“For 30 years, a solution to a problem was developed and is still advancing precision seeding technology today into new exciting markets globally. It has been an incredible journey with our customers and dealers over the years, and the feedback we receive continues to advance Seed Hawk precision air drills and all Vaderstad products. At Vaderstad, we are extremely proud of the incredible heritage of Seed Hawk and the factory we have built in Langbank, Saskatchewan. We look forward to 30 more exciting years of our quest to be the world’s leading partner for outstanding emergence,” says Jason Strobbe, VP Sales and Marketing North America, Managing Director Vaderstad Inc.
In 1991, the Seed Hawk concept was created, driven by the need to develop a piece of equipment that did not yet exist in the market. For the last 30 years, the innovative Seed Hawk drill has been a leader in zero-till and min-till farming practices. Ground-breaking innovations, like the innovative Seed Hawk opener assembly, Sectional Control® Technology, the iCon® Wireless Control System, and Fenix III metering, continue to change the face of agriculture.
Nigel Jones, Managing Director, Vaderstad Industries Inc. reflects on the history, “Over 30 years the operations at Langbank, SK has changed dramatically. When the business started out, it was a small shop and a handful of staff. Today it is a campus with manufacturing, warehousing, test facilities, and R&D facilities, employing more than 200 people, with that number expected to grow to 260 by the fall of this year.
The first 20 years saw gradual development and improvements as markets and infrastructure were developed. The last six years have seen many improvements from an operations perspective, with numerous accolades being received from industry organizations regarding our journey towards becoming a world-class manufacturer.
Over the years, we have seen impressive improvements in the quality of the product and many innovations. As a result, we now have a product that competes against any competitor in the market.
The success of the business is all the more remarkable considering its remote, rural location. Our efforts to address the challenges of the location have been directed at becoming an employer of choice. Our efforts have not gone unnoticed, Vaderstad Industries has been recognized as a Saskatchewan Top Employer the last two years in a row.
Born of a concern with soil conservation, it is hard to believe that what started out as an idea to address some specific needs (to seed shallow, with consistent, accurate depth, in zero-till conditions) has grown to be a business employing more than 200 people and supplying world-class agricultural equipment.
From the first machine sold to the Borowski brothers in Glenavon, to several thousand machines later, this has been an incredible journey. None of it would be possible without the dedicated and hard-working employees who have worked at the business over the years. It is wonderful to see the results of their efforts."
Today, numerous manufacturers have followed Väderstad Seed Hawk, and the precision air seeder has its given place in the farming industry. While celebrating the 30-year anniversary of Seed Hawk and all of the innovations it has brought to the marketplace, Väderstad continues to develop the Seed Hawk concept even further to keep pushing the standard for precision seeding.