KWS Cover+ Program Offers High Quality Seed for Cover Crops

Cover crop acreage has grown significantly over the past ten years. With a focus on climate-smart agriculture and sustainability, another 10.5 million acres of cover crops are expected to be planted in the next five years. KWS Cereals Country Manager Dr. Becca Brattain says there is demand for high-quality cover crop seed. However most seed companies are not investing in cover crop seed because it is a terminal crop. KWS produces an elite hybrid rye and as a hybrid, it is illegal to save harvested grain for seed. In the past, any unused grain had to go to animal feed. “A really interesting question came across our desk which was, what’s the difference between feeding livestock and feeding the soil? That sure made people start scratching their heads and that’s where this little brainchild of the KWS Cover+ Soil Protection Program came from. It’s the first of its kind opportunity where we are going to allow grain harvested from our hybrids to be sold to authorized license partners or seed companies that we’re going to work with. They’re going to clean it, bag it, tag it, and allow it to be sold as a terminal cover crop.” While it is a premium product, KWS is encouraging seed companies to price the Cover+ hybrid rye the same as any other rye on the market.