U.S. soybean growers have a new seed option now that global brand DONMARIO announced this week that it is marketing soybeans in the U.S. for the first time.

DONMARIO, with U.S. headquarters in Gibson City, Ill., is part of one of the largest soybean genetics companies in the world but has never before sold seed in the U.S. Focusing strictly on developing leading genetics for local geographies, the brand is dedicated to providing soybean growers in the U.S. with the highest-yielding soybeans on the market, packaged together with the latest traits, technology and extensive agronomic insight.

“We believe the time is right for a family-owned seed brand with world-class genetics and a customer-first orientation to have success in the United States,” said Ignacio Bartolome, U.S. and Canada business director for GDM Seeds, parent company of the DONMARIO brand.  “We have been developing exciting new varieties in the U.S. for over 12 years and believe growers are going to be very pleased with the results of our elite breeding program.”

DONMARIO has more than 100 U.S. yield research locations and tests more than 100,000 new soybean varieties in the U.S. annually. The group operates soybean breeding centers in Gibson City and Marion Ark., with a third breeding center in southwestern Minnesota planned to open in January 2019.

In 2019, DONMARIO will be marketed by Burrus Seed of Arenzville, Ill., and will be available to growers across the company's footprint in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin. Other distribution partners in key soybean production areas are in negotiation. As new genetics and distribution partners are brought to market and aligned, that geography is expected to expand rapidly.

“We expect DONMARIO to be a national brand here in the U.S.,” Bartolome said. “We have great respect for the productivity of the American farmer and believe they are exactly the type of producers who find value in a brand like DONMARIO. We know how to put the customer first and develop elite genetics, and these are the type of progressive growers that appreciate that focus and capability.”

DONMARIO has developed soybean genetics in six countries, selling 16 million-plus units of soybeans globally. The group breeds and markets soybean, corn and wheat seed from South America to South Africa – and now in the U.S. and North America. With global headquarters in Chacabuco, Argentina, DONMARIO has a 54% market share in Argentina and, in 2018, received the prestigious distinction of winning the Brazilian national soybean yield contest.