AgriPro Wheat, a division of Garst Seed Company, announces the hiring of two key executives to the AgriPro Wheat business management team. 

Dr. Rollin Sears and Dr. David Worrall are joining forces with Robert Bruns to form a new management team for the AgriPro Wheat business group.

Dr. Rollin Sears
Most recently, Dr. Sears served as professor in the Department of Agronomy at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. He has served as a wheat breeder at Kansas State University and over his career has released the last four leading varieties in the state of Kansas. His varieties currently occupy 50% of the acreage in Kansas and 20% of the acres in Oklahoma and Texas. He currently serves as chair of the National Wheat Improvement Committee and has consulted frequently regarding wheat improvement and biotechnology opportunities.

Dr. David Worrall
Dr. Worrall leaves his current professor appointment at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He most recently worked as a wheat breeder at Texas A&M University. He has developed a number of popular hard red winter wheat varieties adapted to the southern Great Plains, including Siouxland 89, Tam 200, 201 and 202 and Lockett. His program is the leader in the development of dual-purpose wheat varieties for forage and grain production. Dr. Worrall has been an elected representative to the National Wheat Improvement Committee for the past 15 years and has served in various leadership positions regionally and in the state of Texas. Prior to joining
Texas A&M, Dr. Worrall was employed by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Mexico City, Mexico.

Rob Bruns
Mr. Bruns has previously served as general manager of AgriPro's Wheat research and development group. He brings many years of both wheat breeding and marketing experience to his new position of general manager of the AgriPro Wheat business team. A successful breeder (14 varieties) from 1974 through 1985, Bruns has held a number of administrative positions for AgriPro Seeds, including hybrid wheat project manager from 1992-1994. Since 1994, Bruns has had split responsibilities between managing both the research and marketing efforts. His marketing focus has been the development of added value and identity preserved varieties and hybrids. As a research manager, his team has released a constant flow of successful commercial products into the market enabling AgriPro a leading position in North America with varietial wheat.

All three are recognized worldwide for the contributions to the wheat improvement and breeding industry.

"Wheat is the last of the major world agricultural crops to enter into the 'new age' of technology driven sophistication and breeding practices," says Col Seccombe, president of Garst Seed Company. "There is currently a unique window of opportunity to bring new 'technology' wheat varieties to the market. The North American wheat farmer and market is ready for them and this new business unit is our commitment to develop and deliver these products to our customers.

"We are very excited about having all three of these well-respected professionals as the foundation of our AgriPro Wheat team," adds Seccombe. "Their experience, knowledge and vision will be essential elements in bringing new, technology-based and trait-enhanced wheat varieties to North American wheat growers."

AgriPro researchers and breeders have been developing new and important wheat varieties for more than 25 years. This new wheat management group will ensure a continued flow of improved wheat varieties selected to maximize profit for wheat growers across North America.

AgriPro Wheat is a part of Garst Seed Company and the worldwide Advanta Seeds group. With corporate and research headquarters in Slater, Iowa, Garst is the largest member of the Advanta group of companies and is a key component of an expansive worldwide Advanta seed technology network that  includes research, development and breeding facilities in 13 U.S. states and in 12 countries around the globe. Thus, AgriPro, Garst and their worldwide sister companies employ thousands of technical staff to advance plant breeding, genetics and seed production.

Company news release
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