Business Daily Business Daily meets: Harry Stine
Oct 31, 2025
Harry Stine, the visionary founder and CEO of Stine Seed Company, shares his remarkable journey from four-year-old tractor driver to head of the world's largest private seed firm. He discusses his early fascination with plant breeding, sparked by noticing unique soybeans. The conversation dives into the intricate process of seeds and patents that protect innovations, highlighting his company’s significant role in US agriculture. Stine also addresses public concerns about GM crops and reflects on his legacy, overcoming personal challenges while advancing crop genetics.
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Early Hands-On Farming Sparked A Career
- Harry Stine began working beside the family farm office at age four and quickly learned practical farm tasks like driving tractors.
- He recounts early hands-on experiences that sparked his lifelong interest in seeds and breeding.
Discovery Of An Unusual Soybean Variety
- Harry found unusual soybeans with five seeds per pod and pursued identification to learn more about breeding potential.
- That discovery led him to start a soybean breeding program and transform his seed business.
Scale And Selection Drive Breeding Success
- Plant breeding succeeds through scale: make large populations, select extensively, and run costly yield trials across regions.
- Numbers and rigorous evaluation, not mystery, drive higher-yielding crop varieties.