and offer flexibility in weed management strategies. The spectrum of control is interesting and valuable to a grower when they need to respond to changing field conditions.
When you mention PowerCore Enlist corn, with an aboveground trait package that stacks glyphosate, glufosinate and FOP herbicides with 2,4-D choline, people see the benefits. It’s an easy conversation to have.
Q: Looking into the future, what do you see?
A: We had great discussions this past fall during field days, talking about the future and what’s coming. There’s a lot of enthusiasm for new traits in the pipeline and we’re excited for future innovations. Many in the industry have been able to experience reduced stature corn in very limited areas and we’re seeing cautious optimism about it. It’s not for every acre, but there will be a fit. And there’s potential for other developments that will help with greensnap and root lodging.
Corteva is investing in the future, same as our company. We’ve made significant investments in our customer-facing team and in the most advanced tools and technology for data analytics.
Q: When it comes to opportunities out there for you and your customers, how would you sum things up?
A: There’s an exciting pipeline to tap into. Look at the depth and breadth of material going into our trials each year to screen through and consider for advancement. We’re not in “hunker-down” mode. We’re in “hammer down” mode. It’s a fun time to be a part of this industry.
At Thurston Genetics, we’ve built an amazing team, and we’re super excited about the opportunities ahead of both our customers and ourselves as we look to the future.
