About Saginaw Valley Seedcorn Producers, LLC

Saginaw Valley Seedcorn Producers, LLC is located on the edge of Michigan’s Saginaw Valley, in Tuscola County near the village of Fairgrove.  The Saginaw Valley lays claim to being one of the most fertile agricultural valleys in the world.  The primary crop grown by SVSP is hybrid seedcorn, accounting for 600 to 700 acres out of the total 950 acres farmed.  Approximately three-quarters of the total seedcorn production is organic with the remainder being non-GMO conventional seed.  SVSP also grows conventional wheat and soybeans in a three year rotation with the seedcorn.  Conventional crop production is aided by the use of overhead irrigation on over 350 acres.  The organic crop rotation is also on a three year rotation, which includes wheat, spelt, dry beans, and soybeans.  In order to keep the focus on organic seedcorn, SVSP works in conjunction with Reinbold Organic Farms, LLC, which grows the non-seedcorn crops in the organic rotation.  This also allows access to about two-thirds of the organic farmland that SVSP utilizes for organic seedcorn production.  

During the summer, Saginaw Valley Seedcorn Producers, LLC hires over 100 seasonal employees, mostly local high school age kids.  From the beginning of summer vacation until the start of detasseling, a 40 to 50 person hoeing crew helps control weeds in both the organic and conventional fields.  Detasseling season usually begins mid-summer and extends for four to five weeks.  All full-time and seasonal employees are needed during this time.  Harvest season begins early to mid-September and can last for six weeks, requiring ten to fifteen seasonal employees.  Beyond seasonal help, SVSP employs five full-time people.

Saginaw Valley Seedcorn Producers, LLC was started in 2017 as a joint venture between Ed Mantey & Sons, Inc. (Donald and Robert Mantey) and Saginaw Valley Organics, Inc. (Kenneth Janson).  In 2023, Uhl Seed and Grain Farms, Inc. (Lloyd Uhl) joined as a Partner. The Mantey family has roots in the seedcorn business dating back to 1921 when Fritz Mantey produced his first crop of Pickett’s Yellow Dent.  Since that beginning, the Mantey family has produced a seed crop on the same farm every year.   Fritz’s sons Edgar and Carl farmed together until their business was split into new corporations in 1985, one of which was Ed Mantey and Sons, Inc., consisting of Ed, Don, and Bob Mantey.  

Donald Mantey has been involved in the family operation since a young age.  While earning his Mechanical Engineering degree from Michigan State University, Don would help bag seed and load train cars on weekends and during holiday breaks.  In 1974 he left a position at General Motors to return to the farm.

Robert Mantey has also been involved in seed production from a young age.  This led him to earn an Agricultural Engineering degree from Michigan State University.  After working for the Department of Natural Resources Water Management Division, Bob also returned to the farm in 1983 to work alongside his father and brother.

Ken Janson grew up farming with his dad, uncle, and cousins down the road from Ed Mantey & Sons at what is now Reinbold Organic Farms, LLC.  After receiving a Mechanical Engineering degree from Saginaw Valley State University and an MBA from Central Michigan University, Ken worked for ten years as an Associate Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual.  Similar to Don and Bob Mantey, the attraction to working in the dirt never quite went away.  So, after several years of helping his dad and cousins on nights and weekends, Ken went to work with Don and Bob in 2015 to learn the seed trade.  From here, he is looking forward to carrying on the Mantey history of superb seedcorn production.

Lloyd Uhl practically grew up at Ed Mantey & Sons, Inc. He began working for Don and Bob at the age of 13, first as a detasseler, then working his way up the ranks. Lloyd helped out after school during the busy planting and harvest seasons, only taking time off to attend Pensacola Christian College. From there, he came back to Saginaw Valley Seedcorn Producers as a full-time employee fully vested into helping the farm grow. Now as an owner, Lloyd joins in the goal of carrying on the Mantey legacy of seedcorn production.