Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
March 22, 2005

Farmers from across the Prairies set the stage for a renewed period of long-term producer research funding, at the recent Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) semi-annual board meeting and 2005 annual meeting in Winnipeg.

The WGRF producer board, made up of representatives of 18 diverse agricultural organizations, made key decisions toward finalizing new long-term funding agreements with wheat and barley breeding institutions. It also reviewed and accepted the past year's financial statements and annual report, made routine changes to executive and committee structures and discussed a variety of issues aimed at strengthening the role of farmers as investors in research.

"The spring meeting was an important milestone for farmers who have invested in research through WGRF and served on its board and committees over the years," says Keith Degenhardt, a Hughenden, Alta., producer and Chair of WGRF. "WGRF has been a major player among organizations in pioneering the role of producers as investors in research. In addition to producing real benefits for farmers, this has sent a strong message of the importance of this research to our livelihoods and the competitiveness of our industry.

"As we near new long-term research funding agreements, we have acknowledged the important progress that's been made so far and targeted these new agreements to build on that for another generation."

WGRF administers the Wheat and Barley Check-off Funds, which are based on producer check-off dollars and allocated to wheat and barley breeding programs. When the Check-off Funds began in the 1993-94 crop year, they were allocated based on 10-year funding agreements with research institutions, which detailed funding allocations, breeding targets, review processes and other aspects of how the funding was to be administered. As those initial agreements expire, WGRF has worked with breeding institutions to develop new long-term agreements to begin during 2005.

"This has been an extensive effort based on broad industry input, independent reviews, work by our advisory committees and negotiations with research institutions," says Lanette Kuchenski, WGRF Executive Director. "With the decisions made at the spring meeting, we are close to announcing new research funding agreements that meet the key goals targeted during this process. Farmers and others can expect more information on this from WGRF in the coming weeks"

WGRF also administers the Endowment Fund, which is based on a nest egg of $9 million, with annual interest used to support a variety of crops research projects. In 2004, WGRF-administered funds contributed more than $ 4.6 million to research. That includes $ 3.5 million for wheat breeding, $ 750,000 for barley breeding and $ 400,000 for projects under the Endowment Fund.

Also reported at the meeting, WGRF was the recent recipient of $338,008 from excess railway revenue, which it receives according to Transportation Act Revenue Cap legislation and uses to fund research through the Endowment Fund.

There were also several updates and changes to board and committee representatives made at the meeting. Degenhart, a mixed farmer with experience in research, was re-elected as WGRF Chairman. Degehnardt represents Alberta's Wild Rose Producers. Dave Sefton, a Broadview, Sask., producer representing Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission, was named Vice Chair of WGRF.

Elected as regional representatives to round out the executive were Rob Pettinger of Elgin, Man., representing Agricore United; Brian Otto of Warner, Alta., representing the Alberta Winter Wheat Commission; and Barbara Podhorodeski of Shipman, Sask., representing Western Pulse Growers Association.

Three new board members were added. Mel Stickland of Red Deer, Alta., is the new representative of Alberta Barley Growers, replacing Alanna Hermanson; Don Dewar of Dauphin, Man., is the new representative of Keystone Agricultural Producers, replacing Bill Toews; and Grant Dyck of Niverville, Man., is the new representative of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, replacing Hubert Esquirol.

Hermanson, Toews and Esquirol were all long-term board members who played key roles in leading WGRF through various stages of evolution. Most recently, Hermanson chaired WGRF's Barley Advisory Committee and Toews chaired WGRF's Wheat Advisory Committee, as those committees provided major support toward the development of new Wheat and Barley Check-off Fund agreements. Both also served terms as WGRF Vice Chair.

WGRF funding has supported the development of many of today's new wheat and barley varieties, which feature higher yields, better quality and a variety of performance improvements. It has also supported more than 200 crop research projects under the Endowment Fund. Details on all WGRF research funding progress are available on the WGRF Web site at www.westerngrains.com.