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Can This Man Feed the World? Billionaire Harry Stine's Quest to Reinvent Agriculture -- Again
Forbes ^ | 3/26/2014 | Alex Morrell

Posted on 03/26/2014 7:16:21 PM PDT by kingattax

This story appears in the April 14, 2014 issue of Forbes.

On one of the windiest days in recent memory Harry Stine, the richest man in Iowa, cranes his neck to examine the elevator shaft inside the 110-foot steel observation tower next to his garage. “The cables look awfully frayed. Who knows if it will last one more time?” he chuckles.

Nonetheless, we hop into the elevator cab, he flips the switch to get it moving, and up we go as the wind rips into us at 40mph.

Stine, the 72-year-old founder and owner of Stine Seed, the largest private seed company in the world, built this tower back in 1987 so he could get a good view of his empire, some 15,000 acres of frozen Iowa farmland. Aside from a small, glass-walled house, it’s his only visible indulgence.

Once home to his father’s hardscrabble cattle-and-crop farm, Stine has, without attracting any widespread notice, developed some of the most valuable agricultural products on Earth here. With more than 900 patents, Stine sells his coveted soybean and corn seed genetics to agri-giants like Monsanto and Syngenta, nabbing estimated annual sales of more than $1 billion with margins in excess of 10%. Along with his four children, Stine owns almost 100%.

(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Iowa
KEYWORDS: harrystine; iowa; monsanto; stineseed; syngenta

1 posted on 03/26/2014 7:16:21 PM PDT by kingattax
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To: kingattax

Well, OBVIOUSLY, he MUST be stopped! *SMIRK*


2 posted on 03/26/2014 7:21:15 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
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To: kingattax

Study Malthus, folks. Study Malthus.


3 posted on 03/26/2014 7:22:52 PM PDT by A_perfect_lady
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Does he have a sidekick named Pinky?


4 posted on 03/26/2014 7:40:26 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans!)
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To: kingattax

First, he’ll have to find a way to defeat the Population Control crowd.

They’re the ones suppressing Energy and Industrial development EVERYWHERE, but especially in the 3rd world.

Who do you think is behind the destruction of America’s irrigation infrastructure, and the EPAs Gestapo tactics in the takeover of private property.

Only then, will we be able to learn what is possible in agriculture.


5 posted on 03/26/2014 7:55:19 PM PDT by G Larry (There's the Beef!)
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To: GeronL
Does he have a sidekick named Pinky?

At least we'll know what they have planned for every night, eh?

6 posted on 03/26/2014 7:59:45 PM PDT by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...

> Harry Stine, the richest man in Iowa, ...With more than 900 patents, Stine sells his coveted soybean and corn seed genetics to agri-giants like Monsanto and Syngenta, nabbing estimated annual sales of more than $1 billion with margins in excess of 10%. Along with his four children, Stine owns almost 100%.

Thanks kingattax.


7 posted on 03/26/2014 8:08:30 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/alreadyposted/index)
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To: kingattax

This guy is a genuine National Treasure!


8 posted on 03/26/2014 8:42:27 PM PDT by bigfootbob
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To: kingattax

But, but, but, but................this can’t be.

A PRIVATE citizen, discovering and selling his seed inventions?

Have we really found someone MORE evil than Monsanto?

No, no, no, it can’t be. MONSANTO is Satan!

This guy is simply their dupe!

I won’t sleep tonight for worry.


9 posted on 03/26/2014 9:06:59 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (Over production, one of the top 5 worries for the American Farmer every year.)
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To: bigfootbob

I beg to differ. Anyone who partners with Monsanto in glyphosate technology is pure evil.
Eating insecticides via genetically modified seed is about as bright as putting on an oxygen mask filled with pesticides.

Flame away.

I won’t bother to argue with any of you but I won’t feed that sh*t to my family ..ever.


10 posted on 03/26/2014 9:08:53 PM PDT by acapesket
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To: acapesket

I won’t flame you, you are allowed to do what you like, but being a sufferer of a political narrative that is designed to scare you into submission to an agenda based on emotion is not a trait I’d want to illustrate to my family.


11 posted on 03/26/2014 9:13:17 PM PDT by bigfootbob
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To: acapesket

Finally, someone who thinks as I do.

I made the horrible mistake of actually reading the article before going to bed, now I really won’t sleep.

Do you know what that bastard did?

He actually patented his work!!!

What the hell?

How un-American can you get?

Patented our food!

Next they will begin to patent life saving drugs...........this has got to stop.

He shouldn’t be allowed to protect his work on something so important. The article says he makes big money from his work. That’s not right. He should be forced to do it for free.

Bastard!


12 posted on 03/26/2014 9:21:08 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (Over production, one of the top 5 worries for the American Farmer every year.)
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To: acapesket
I won’t bother to argue with any of you

Well, I'll give you this, at least you have the good sense not to take on a fools errand.

13 posted on 03/27/2014 6:49:17 AM PDT by Balding_Eagle (Over production, one of the top 5 worries for the American Farmer every year.)
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