Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
October 15, 2008
The 2008
Canadian Wheat Board (CWB)
survey results are in, and varieties that have been farmer
supported through Western
Grains Research Foundation's (WGRF) Wheat and Barley
Check-offs top the list in almost all categories.
Under the Canadian Western Red Spring class the top three
varieties grown in Western Canada - AC™ Lillian, AC™ Harvest and
AC™ Superb - were developed with financial support from the
Wheat Check-off.
Similarly, AC™ Strongfield and AC Avonlea dominated the durum
class with over 60% of the represented seeded acres, and are
also WGRF aided varieties.
CDC Copeland, the second most popular variety grown in 2008 was
assisted through funding from the Barley Check-off, and is
gaining ground on AC Metcalfe with each passing year.
Other notable WGRF supported varieties include CDC Falcon, AC
Andrew, AC™ Snowbird, AC Vista, AC Crystal, AC™ Newdale and CDC
McGwire. A full list of varieties that have been assisted by
WGRF's check-offs can be found at www.westerngrains.com under
Check-offs.
"Farmers should give themselves a big pat on the back," says
Lanette Kuchenski, WGRF's Executive Director. "They put their
research dollars on the table through the check-offs and these
investments are paying dividends through new and improved wheat
and barley varieties for them to grow in their fields."
Every dollar a farmer invests through WGRF's check-offs is
leveraged to attain additional government funds that match or
double the investment made by producers. "WGRF is out there
fighting to make sure that as long as farmers are putting money
on the table for research, so is government. We want to get the
best bang for every dollar invested in crop research as we can."
WGRF invests in variety development at public breeding centres
across Western Canada that target issues such as improved solid
stemmed varieties to combat sawfly, fusarium head blight
research, earlier maturing varieties and hardy winter wheat
varieties, just to name a few. Check-off funds also supported
the development of the midge tolerant varieties that are set to
be distributed to farmers for 2010.
Variety development is an ongoing battle notes, Kuchenski.
"Together we are making great advances against a number of pest,
disease and quality issues that are impacting farmers across
Western Canada, but the fight always continues."
WGRF is a non-profit organization that is farmer funded and
directed. Set-up to fund research that directly benefits prairie
farmers, the WGRF administers an Endowment Fund and the Wheat
and Barley Check-off Funds, with annual research funding in the
range of $4 to $5 million. |
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