Above, seed is deposited into 50 pound bags after being cleaned and separated. It is then stacked in the warehouse and loaded onto trucks for markets all across the nation.

The Wise men in front of a combine used for seed harvesting, left to right, Justin, Doug, Clint, Clint Jr., Rudy and Tony, along with one of several company dogs, ‘Darlin.’

Story and Photos by CHERE SIMMONS
FROSTPROOF, FL — Can you think of a smarter place to buy grass seed than from a company called Wise? It’s more than a clever business moniker, it’s also the family name of this third generation company — Wise Seed.

The Wise family has built their business on integrity and still believes a handshake and a man’s word is as good as a written contract. Brothers Rudy, Clint and Doug Wise have safeguarded what their parents built nearly 40 years ago by following the same principles of hard work and perseverance the business was founded on.

When Junior Wise was told the seed company he worked for was closing, he and his wife, Guelda, took a leap of faith and purchased the fallen company’s equipment. In 1968 they began the Wise Seed Company which is now the largest producer of aeschynomene seed in the country. Along with a third generation of Wise men (sons Justin, Clint Jr. and Tony) the company also offers grain rye, millets, legumes, and several varieties of Bahiagrass seed. They also import large amounts of mulato, a seed from Brazil that has become very popular among dairy and beef ranchers for its high protein content. And if a custom blend is needed, they are more than happy to oblige.

While machinery has simplified the task of harvesting seed, the principles are the same today as they were 40 years ago. In a sharecrop program, ranchers across the state plant and grow the different forage types for their cattle to graze most of the year. Consultants from Wise Seed visit the ranches and advise about fertilizing, mowing and scheduling herd removal before harvest.

About six weeks after the herd is removed and grass is at its peak with seed heads, crews come in to cut the grass with a combine, load it on trucks, and head back to Frostproof where the process of drying begins. Once the grass has dried, the tedious task of separating hull and weed seeds from the marketable seed begins. After the cleaning and separating is completed, seed is deposited into 50 pound bags and readied for market. Both operations share in the profits and labor.

Grass seed is a seasonal crop harvested from mid-June until the end of September. In the off-season, family and employees upkeep equipment and ready the facility for the next crop. The family also owns 500 acres of citrus in an effort to diversify their business.

Several years ago, Wise Seed secured a contract with Scotts Seed to harvest and package their turf seed. Scotts is the largest seed company in the world.

The company is also devoted to their community and proved it when hurricanes battered the center of the state in 2004. With substantial damage to their facility and especially their seed elevator, Wise Seed was virtually shut down until repairs could be completed. They made the best of their down time by bidding to clean up the city of Frostproof after the devastation. With eight company trucks and a few pieces of heavy equipment, employees and owners were able to clean up the city in about six weeks — the first in the state to finish. Under the supervision of FEMA, they saved the city thousands of dollars and immeasurable waiting time.

Wise Seed offers their products at wholesale and retail levels from their facility at 930 C.R. 630 West, Frostproof, FL 33843. If you have questions about purchasing seed or the share harvest program, feel free to call 863-635-4473.