BLENHEIM — Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc. announced Jan. 4 the completion of the acquisition of assets of Hyland Seeds, a division of Thompsons Limited of Blenheim. The acquisition agreement had first been announced on Nov. 24.

Under the terms of the agreement, Dow AgroSciences acquired the Hyland brand and the sales, marketing, and administrative areas. The acquisition also included germplasm, the R&D program with three R&D sites and the corn production facility. Dow AgroSciences will continue to independently market seeds under the Hyland Seeds brand, and Hyland will continue to be headquartered at its existing location in Blenheim. John Cowan will lead the business as general manager for Hyland Seeds.

“We are pleased that the majority of former Hyland employees have joined Dow AgroSciences Canada now that the acquisition is complete, and we fully intend to continue the tradition set forth by Hyland as an innovative leader and contributor to the agricultural community in Canada,” said Jim Wispinski, Dow AgroSciences Canada president and CEO.

The addition of Hyland Seeds will further expand Dow AgroSciences’ current seed businesses as the company introduces SmartStax™ in 2010 and anticipates the launch of Dow AgroSciences Herbicide Tolerant Trait Technology in corn and soybeans.

Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, provides technologies for crop protection, pest and vegetation management, seeds, traits, and agricultural biotechnology. Global sales for Dow AgroSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, are $4.5 billion.

Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc. is headquartered in Calgary, with a corn breeding facility in St. Marys, Ontario, and a canola discovery and breeding facility in Saskatoon.

Founded in 1975, Hyland Seeds has the largest, privately owned, multi-crop breeding program in Canada. Headquartered in Blenheim, Hyland is internationally recognized for building industry-leading corn hybrids, soybeans, edible beans and cereal grains.