Saskatchewan seed system goes international

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Farmers in eastern Europe will soon be planting their crops with made-in-Saskatchewan equipment and technology, thanks to a new partnership between Seed Hawk manufacturing of Langbank and Swedish manufacturer Vaderstad-Verken.

Seed Hawk is the creation of Pat Beaujot, an agronomist and farmer from the Langbank area. The company began in 1992 with an idea to improve seeding technology. Seed Hawk equipment is now at work on some 700 farms, primarily in Western Canada.

Seed Hawk had been selling the vast majority of its equipment on the prairies. Just a few units were heading for Europe – until the principals of Vaderstad-Verken came looking for new products.

“The owner came over to look at seeding equipment built in Western Canada,” said Beaujot. “They were starting to see some growth in eastern Europe, and they really didn’t have a product line for that market.” Vaderstad-Verken primarily served western European farmers, where average soil moisture is greater and field sizes are much smaller.

“It was flattering to hear that not only did they feel we had the best technology, but that we were the best company to deliver that technology,” said Beaujot.

The result was an agreement which saw Vaderstad-Verken purchase a 49-per-cent equity interest in Seed Hawk Inc. The capital will be used to dramatically expand the manufacturing plant near Langbank in order to create the capacity that the new eastern European market will demand. With Vaderstad-Verken’s significant distribution network, Beaujot is projecting sales growth of up to 300 per cent over the next two years.

Ground work has begun on the new manufacturing plant, with full construction scheduled during 2007. Seed Hawk will satisfy initial demand from its current facilities.

Seed Hawk currently employs 40 people, and Beaujot expects that workforce to increase by 20 to 30 more people during the next 16 months. The new relationship will also mean improvements to Seed Hawk’s seeders, because they will gain access to proprietary Vaderstad-Verken technology for variable rate seeding.

Beaujot and his partner Brian Dean will retain controlling interest in Seed Hawk and manage all manufacturing. The two will also continue handling distribution within Canada, while Vaderstad-Verken will be responsible for international marketing.

Vaderstad-Verken is a privately-owned company that employs 450 people at its 25,000-square-metre plant in Sweden. It has eight subsidiary companies distributing farm machinery throughout Europe.

For more information, contact:

Pat Beaujot, President
Seed Hawk Inc.
Phone: 1-800-667-4295
E-mail: pat@seedhawk.com