12  / SEEDWORLD.COM  JUNE 2026
North America: A Chapter 
Shaped by Long Term 
Thinking
While sugar beet continues to 
play a central role in the North 
American business, KWS 
is increasingly applying its 
breeding capabilities to addi­
tional crops. One prominent 
example is hybrid rye.
Once considered a niche 
option, hybrid rye is now 
gaining recognition as a 
practical solution to multiple 
on-farm challenges. Growers 
are seeing consistent perfor­
mance across a wide range of 
conditions, especially in envi­
ronments where other crops 
struggle.
“Hybrid rye performs 
across a wide range of condi­
tions because of its resilience.” 
say Cole Ambrock, KWS 
sales and marketing manager 
for the Canadian market. “It 
produces a crop where others 
aren’t able to and on top of 
that, you’re seeing strong yield 
performance and feed value.”
That resilience is tied to the 
plant itself. Hybrid rye devel­
ops a deeper, more extensive 
root system, allowing it to 
access nutrients and mois­
ture that other crops may not 
reach. 
Innovation in Practice: 
Solving Old Problems with 
New Genetics
The foresight that has shaped 
KWS’s path to a leading plant 
breeding company continues 
to guide the company today. 
In recent years, KWS has con­
sistently reinvested around 
20% of its net sales into 
research and development, 
addressing long standing and 
emerging challenges.
In North America, one 
factor has historically limited 
the use of rye: ergot. KWS 
addressed the challenge 
through breeding, not chem­
istry.
Their PollenPLUS™ 
technology increases pollen 
production during flower­
HYBRID RYE 
BY THE 
NUMBERS
Why growers across 
North America are taking a 
second look at rye
Hybrid rye is gaining traction 
across North America as growers 
look for crops that can perform 
under pressure while improving 
system efficiency. Its value 
comes from a combination of 
agronomic, economic and rotational 
advantages.
Consistent Performance
Hybrid rye delivers stable 
yields across a wide range of 
environments, including sandy soils 
and stress-prone conditions.
Deeper Root System
An extensive root structure allows 
the crop to access water and 
nutrients that may be unavailable to 
other cereals.
Early Maturity Advantage
Earlier harvest opens the door for 
double cropping in many regions, 
improving land-use efficiency.
Feed Value and Livestock Benefits
High biomass production and 
favorable feed characteristics 
support use in livestock systems, 
with ongoing research expanding 
inclusion rates.
Natural Weed Suppression
Rapid early growth and canopy 
development can help reduce 
weed pressure, including herbicide-
resistant species.
Ergot Management Breakthrough
PollenPLUS™ technology reduces 
ergot risk, addressing one of the 
historical barriers to rye adoption.
Cole Ambrock, KWS sales and 
marketing manager, Canada. 
Becca Brattain, KWS country 
manager, U.S.
ing, helping plants outcom­
pete ergot infection during a 
critical window. The result is 
significantly reduced risk and 
renewed confidence in rye as 
a feed ingredient.
“Older generations of 
farmers moved away from rye 
because of ergot,” Ambrock 
says. “Now we can say it’s 
manageable.”
This approach — solving 
problems at the genetic level 
— reflects a broader philoso­
phy within KWS.
“We start with the seed 
and work outward,” Ambrock 
says. “The goal is to make 
crops more resilient so farm­
ers don’t have to rely as heav­
ily on additional inputs.”
Building Research 
Capacity
In hybrid rye, long-term 
growth is supported by 
dedicated expertise. Across 
the U.S. and Canada, special­
ized teams work on the crop 
alongside agronomy and 
animal nutrition specialists.
“We’re investing in 
research to understand how 
rye performs in feed rations 
and how it can be used more 
effectively,” KWS country 
manager U.S. Becca Brattain 
says. “At the same time, we’re 
looking at how to improve the 
plant itself.”
To support this work, KWS 
has added a forage breeder 
focused specifically on hybrid 
rye, with the goal of expand­
ing its role in livestock sys­
tems.
Family Ownership and 
Long-Term Focus
The strategic patience that 
shapes how KWS pursues 
its long-term goals is closely 
tied to KWS’s ownership 

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