Warner Seeds acquires Sorghum Partners brand and assets
Warner Seeds, Inc., a United States-based sorghum seed company has acquired the Sorghum Partners brand, germplasm portfolio, and all sorghum assets from S&W Seed Company, a leading provider of sorghum seed.
This marks a major milestone in the evolution of both companies and the sorghum industry.
With this acquisition, Warner Seeds gains additional access to a best-in-class germplasm library, herbicide tolerance and forage grazing flexibility technology, as well as an innovation-focused brand with a strong legacy of performance, resilience, and grower trust. The move aligns with Warner Seeds’ mission to provide high-yielding, top-quality seed backed by agronomic excellence—all while remaining lean, efficient and grower-focused.
Pictured at top is the Lyford Plot MX Rows. (Photo courtesy of Warner Seeds.)
The acquisition is a significant development for the sorghum industry in the Americas. Both Warner and Sorghum Partners have significant business in North America with additional business in South America and several other countries. This acquisition allows Warner Seeds to expand its portfolio of sorghum seed for our partners.
“Like many on our team, I was born and raised in the Texas Panhandle,” said Rusty Bevel, business lead of Warner Seeds, Inc. “I watched firsthand the rise of Sorghum Partners through their innovation that helped shape today’s market. I’m excited to carry that legacy forward with Warner’s 60-year reputation for high-yielding hybrids, quality seed production and service.”
Founded in the Texas Panhandle in 2000 by David Thomas and Larry McDowell, Sorghum Partners quickly gained market share thanks to its local roots and innovation-first approach. Sorghum Partners pushed the envelope through national collaborations, including partnerships with the National Sorghum Producers and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program.
This led to industry-leading breakthroughs such as the development of ACCase herbicide tolerance in 2017, launched commercially in 2021 as DoubleTeam. The portfolio remained standout in sorghum technology and performance. Today, Warner Seeds is honored to build on that momentum while integrating the best from both companies
“We’re returning to familiar ground with renewed purpose,” said Jerry Monk, owner of Warner Seeds, Inc. “By combining the innovative germplasm of Sorghum Partners with Warner’s germplasm and grassroots culture and customer-first focus, we’re not just continuing a legacy, we’re improving on it. We believe that this is a strategic win for our team and our customers.”
Warner Seeds already boasts a robust sorghum portfolio, particularly in forage sorghums, offering both BMR-6 and conventional hybrids tailored to producers’ needs. The company is committed to delivering value-added traits such as photoperiod sensitivity, aphid tolerance, dry stalk characteristics, and brachytic dwarf plant architecture—helping producers maximize both yield and quality under diverse growing conditions. The addition of Sorghum Partners’ grain genetics will further strengthen Warner’s ability to deliver a comprehensive sorghum solution to growers across the U.S. and internationally.
Additionally, this acquisition will enhance Warner Seeds’ business in Mexico, where the company already supports a strong and growing footprint. By integrating the Sorghum Partners grain portfolio, Warner will offer Mexican customers a more complete, innovative, and high-yielding lineup, reinforcing its commitment to serve key international markets with high-performance, proven genetics.
“Being part of this acquisition has been incredibly rewarding. It’s exciting to see team members from both legacy companies come together, united by a shared passion and commitment to building a stronger, combined organization,” said Barry Lubbers, senior adviser of Warner Seeds, Inc. “Together, we’re focused on delivering truly superior sorghum products that provide real solutions to meet the evolving needs of growers around the world,”
Warner Seeds is known for its local leadership structure and commitment to staying lean, allowing the company to focus resources where they matter most—on research and development for high yield and agronomic innovation, production quality, and competitive pricing for growers.
This acquisition represents more than a business transaction, it’s the joining of two legacies with one shared vision: to deliver the best products, with the best service, at the best value, Warner Seeds said in its news release. An acquisition price was not released.
About Warner Seeds
Founded in the heart of the Texas Panhandle, Warner Seeds has delivered quality seed and unmatched customer service to producers for over 60 years. With a focus on innovation, efficiency, and integrity, Warner Seeds continues to set the standard in the sorghum industry.
For more information visit https://warnerseeds.com/
