News Releases
Jul 11, 2008
Manhattan, KS
Hoxie Producer Settles PVP Case
for $25,000
A Kansas wheat producer found out recently that
violating intellectual property rights is serious business. Bill
Spillman of Hoxie was found to be violating the Plant Variety
Protection Act (PVPA) by illegally selling Jagalene wheat for seed.
The producer settled his case for $25,000 with the developer of the
variety, AgriPro, a division of Syngenta Seeds Inc.
Selling protected wheat varieties as seed
is illegal. In wheat country, this theft is known as
“brown-bagging.” Federal law states that protected varieties may
only be sold as a class of certified seed by authorized seed growers
and dealers. In the Hoxie case, the producer had neither permission to
sell the seed nor certification of that seed.
Selling grain for seed is not only a
violation of federal law, it also takes investment away from wheat
variety development. AgriPro’s wheat research directly benefits
wheat growers through the introduction of varieties with better
yields, improved disease resistance, and advancements in technology.
This research also benefits consumers and the entire wheat industry
with better end-use quality. The royalties that wheat producers pay
when buying certified seed fund this research. Brown-baggers and those
who buy brown-bagged seed are getting a free ride at wheat
producers’ expense.
In order for a company or university to
invest millions of dollars in wheat research, it must be able to
protect its property rights. “We take an aggressive stand against
this practice by dedicating efforts and funding to prevent this
theft,” said Greg McCormack, Regional Manager for AgriPro. “Our
aggressive stand helps keep investment flowing into wheat research.”
Wheat producers should keep PVP in mind as they complete harvest and
begin preparing for next year’s wheat crop. The law allows producers
to grow and keep seed of protected varieties for use on their own
farms. It does not allow for growers to sell or trade that seed. The
law allows prosecution of all parties involved in the transaction: the
seller, the buyer, the seed cleaner and any other parties.
This fall as wheat producers line up their
seed supplies, it is best and safest to buy certified seed and to
decline participation in any illegal activities involving
“non-certified” seed.
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Jul 10,
2008
Champaign, IL
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Jul
10, 2008
Champaign, IL
Monsanto and Illinois Crop
Introgression Relationship
A wanted to make you aware of an important
relationship recently initiated between Monsanto Company and the
Illinois Crop Improvement Association (ICIA). ICIA’s trait
introgression services will facilitate access to the stacked
combination of Roundup Ready 2 Yield™ and dicamba-tolerant soybean
technologies to licensees authorized by Monsanto. This provides the
licensees with broader and faster access to new Monsanto soybean trait
technologies while maintaining full regulatory compliance and
comprehensive stewardship. By allowing ICIA to provide centralized
trait introgression services to authorized licensees, Monsanto can
effectively support its commitment to continued stewardship and
containment of regulated material, while allowing licensees the
flexibility to incorporate new traits at a pace more suitable to their
business objectives. This opportunity will allow licensees more
options and time to develop superior varieties for farmers faster than
before.
Kristin Schneider, PhD
Monsanto Agronomic Trait Project Lead, Oilseeds Crop Team
“We’re excited to be working with ICIA
because this situation provides real benefits across all channels.
This is good for licensees because it gives them access to the
technology earlier and allows ICIA and Monsanto to effectively manage
stewardship of regulated material. At the same time, farmers will
benefit from this earlier access because licensees will have more time
to develop enhanced soybean germplasm options containing cutting-edge
technology. “
Dennis Thompson, PhD
Chief Executive Officer, Illinois Crop Improvement
“ICIA has 22 years of experience in providing
specialized seed research and development services to the global seed
industry at our winter farm in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico. This, coupled
with a successful history of managing multiple technologies for
soybean, corn and cotton, uniquely positions ICIA to support Monsanto
licensees by providing technical field services delivered in
compliance with Monsanto stewardship expectations.”
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Jun 17, 2008
Lafayette, IN
Indiana Crop Improvement Association,
Inc.
Adds PhD to Genetics Lab staff
We are pleased to announce Dr. Ainong Shi has been
hired as our new Genetics Lab Supervisor to replace Dr. Huabang Chen
who recently left to return to China. Dr. Shi currently is a
post-doctorial associate at the Boyce Thompson Institute at Cornell
University working primarily with SNP technology. Shi has experience
in plant breeding & genetics, molecular genetics, and cutting edge
genetic testing. He received his PhD in Crop Science and Plant
Pathology from North Carolina State University. While in a
post-doctorial position in Washington, he acquired a Master's Degree
in Computer Science and also has a Master’s Degree in Plant Genetics
and Breeding.
Dr. Shi's expertise and experience will allow us to
continue with all of our current testing programs and industry
projects, as well as move forward in some areas where he has expertise
that we previously did not have on staff. Liz Pestow, ICIA Marketing
Director adds, "We are encouraged that Dr. Shi’s presence will
contribute additional problem solving strength for our customers in
their efforts in plant breeding and genetic markers."
