KWS Helps Bring Sugarbeet Crops to Life on the National Mall
ASGA CEO Luther Markwart and Minn-Dak grower Rodd Beyer participated in planting sugarbeet seeds in the Voice of the Farmer Garden outside USDA on March 24, 2026.
March 26, 2026
Planting took place on March 24th at the USDA People’s Garden on the National Mall, marking a meaningful return to crop-based education in Washington, D.C. As part of the effort, KWS Seeds provided sugarbeet seed for the garden’s new planting, helping bring the crop back after several years of absence. This year’s planting celebrates the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday and renews the original mission of showcasing America’s crops to the millions of visitors who experience the National Mall each year.
The garden will feature refreshed signage explaining each crop’s role in U.S. agriculture. Interest in the planting was strong, with visits and remarks from senior government officials. Educational efforts will continue throughout the season, with additional engagement opportunities planned in the near future. Some of the crops will be shared with key government audiences for demonstration and continued education purposes after harvest. American Sugarbeet Grower’s Association CEO Luther Markwart and Minn-Dak grower Rodd Beyer assisted with the planting.
Reflecting on this year’s planting, Luther Markwart, Executive Vice President and CEO of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association, shared: “The purpose of the plantings is to educate the millions of visitors who visit DC and visit the garden each year to see first-hand what crops look like. We appreciate KWS Seeds’ contribution of sugarbeet seed, which helps ensure this crop is represented as part of the broader story of American agriculture.”
KWS Seeds looks forward to continuing its support of agricultural initiatives to create understanding and highlight the essential role of growers across the country.
About KWS
KWS is one of the world’s leading plant breeding companies. Nearly 5,000 employees* in more than 70 countries generated net sales of around €1.68 billion in the fiscal year 2023/2024. A company with a tradition of family ownership, KWS has operated independently for almost 170 years. It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for sugarbeet, corn, cereals, vegetables, oilseed rape and sunflower. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to continuously improve yield for farmers and plants’ resistance to diseases, pests and abiotic stress. To that end, the company invested more than €300 million last fiscal year in research and development. *excl. seasonal workforce
