Ag Company Makes Key Decision for Midwest State

Seven months of persistent lobbying by local and state elected officials and business development associations and advocates led to a major announcement from Indianapolis, Indiana-based Corteva Agriscience. The company announced that it would plant its headquarters in Johnson, Iowa, a Des Moines suburb that has long been a key site for agricultural entrepreneurship and development.

Corteva Agriscience is massive, a $55 billion company that sells seeds for more than 100 crops and develops sustainable pest control products, including natural herbicides and high-touch digital services for producers that assist with data analysis, real-time monitoring, and other enhanced farming and decision-making.

The company decided to split operations into two, which meant that it would need another headquarters for its seed spinoff. Johnston, a fast-growing community that has nearly tripled in size this century, has a population approaching 26,000.

Iowa Town Was Longtime Home for Pioneer Seeds

Not only does it offer the skilled executive workforce, a solid educational system, and a growing commitment to quality-of-life initiatives, but it also provides decades-long history for agriculture. Johnston had been home to Pioneer Seeds for a century before Corteva acquired it.

More than a dozen nearby communities had joined Johnston development leaders to stress to Corteva how valuable it would be to allow the city to once again serve as a headquarters for a vital agricultural enterprise.

“Corteva’s decision to locate its advanced seed and genetics company headquarters in Johnston recognizes not only the long and impactful history Pioneer and its other seed brands have had in Johnston, but also that we are in a great position to support Vylor’s future goals focused on advanced seed and genetics,” said Johnston Mayor Paula Dierenfeld in a statement. 

“Founded in Johnston 100 years ago, Pioneer has been at the forefront of agricultural innovation, discovering and developing groundbreaking solutions to help farmers increase production around the world. Today, that legacy continues, and we’re excited and proud to be the place where the next generation of innovation and growth will take root with Vylor. Here’s to the next 100 years,” Dierenfeld said.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig also praised the decision to allow the state to once again become a prominent agricultural company’s headquarters.

Naig said in a statement, “Planting the headquarters here sends a strong signal to Iowa farmers that this company values being in the heart of agriculture and close to the customers it serves every day. I look forward to working alongside Vylor’s leadership to support Iowa farmers and strengthen our state’s agriculture community.” 

RELATED: This Midwest corn leader pushed the Trump administration to get more involved in year-round E15 sales. President Donald Trump signaled support for expanded higher-blend sales during an event in Iowa in January, and Vice President J.D. Vance advocated for the national expansion during an Iowa stop earlier this month.