Tidewater Seed

Farmers have long been on a quest to maximize crop yields while minimizing input costs. Access to high-quality seeds with advanced crop genetics makes the task at hand more feasible.

Tidewater Seed is leading this effort in the East Coast region by providing the best of hybrid corn and soybean genetics and cover crops from the world's top-rated labs and production companies.

A locally owned, independent seed company, it stands out from others in the market with its agronomist approach and a keen focus on enhancing the client's bottom line. All its products are thoroughly tested for a period of two years before being taken to market.

“When we recommend a seed variety to be better than the competition, we mean it,” says Patrick Bilbrough, CEO of Tidewater Seed. “We thoroughly test our products to guarantee economic viability and optimum yield for customers.”

By using the testing program in its six-state market with many sites on the East Coast, the company monitors how specific seed varieties respond to environmental conditions unique to the area. The results are compared with that of its competitors as a part of a continuous evaluation process. Products are recommended to clients only if they display tangible benefits.

Tidewater Seed gives equal attention to helping growers reduce their input costs and enhance soil quality.

In collaboration with industry-leading cover crop seed providers, it curates various programs to identify subsoil nutrients that are released and extractable using different products. It demonstrates the impact of cover crops on improving organic matter and soil retention. By deploying the right cover crop program, farmers can save between $100 and $150 an acre of input cost and grow yield at the same time.

Consistently delivering the best quality products and services, Tidewater Seed has built a loyal client base that relies on its expertise and guidance for achieving better crop yields. The company has also assisted many farmers who successfully switch from one agricultural product to another.

For instance, a large number of tobacco farmers have transitioned to mainstream farming due to the restrictions imposed on the industry. The majority of them lacked prior experience growing crops such as corn and soybeans. Tidewater Seed stepped in and demonstrated through its pilot testing program how they could achieve yields of up to 200 bushels per acre, a significant increase in contrast to the 120 bushels per acre they were familiar to growing. In certain cases, the efforts have resulted in a remarkable yield of nearly 290 bushels per acre. Similarly, it has also assisted numerous former cotton and peanut farmers in boosting their corn and soybean yields by over 50 percent.

Its commitment to optimizing yield and amplifying clients’ bottom line mirrors the ethics of an agrarian society. The company has emerged as a key player, promoting the growth and expansion of the southern agricultural market through a comprehensive approach deep-rooted in agricultural values.

Tidewater Seed also understands that the majority of data currently available on the market is focused on the Midwest, with little to no data available for East Coast cultivators. By designing and implementing highly individualized growing plans tailored to the unique soil and growing conditions of the East Coast, it gives farmers the means to optimize their yields.

In the future, the company plans to expand operations and offer its vast collection of agricultural data to major providers who lack testing capabilities. This new endeavor will bridge the existing gap and provide much-needed information to improve farming practices and yield.

Tidewater Seed’s determination to make agriculture financially viable for future generations is a commendable effort that will undoubtedly benefit the entire industry for years to come.