Stewart Seeds Joins American Seeds Inc. Through the CORE Group... GREENSBURG, Indiana (September 2, 2005) -- Stewart Seeds announced today that the company has been acquired by American Seeds, Inc. (ASI), which is a holding company formed by Monsanto Company to support regional seed businesses with capital, genetics and technology investments. Stewart will join ASI as a distinct operating subsidiary of the CORE Group and operate independently and regionally. Stewart customers will benefit from a direct connection to significant innovations in genomics-based breeding and other new technologies that enhance their Genetic Original, Genetic Families and SecureKote products, bringing to the market innovative and new approaches to higher yields. “Stewart customers will truly reap the benefits of this new relationship,” says Tom Stewart, President of Stewart Seeds. “Our customers will continue to receive the outstanding service they’ve come to count on from Stewart. They will continue to profit from the professional advice offered by our District Seed Consultants. But now, they will gain the quickest access possible to new seed technologies, because of the direct relationship.” “In 1996, Stewart Seeds and the other members formed the CORE Group to focus on technology access and identify areas that needed consolidation in order to prosper in the future. We made the decision to form CORE Group then with an eye on the future and we take this step today to formalize this association with the same end in mind, of delivering to our customers, the tools allowing them to be successful” stated Tom Stewart. “Our growth and customer feed back tell us that we have been on the leading edge and our commitment is to remain there. With the advances taking place in seed breeding and technology, this move to consolidate the CORE Group into a formal entity is a decision that not only Stewart’s, but Trelay Seed Company, Livingston, WI, Stone Seed Farms Inc, Springfield, IL, and Fontanelle Hybrids, Fontanelle, NE, feel are in the best long term interests of our customers, to pool our resources into developing and delivering new seed products, especially trait advanced products.” “Today, our company and CORE Group partners – have chosen to join with ASI,” he adds. “As a result, our customers will truly get the best of both worlds – local responsiveness and knowledge, plus international access to the latest technological innovations, from basic plant breeding to the newest traits that will become available to our customers in the coming decade.” In making the decision to operate Stewart Seeds as an independent brand under the CORE Group companies, Tom Stewart reflected on his family’s commitment to agriculture. “We built our company on close working relationships. That’s how our customers and we have been successful,” he says. “We made this decision to enhance our long-time close-knit relationships with our customers. The CORE Group companies understand the importance of these relationships.”

For More Information: Debbie Mack, Information Manager Stewart Seeds 1-800-365-7333