Manhattan, Kansas
May 1, 2008
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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