Babcock, George 1984-09-25
George Babcock discusses his career in seed development and the history of the Growers’ Seed Association in Lubbock, Texas.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: George Babcock
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: September 25, 1984
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Richard Mason
Length: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1:
Background,
Hybrid sorghum,
Farmer acceptance,
Asgrow Seed Company,
AMAC corporation,
Proliferation of varieties,
Advertising,
Asgrow (again),
Texas Planting Seed Association (TPSA),
Mission,
Success,
Cotton varieties,
Lankard 57,
Promotion,
Establishment of competitive market,
Internal dispute, 1964,
Growers Seed Association (GSA), 1965,
Karl Moosberg,
GSA 71,
Arrangement with GSA,
GSA 71 (again),
G. N. Strogman,
Background,
Acala cotton
Tape 1, Side 2:
G. N. Stroman (continued),
Recognition of public breeders,
Acala cotton (again),
Storm King No. 1,
TPSA cotton varieties,
Difference from GSA,
Dispute, 1964 (1964),
GSA (again),
Cooperatives on the Plains,
Factors of success,
GSA (again),
Delinting operation,
Waste disposal,
Contract production,
Marketing,
Varietal purity,
Glandless cotton seed,
Anecdote: field mice hull seeds,
Fiber production,
Seed classes,
Breeder's seed,
Foundation seed,
Registered seed,
Select seed,
Proliferation of varieties,
San Joaquin Valley, CA,
Imperial Valley, CA,
Texas
Tape 2, Side 1:
Texas (continued),
GSA (again),
Revenues,
Market domination (mid 1970s),
Relationship with Plains,
Cotton Cooperative,
Revenues (again),
Marketing,
Grain sorghum,
Seed corn,
Reasons for failure,
Sale of company,
Financing of Plains cooperatives,
Farm credit system,
GSA (again),
Seed treatment,
Employees,
Marketing territory,
Seed corn (again),
Independent breeders,
Corporate domination of agriculture
Tape 2, Side 2:
Corporate domination of agriculture (continued),
Rex Dunn,
Dunn 56,
Public varieties,
Seed certification institutions,
GSA (again),
Seed bank,
Major developments in seed business, post 1940,
Hybrid development,
Plant Variety Protection Act,
U. S. production of commercial seed,
Babcock's assessment of his life's work
Range Dates: 1933-1984
Bulk Dates: 1940-1984
Access Information
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Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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