Officials at the Kansas Wheat Alliance (KWA) announced recently that they have settled not less than three PVP infringement cases this planting season.  In the first of the three different matters, one producer from Okeene, Oklahoma, admitted to selling the federally protected wheat variety, Fuller, as non-certified seed without the authorization of KWA.  The $50,000 consent agreement signed by the violator is the first of its kind for a variety developed by Kansas State University, although it does not appear this will be their last.  The second person settling claims of PVP infringement included a producer in Washita county, Oklahoma who paid $30,000 for the admitted unauthorized sale of both Jagger and Overley varieties.  The third was a seed operation in Hesston, Kansas that paid $25,000 for the admitted unauthorized sale of the Overley variety.  Selling and conditioning federally protected varieties of wheat, including Jagger, Overley, RonL, Fuller, and Danby without authority is illegal. 

KWA began this year with a strong educational campaign in support of continued wheat research by supporting an educational cooperative known as the Farmers Yield Initiative, a coalition of public and private organizations dedicated to the education of the benefits of wheat research.  Another component of education is enforcement of PVP laws.  With this educational campaign, the KWA hopes to inform producers and sellers of the importance of wheat seed certification and the value it adds to the farming community through investment and research.

"Our goal is to be responsible to the farmers of Kansas who rely on K-State's continued development of excellent wheat varieties for their farming success," says KWA executive director Daryl Strouts.  "But we need to make clear that it is in everybody's best interest to respect the PVP law.  In order to return research money back to K-State wheat researchers for continued work, we have an obligation to recover royalties and to put a
stop to illegal sales of our licensed wheat varieties," he said.

The Kansas Wheat Alliance is a not-for-profit organization formed by wheat producers, researchers, and seed marketers with the goal of maximizing value for wheat farmers by promoting responsible management of new wheat varieties developed by Kansas State University and other wheat-breeding programs.  Royalties are used to support wheat research that enhances the profitability of wheat producers.