Manhattan, Kansas
November 24, 2008
Officials at the
Kansas Wheat Alliance
(KWA) announced today that they have settled not less than three
PVP infringement cases this planting season. In the first of the
three different matters, Clayton Fisher, 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 Fisher is the first of
its kind for a variety developed by Kansas State University,
although it does not appear this will be their last.
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.
Two other persons settling claims of PVP infringement include a
producer named Eldred Schneberger in Washita county, Oklahoma
who paid $30,000 for the admitted unauthorized sale of both
Jagger and Overley varieties. A seed operation named Craig Ewy
in Hesston, Kansas 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.
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.
For more information on the KWA, please visit
www.kswheatalliance.org.
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