In the past, farmers bought seed corn in 50-pound bags. Today, it typically comes in 80,000-seed count bags or units. A 50-pound bag might weigh 40 pounds or 60 pounds, or somewhere in between, depending upon seed size. GHX, a Syngenta company celebrating its fourth year in 2025, offers a different concept: Buy an experience, not just seed, and buy by the acre, not by the bag.

“We offer farmers our top-quality Golden Harvest hybrids, but we offer more than that — we offer a full, season-long experience,” explains Kramer Farney, head of Golden Harvest Marketing. He took time out at a recent fall farm show to share how the concept works with Farm Progress.

Why did Syngenta spin off a division selling seed in a different way? Surveys told us that many farmers weren’t happy with the way they were purchasing seed today, even though it was the traditional method. In fact, 7 out of 10 said they weren’t happy with their seed experience. One major reason was that they did not see their seed sales rep enough during the season — only when it was time to buy seed for next year. That led to development of the idea of a different way to sell seed, and GHX was born.

What is the primary concept that makes GHX different? We sell by the acre, not by the bag. And we sell an experience. Our people are there to support you as a customer throughout the season.

Can you give an example of what you mean by selling by the acre, not the bag? Sure. Say you want seed corn for 100 acres. Traditionally, you figure out how many bags you will need at 80,000 kernels per bag to plant, say, 32,000 seeds per acre. You might want to try 34,000, but you know that will cost more money for extra seed. So, you do the math, figure out how many bags you need at 32,000 seeds per acre, and order your seed.

If you work with a GHX adviser or GHX specialist, together you figure out which hybrid in the Golden Harvest lineup is best for your acres. We base recommendations on our extensive testing programs. We also know populations that should deliver maximum yield. So, you get one simple, flat price per acre, and you plant at the recommended seeding rate that should produce maximum yield.

Sometimes GHX advisers mention MaxScript. What is that? We develop personalized MaxScript recommendations for your field, incorporating our hybrids into your management practices. We match your field conditions with our extensive, data-backed analytics to give you recommendations for the right hybrids at the right population for one flat per-acre price.

How have farmers responded so far? We have been pleased. Our farmer-customers tell us they like the value they’re getting. They understand that they’re buying the full experience.

GHX launched primarily in Iowa and Illinois. Will you be expanding soon? Yes, especially in northern areas within the Corn Belt. We expect to move into Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and parts of Indiana and Ohio next. Farmers in those areas should have access to the GHX experience soon.