Merit Seed

  • By Kyle Valentini
  • February 17, 2012
  • 873
                        
Teaser: Celebrating 75 years in the seed business, John and Rita Yoder continue to make Merit Seed the premier supplier for large and small growers, including the backyard gardener. Seeds of all varieties can be purchased in any quantity with organic, conventional and herbicide-tolerant seeds available. In addition to seed, Merit carries accessories to make application easy with planter plates and both scatter seeders suitable for small areas and canvas bag seeders for larger areas. New this season, Merit is proud to offer heirloom and organic vegetable seeds for home gardeners. Products to help get the garden started and keep it well maintained are available from trusted names like Burpee and Earthway. Lawn and garden fertilizers for every type of turf and soil are available and the trained staff at Merit Seed can help you choose what is right for your home or business. BJ Yoder began the Yoder Hybrid Corn Company in 1936 to provide unsurpassed quality seeds to the agricultural industry that still dominates the region today. Three generations later and a name change to accommodate the diversity of the company, Merit Seed continues to be a premier supplier of organic, conventional and herbicide-tolerant seeds that farmers have come to trust. Now celebrating 75 years in business, Merit Seed has been able to keep up with the ever-changing agricultural needs of the community and beyond. Serving Holmes, Tuscarawas and Wayne Counties, Merit Seed also works closely with farmers and dealers in 13 states across the nation. An avid antique collector, Merit Seed owner John Yoder displays much of his collection in the shop and warehouse. Most customers are stumped when asked if they can identify the conical galvanized steel device hanging from the ceiling. Yoder’s sign collection includes agricultural items as well as symbols of pop culture that span three generations. “It’s in my blood big time,” said Yoder. “I love collecting these old things, signs, gas pumps, Coca-Cola advertising memorabilia, tractors and cars, too.” It’s difficult to imagine when Yoder’s grandfather started the business in 1936 not even 20% of farms had electricity. Agriculture has changed a lot over the years and Merit Seed has changed with it. “One of the biggest changes we have seen in this business is the way people farm. Technology has made agriculture easier and more profitable for farmers. The Roundup Ready corns have changed the industry but many farmers are going back to conventional seed. That’s what their customers want,” said Yoder. “Organic seed is gaining in popularity but it is expensive to farm organic and it takes three years to gain organic certification,” said Yoder. “Farmers want to use practices that are good for the land and affordable like green manures; planting cover crops to add nitrogen to their soil.” Merit seed offers many different types of hybrid seed corn to meet the various planting needs of growers. Conventional, Modified, Roundup Ready and Triple Stacked Corn are all proven producers. Merit Seed has partnered with Byron Seed to offer other successful varieties. For organic producers, Merit Seed has several certified organic products that include many varieties of organic corns, organic alfalfas, Climax Timothy, Med-Red Clover and Orchardgrass, a cool-season grass that is more shade and drought tolerant and does well when mixed with other grasses. Merit Seed offers many grasses and clovers for growers to include in their modern forage systems to insure a profit. Rye grasses include Tonga Tetraploid Perennial, Duo Festulolium and VNS Perennial. Other grasses such as Hairy Vetch, Tuukka Timothy and Smooth Bromegrass can be used for soil improvement and pasture. Growers can add overall value to their pasture with clovers like Merit Platinum Ladino, Starfire Red II and Medium Red. These legumes will also add nitrogen to the soil. Merit Seed has turf seed for all applications. Choose from Pro-Turf, Landscapers, Stadium, Contractors, and Shady Lawn. Lawn and garden fertilizers are now available. Hunters and outdoorsmen appreciate the different blends of seed they can use in their deer and wildlife management strategy. Classic Whitetail, Alfalfa Plus, 12 Point Buck, Deer Max, Chicory Plus, Buck Draw, Legend Forage Oats and Turnip Greens are some of the different blends available. Merit Seed offers different types of sweet corn that live up to the reputation of true Ohio corn, a taste that epitomizes summer for many. Incredible and Candy Corn are popular yellow varieties and are always available. With a large variety of sweet corn to choose from, growers will be impressed with the low prices. Seed can be purchased in any quantity. New things are happening at Merit Seed as they introduce more products for lawn care and the backyard gardener. Heirloom bulk and pre-packaged seed and organic vegetable seed are in high demand as the interest in producing food at home increases. Burpee seed starting items, garden tools, Earthway spreaders and sprayers insure success for both first time and seasoned gardeners.


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