FAQ – KWS COVER+™

lt is second-generation common rye seed that comes from KWS Hybrid Rye production. KWS COVER+™ is being made available to farmers solely for the purpose of protecting soil between production of commercial crops. It is to be terminated in spring before maturity and cannot be harvested for grain.

KWS understands soil protection is very important to farmers and the agricultural industry. Cover crop acres in North America are estimated to double by 2030. KWS COVER+™ will provide thousands of farmers access to known genetics with a 3rd party germination and weed purity that meets local and federal regulations to meet their
environmental sustainability needs as it relates to soil erosion control, soil aggregation, water retention, nutrient preservation, weed suppression and carbon capture.

This provides farmers with access to a high-quality soil protection program to be used to support important environmental stewardship of soil, water, and air between crops.

KWS COVER+™ will provide farmers with a product of reliable germination and purity to achieve rapid soil canopy establishment and soil protection between crops.

Yes, KWS COVER+™ comes with Terms and Conditions of use and is designed to be used solely as a terminal soil protection. lt‘s not intended to produce a crop for commerce and must be terminated before maturity and cannot be harvested for grain. By utilizing the KWS COVER+™ soil protection program farmers agree to these Terms and Conditions.

The Terms and Conditions are an agreement with KWS that KWS COVER+™ can only be used for the purpose of a single planting by the grower to establish and develop a rye plant canopy for the soil and must be terminated prior to maturity and cannot be harvested for grain.
NOTICE: FOR SOIL PROTECTION USE ONLY AND CANNOT BE HARVESTED FOR GRAIN. By using this product, you agree to KWS’ sale and use restrictions found here: www.kws.com/ca/coverplus. These seeds are protected by KWS’ intellectual property rights.

The Terms and Conditions are an agreement that protects KWS intellectual property that is imperative to the future ofKWS and farmers. Investment and development of new seed technology costs millions of dollars and over ten yearsto bring to market. lt is critically important that KWS protects its technology so it can continue to invest in improvedyield, quality and pest resistance while improving sustainability of the environment.

lf a farmer breaches the Terms and Conditions, KWS has the right to remove the farmer from the program and pursue legal action to collect damages for violation of KWS‘ intellectual property rights. KWS has an auditing program to ensure compliance with the Terms and Conditions.

Termination means destroying the rye before grain maturity and not harvesting it for grain. Appropriate methods for this include herbicide, tillage, roller crimping or mowing.

Common seed is not a seed variety. lt is seed that could be one to many years off its pedigreed parentage and exposed to outcrossing with other rye pollen sources. lt is not fit for any expressed purpose for yield or quality and has no distinguishability, stability, or uniformity in its measure. lt also has lower standards as it relates to germination and purity. Pedigreed seed on the other hand is of a known seed variety and is fully traceable to its parentage. lt is fit for the expressed purpose for yield and quality and is distinguishable, stable, and uniform in its measure. lt has the highest standards for germination and purity.

KWS COVER+™ is not Hybrid Rye. KWS COVER+™ is a second-generation common rye seed that comes from KWS hybrids. KWS COVER+™ may contain progeny from a combination of KWS grain hybrids and outcrossing with other rye pollen sources. Hybrids on the other hand are produced from known parents under a pedigreed seed system and exhibit distinctive yield and quality traits not found in KWS COVER+™. KWS COVER+™ and KWS hybrids are completely different products.

By planting KWS COVER+™ farmers agree to terminate the plants before they reach grain maturity. In the unlikelyevent that environmental factors prevent this termination the farmer must contact KWS to collaborate a solution.Please e-mail coverplus@kws.com

Like many seeds, genetic makeup and consistency degrade over time. In the case of hybrids this happens much quicker than traditional technologies. KWS wishes to ensure farmers achieve consistent results every time a farmer uses a KWS product. Furthermore, the KWS COVER+™ program is governed by Terms and Conditions that strictly prohibit use, transfer or sale for production of any crop including grain, or seed.

Yes, farmers can use KWS COVER+™ for grazing or forage. KWS understands grazing and forage can be part ofa fully integrated soil and animal production system. If taken for forage, the farmer needs to be aware that yieldsand quality of any KWS COVER+™ program will be significantly lower than its hybrid rye parents and productionwill resemble conventional rye. After grazing or foraging, farmers will still need to use the appropriate methods fortermination which include herbicide, tillage, roller crimping or mowing.

There are two ways a farmer can participate in the KWS COVER+™ program.
a. KWS Hybrid Rye farmers can sell grain from KWS Hybrid Rye production to KWS COVER+™ License Partners. The grain will be cleaned, labelled, and sold as KWS COVER+™ common rye seed for use in soil protection.This provides KWS Hybrid Rye farmers with a new and significant opportunity for marketing grain from Hybrid Rye production while supporting soil protection and environmental stewardship.

b. Farmers can purchase KWS COVER+™ common rye seed from KWS COVER+™ License Partners and Authorized Sellers.

For more information regarding KWS COVER+TM please email us at coverplus@remove-this.kws.com

or call +1.219.851.3459