Cherry Seed & Imagery new Seitec Genetics rep in parts of Kansas Nebraska and Colorado

Josh Cherry is owner and operator of Chery Seed & Imagery, being established with a new warehouse, office and test plot on North Highway 83 in McCook.

Gene O Morris/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — On the northwestern edge of McCook, a large gray metal building is taking shape as the headquarters for a regional business known as Cherry Seed & Imagery.

The structure — featuring an 8,000 square foot warehouse and 1,000 square foot office area — will be the centerpiece of a seed business which will serve grain producers throughout western Nebraska, western Kansas and eastern Colorado.

Corn, soybean and grass seed for lawns, roadways and pastureland will be featured at the young, growing firm.

“I am very fortunate to have been selected by a Nebraska-based company, Seitec Genetics, to serve the agricultural industry,” said Josh Cherry, the company’s seed representative in this area and the owner and operator of the new seed and imagery enterprise.

Located north of Orscheln Farm & Home on the west side of U.S. Highway 83, Cherry Seed & Imagery features a large parking lot, a spacious storage area and an upfront administrative area. In addition, Cherry is utilizing the area out back for a test plot of 28 different varieties of corn and soybean plants.

It’s all part of Cherry’s and Seitec’s commitment to develop, sell and service the best possible seed varieties for this region.

“That’s what sets Seitec apart,” Josh said. “They are dedicated to delivering the very best hybrids for the local region.” The company, established in 2008 by Dennis Bracht, is based in Fremont and serves grain producers throughout the Midwest.

In addition to Seitec’s extensive testing in local areas to determine the best varieties, Cherry takes the precision approach to seed success further, doing aerial imagery of cropland to show exactly which plant stands are doing the best. Scott Friehe does the flying for Cherry, piloting a Cessna back and forth over cropland to take colored video images. The best stands show up in bright green, while less successful plantings register in lighter shades of green, yellow and red.

Cherry, well known because of his athletic success at McCook High School and Kansas State University, returned to McCook following graduation in 2011 from Kansas State, where he majored in life sciences and minored in biology.

Josh, who was a kicker for the football teams at both MHS and K-State, is the son of Pat and Melanie Cherry. Josh and his wife, Kristen, who is from the Kansas City area, met while they were attending college.

Work on the Cherry Seed & Imagery building and grounds started in April, with JL Construction serving as the general contractor. Landscaping and furnishing remain to be completed, with Josh estimating completion and opening of the seed business headquarters later this summer.