Nope-I haven't died or gone away yet....so I'm still interested in seeing soybean seed sold by some other method than just paying $xx for a 50# bag irregardless of how many beans (= acreage) are in the bag. We've discussed it here for years. Some are optimistic on instituting such a program, some are highly pessimistic (might be an understatement). At any rate, PHI has a new program to adjust price of beans vs seed size. I do NOT advocate buying PHI seed, I don't sell it, I don't care if you ever buy one of their seeds. This is not the point. I'm merely attaching this to show that companies are certainly thinking about how to best address seed size issue also. I understand that we're going to find $30/ba soybean seed for '08. Seed size (=acreage potential) may mean more than ever. It didn't mean squat back when we paid $5 for a 60# of certified seed. Here's PHI thing:

DES MOINES, Iowa, August 14, 2007 - For the 2008 growing season, Pioneer Hi-Bred will offer a new system to help growers target their soybean product selections based on high-yielding genetics and traits to maximize their profit potential - not seed count.

The Pioneer Soybean Seed Size Value Guarantee minimizes seed size cost variations per acre by using a price adjustment starting at 2,800 seeds per pound across all varieties and lot numbers.

Customers purchasing Pioneer® brand soybean varieties will receive a graduated discount on varieties or lots with fewer than 2,800 seeds per pound. This program will be available to customers served by Pioneer sales representatives in the United States and Canada; some Southern and Western areas of the United States are excluded.

"This guarantee will help reduce the amount of variation in seed cost per acre and help our customers more accurately plan for their seed costs in advance," says Don Schafer, Pioneer soybean senior product line manager."

Customers will be able to maintain optimum planting rates on large-sized seed varieties rather than potentially reducing their planting rates to compensate for cost.

"The Pioneer product lineup, like our competitors, contains large-, medium- and small-seeded varieties," says Schafer. "Many factors affect the seed size of a soybean variety, including genetics and seasonal environmental growing conditions. Our goal is to provide the grower the best genetics for every acre."

Schafer explains, for example, that a soybean variety with a seed count of 2,400 seeds per pound has 14 percent fewer seeds than the 2,800-seeds-per-pound base. The grower will receive a 14 percent per unit discount as an adjustment for that variety's large-sized seed. If a variety's seed count exceeds the 2,800-seeds-per-pound base, the grower will not receive a discount, nor will they be charged a premium.