Collaborating with innovative seed growers to produce the highest quality sugarbeet seed.

High-quality seed production starts with great genetics developed for highly productive varieties having strong field performance. Dedicated scientists spend years developing hybrids that are isolated, produced within our greenhouses, produced for proprietary trials, and then finally entered into Official Variety Trials (OVT) for approval to market to North American sugarbeet growers. The process isn’t for the faint of heart: it requires 8-10 years to develop and market a single hybrid that is commercially available to sugarbeet growers.

STARTING ON A SMALL SCALE

Seed production is classified into two distinct areas: pre-commercial and commercial activities. Pre-commercial seed is produced by our pre-commercial team on a smaller scale so that growing conditions and climate may be closely monitored during seed growth and development. Seed fields are mapped on a grid, as geographic separation is required to eliminate cross-pollination that can have a negative impact on plant characteristics. When pre-commercial seed is harvested, it is evaluated for purity, quality, and DNA to confirm that it carries all the desired traits for commercial seed production. Once the pre-commercial seed meets all of the quality requirements, it is prepared for commercial production.

COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF SUGARBEET SEED

Commercial seed production is carried out by contracted seed growers that follow strict seed quality processes and guidelines. Some of these seed growers have been producing seed for KWS for nearly 35 years! Growing seed requires specific, dedicated equipment to produce a high-quality product. Becoming a seed producer for KWS requires a long-term commitment to success. All of KWS' seed growers closely monitor their fields for performance during the growing season and harvest with guidance by the KWS seed production team.