Agricultural News
Oklahoma State Receives Wheat Variety Royalties That Top a Half Million Dollars for 2014 Sales
Sun, 15 Feb 2015 19:01:58 CST
After another successful year of seed sales, Oklahoma Genetics Inc. presented a royalty check for $539,169.08 to Oklahoma State University's Wheat Improvement team and wheat breeding program at the Oklahoma Crop Improvement Association annual meeting Friday. Oklahoma Genetics Inc. Executive Director Mark Hodges credited OSU's wheat breeding specialist Dr. Brett Carver for developing varieties adaptable to the Southern Great Plains for a great year.
"We are excited about the royalties that are coming in," Hodges said. "Of course, all of those go right back into the breeding program to develop new varieties on behalf of producers and about a third of that is coming from Kansas and Texas."
Since OGI was established ten years ago, the adoption of these wheat genetics have increased. Hodges said royalties have grown substantially especially over the last five years. In 2013, royalties totaled $486,000. OGI also has Clearfield technology licensed through BASF. If you include those royalties, Hodges said this year there will be over $650,000 that will go back into developing new wheat varieties.
"We're very popular with Kansas producers and Texas producers," Hodges said. "They like dealing with Oklahoma Genetics, Inc. We've got a great program."
Radio Oklahoma Network Farm Director Ron Hays interviewed Hodges about the great year for OGI. Click or tap on the LISTEN BAR below to listen to the full interview.
Oklahoma's program is similar to the wheat breeding programs in Kansas, Colorado and Texas, but they are all slightly different. For instance, Hodges said the Kansas program collects royalties off the seed a farmer produces and plants back into his own farm. Hodges said OGI does not charge royalties on that seed.
As farmers look at lower commodity prices, they may look for ways to cut their input costs. Hodges said research at OSU, K-State, Texas A & M has shown that planting any class of certified seed class pays. Whether you are dealing with grain or forage seed, he said the cost of planting certified seed is more than offset by the increase in production.
In looking at the future of OGI, Hodges is very optimistic. Currently OGI has varieties are on roughly half of the state's wheat acres, so there is room to grow in Oklahoma as well as neighboring states. Hodges said these varieties are widely adaptable, so their potential is great. The OSU developed variety Double Stop, a two gene wheat variety, topped research trials at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, so OGI also has potential to expand acres further north.
OGI Friday presented OSU with a check for over a half of million dollars, but Hodges said that number will be higher as any revenue generated by OGI, over the cost of marketing and administration, goes back into OSU's wheat breeding program to further benefit farmers and in turn consumers.
Watch News9 Saturday morning- Our guest for our In the Field Segment- OGI Executive Director Mark Hodges - tune in at 6:40 AM to check it out!
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