Kansas, USA
October 8, 2010
Kansas wheat producers are helping themselves. Three years ago they collaborated with Kansas State University to form the Kansas Wheat Alliance and now those efforts are paying off.
So far this year, the KWA has returned $340,000 to K-State; much of it going to the critical facility and equipment needs of the wheat breeding programs. Planning is underway to replace the dilapidated greenhouses at the K-State - Hays Research Center and a new single kernel seed planter will be delivered to the Manhattan program for fall planting.
“We are really pleased to be able to get this amount of money back to K-State when it is needed to support the wheat breeding program,” said Herb Mattson, Colby, KWA chairman. “Despite the decline in wheat acreage last year we were able to reach our goal this first year.”
In 2007, Kansas wheat producer groups, seed producer groups and KSU Research & Extension became the founders of KWA. The plan was simple – charge a small royalty on seed sales of wheat varieties developed by K-State and put as much of the money as possible back into the K-State wheat variety development program. Because the producers are well represented on the KWA Board, they have a big influence on where the funds are utilized. This in turn will produce more of the kinds of wheat varieties that Kansas farmers want to plant.
“Every time a farmer purchases Certified seed of Jagger, Fuller, Everest, Overley, Danby, RonL or Tiger, he is investing in the future of his farm. Part of the price he pays for that seed will go directly into wheat breeding at K-State to ensure that wheat varieties continue to be competitive in Kansas,” said Daryl Strouts, KWA president. “In turn, as new varieties and technology become available in wheat, KWA will be there to get them to the farmers.”
Kansas Wheat Alliance is a non-profit organization supporting the wheat interests of K-State, seed producers and farmers. For additional information visit www.kswheatalliance.org.
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