Albert Lea Seed held its annual open house event Nov. 13 and 14. More than 300 area farmers listened to industry and university speakers on various ag related topics. This Albert Lea Seed event is designed to cover both conventional and organic farming practices.

Bayer Crop Science, Monsanto, Syngenta representatives answered questions concerning genetically modified traits in row crops and specific new traits in their seed technology pricelines. The second day of the event was focused on certified organic farming with speakers on such topics as carbon sequestration, cover crop management, and organic control of aphids in soybeans.

In conjunction with the open house, Albert Lea Seed launched its new Web site www.alseed.com. The site offers a unique hybrid selection tool allowing area farmers to dial in such variables as corn hybrid maturity, soil type, fertility, crop rotation and trait combinations to help select hybrids specifically suited to their farming practices.