Serving Farmers Across the Delta

By Mark H. Stowers

B&S Seed Company in Duncan has been providing farmers and with ag related seed and fertilizer for more than half a century. Glenn Montgomery has been with the company nearly fourteen years and manages the operation which is owned by the Bell family. 

“We sell row crop seed to farmers and also carry a variety of other products,” says Montgomery. “Our inventory includes polypipe and irrigation fittings too.” 

The  seed business has become a year round venture for B & S. 

“Cover crop seed has become a large part of our business in the fall as  cover crop programs have grown in the state of Mississippi,” says Montgomery. “We sell a lot of cover crop products and we will also do custom blends if we can find the necessary seed for the blend. Some of the cover crop seed we carry include wheat, oats, black oats and cereal rye which is different than basic rye. Cereal rye is the grain rye bread and rye whiskey is made from.  Cereal rye is a really popular cover crop here in the Delta and it’s relatively cheap. And, it has some pigweed suppression, supposedly, so it’s become popular as a tool to control that weed. 

B & S also carries  a variety of cattle, livestock, chicken and deer feed. The business has nine employees, including two who are dedicated delivery drivers working the Delta area and beyond. 

“We have branched out and now we also sell chemical and fertilizers,” says Montgomery. “We’ve become more full-service. 

Montgomery says there is also a separate trucking business from B&S which is owned by him and the Bell Family. 

“We started it a year and a half ago and it is growing really fast,” he says. “We’re really pleased with the success we have had so far.  The company name is  Premium Ag and it is a  division of Novus Ag, LLC which has locations across the U.S.  I’m the only current provider in Mississippi. There are five in Arkansas, one in Tennessee, and one in Louisiana. 

Montgomery says  the growing businesses are reaching out to more and more farmers.

We have  shown our customers we can really save them money and do a good service for them,” he says.  “Our brick and mortar is  located in Duncan and we primarily serve Bolivar and Coahoma counties. But, we go also go into Tunica, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Sunflower, and Washington and we do not mind going farther if there is a need.”