Stoy, Art 1984-03-29
Art Stoy discusses the seed breeding business on the South Plains.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Art Stoy
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: March 29, 1984
Location: Hereford, Texas
Interviewer: Richard Mason
Length: 1 hour
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Decision to attend Texas Tech,
J. R. McNeal,
Education,
Ranch,
Seed industry,
Personality,
Swapping shelled corn,
Crops raised,
Cane sorghum,
Grain sorghum,
Crook-necked milo,
Harvest, pre-mechanization,
Sorghums,
Livestock raised,
Effect of tractor on crops raised,
J. R. McNeal (again),
Seed operation,
Seed production,
Native grass nursery,
Hybrid grasses,
Marketing of seed,
Strain 7, Pearl Millet,
Strain R Millet.
Tape 1, Side 2: Leasing of irrigated land,
Advantages of raising seed in particular areas,
Weather constraints,
Condition of land,
Growing conditions,
Popularity of grain sorghums,
Drought resistance,
Feed value,
Growth of feedlot industry,
Martin maize,
Development,
Advantages,
Moved to New Mexico,
Effect of altitude on seed production,
Estancia Valley,
Return to Hereford, Texas,
Early hybrid sorghums,
Production companies,
Popularity,
Farmer acceptance,
Advantages of hybrids,
Effect of hybrids on seed business.
Tape 2, Side 1: Effects of hybrids on seed business (continued),
Corn,
Sorghum,
Increase in seed companies,
Increase in knowledge and technology,
Dollars generation,
Maturity of seed business on South Plains,
Sorghum seed production,
Acreage involved (1984),
Corporate involvement in seed production,
Attraction of seed business,
"Companies that changed hands",
Garrison Seed Company,
Independence,
Establishment,
Expansion of operation,
Contract production,
Wholesale distribution,
Export business,
Latin America,
Wholesale business (again),
Expansion of corn business,
Hybrid seed business,
Problems,
Import from out of state,
Reasons for expansion,
Seed prices.
Tape 2, Side 2: Reasons for expansion (continued),
Seed prices,
Water availability,
Future water availability,
Sorghum breeding program,
Seed breeders; born or made?,
Changes in seed business during Stoy’s life,
Trust in seed business,
Post-war developments in seed business,
Hybrid grain sorghum,
Technological advance,
Seed enforcement,
Importance of seed production,
Post-war changes in seed market,
Transportation,
Texas Seed Certification Act,
Predictions for future of seed business.
Range Dates: 1950-1984
Bulk Dates: 1950-1970
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.