It is expected that Dr. Shi, will be an active member of ICIA
Genetics Lab staff in July. "In addition to his experience in the
latest DNA diagnostic techniques; Ainong has extensive experience in
both plant breeding and genetics," notes Dr. Richard Vierling,
ICIA Genetics Lab Director.
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May 7, 2008
Manhattan, KS
Wheat Alliance to Explain New License Agreement
Beginning in the fall of 2008, anyone producing
the wheat varieties Jagger, Overley, Fuller, RonL, and Danby for sale
as seed will need to complete a license agreement with the Kansas
Wheat Alliance (KWA). This change in the variety marketing
system will also include a royalty on each sale, beginning in 2009.
Kansas State University Research and Extension has signed a material
transfer agreement with Kansas State University Research Foundation
for these varieties, and an agreement was subsequently signed with KWA
to develop a marketing plan for them.
Three opportunities are available for wheat
farmers and seed producers to learn about KWA’s marketing plan for
the five K-State wheat varieties affected by this agreement.
The first opportunity to learn about this new
system is May 20 at the South Central Kansas Experiment Field near
Hutchinson. The Spring Field Day begins at 8 a.m. with a Wheat
Variety and Disease Update from KSU wheat breeder Allan Fritz and
plant pathologist Erick DeWolf. Several crop
management presentations will follow. At approximately 10 a.m.
there will be a presentation about the Kansas Wheat Alliance and
explanation of the variety license agreement.
On May 21, Wheat Day will be held at the KSU Hays
Research Center. A presentation will be made at 1 p.m., followed
by the variety plot tour with wheat breeder Joe Martin at 3:30.
Following the plot tour will be a presentation about the Kansas Wheat
Alliance and the license agreement.
The third presentation is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
on May 22 at the KSU Agronomy Farm, Ashland Research Unit, south of
Manhattan. Allan Fritz will give a tour of the wheat nursery and
discuss the focus of his breeding program, followed by a presentation
about KWA and the license agreement.
Daryl Strouts, executive director, will be making
the presentations for KWA and explaining the license agreement.
For additional information, contact the KWA office at 785-477-3400 or
e-mail kwa@kansas.net.
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For more information about this news release,
please contact
Alana McGough
Kansas Wheat Alliance
apkcia@kansas.net
785-532-6118
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May 1, 2008
Manhattan, KS
Kansas Wheat Alliance Signs Agreement with KCIA
The Kansas Wheat
Alliance (KWA), the newly formed organization for delivery of K-State
wheat varieties, has announced that it will contract with the Kansas
Crop Improvement Association (KCIA) for temporary management of its
administrative functions.
KCIA is a non-profit membership
organization that includes wheat farmers, certified seed producers,
wheat researchers and others with a stake in the wheat industry.
KWA Chairman Forrest Chumley said the temporary management agreement
will be an efficient start-up measure for the organization.
“This agreement helps us achieve our
mission in an economical way,” Chumley said. “The people in KCIA
who are involved have tremendous relevant expertise in the wheat
industry, and knowledge of our customer base.”
KCIA will handle KWA’s administrative,
bookkeeping, and promotional activities until the new organization is
equipped to hire an executive of its own. KCIA personnel involved in
certification activities will be excluded from KWA business in order
to avoid conflicts of interest.
KCIA President Tim Oborny, Bison, Kan.,
sees the temporary agreement as illustrative of the effort that seed
producers are willing to put forth for the success of a wheat variety
release mechanism in Kansas.
“KCIA recognizes the Kansas Wheat
Alliance as an important priority for its members,” Oborny said.
“I think our agreement with KWA shows how dedicated we are to the
success of this venture.”
The Kansas Wheat Alliance was formed in June 2007
by six organizations in the wheat and seed industries, in partnership
with Kansas State University, in order to promote stewardship of
traits and varieties and ensure the delivery of improved wheat
varieties for farmers and consumers. KWA will have the first option to
commercialize all future K-State-developed wheat varieties. The
existing varieties Jagger, Overley, Danby, RonL, and Fuller have been
licensed by KWA. Through the Kansas Wheat Research and Education Fund,
royalties on sales of these varieties will be invested into wheat
education and research, leading to the development of new, improved
varieties.
“This organization will allow us to make
farmer-preferred traits available through new wheat varieties, but it
will also benefit the end user with higher quality wheat,” Chumley
said. “KWA is an important thing for everybody who cares about wheat
in Kansas.”
For information on KWA membership options,
contact Executive Director Daryl Strouts at 785-477-3400 or kwa@kansas.net.
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For
more information about this press release, please contact
Alana
McGough
KCIA Membership Services
Specialist
apkcia@kansas.net
(785) 532-6118
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