Every spring, Cody Lezer, Federated’s seed warehouse manager, is tasked with the movement of 23,000 units (50-lb. bags) of soybean seed and about 10,000 units of corn seed, plus another few thousand units of wheat seed, all within a six-week window.

Lezer said that much of his job is computer-based as he keeps track of a sizable seed inventory. “I like to keep things organized,” he said, and that’s a good thing, since he is responsible for ensuring that farmers and other Federated locations get their seed – treated or otherwise – when and where they need it.

Working from Federated’s state-of-the art seed warehouse in Ogilvie, Lezer is close to his hometown of Foley where he grew up on a dairy farm with “50 cows and 400 acres” under tillage. He graduated from the Minnesota School of Business with a business management major and an agriculture minor, both of which undergird his work at Federated.

The seed warehouse has been the site of Lezer’s office since he became its manager following a relatively short stint as a Federated applicator in Albertville.

The most challenging aspect of Federated’s seed business is getting everything in – and out – on time. The window for seed delivery is small and warehousing can be a challenge both on the co-op side as well as for growers.

Lezer said, “Federated is a good place to work.” He realistically conjectured that if growers would take seed earlier – opening the usual six-week window to “something more like two or three months” – the rush of moving seed would be less of a challenge, but he enjoys his work even when the demands of spring set in.

Talk to your Federated Agronomist about your seed choices, treatment, and delivery options before the spring rush begins.