Registering Wheats A Detailed Process

The chairman joked about hosting “Canadian Idol” as he called a meeting of the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale (WRT) to order here last month. It’s an apt comparison in some ways. “Canadian Idol” is a contest where judges pick the best singer from a large group of contestants; members of the

Farmer Funds Behind Flood Of New CWRS Wheats Coming

“It was a pretty strong showing (this year) for CWRS wheat. What we’re seeing now is the WGRF (Western Grain Research Foundation) checkoff really kicking in.” – GRAHAM WORDEN An unprecedented nine new wheats eligible for the top Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) class were recommended for registration during this year’s Prairie Grain Development Committee’s


High-Yielding Wheat Remains Elusive

“Canada’s grain quality reputation is being put at risk, we’re spending a crapload on testing and it’s costing farmers money. Someone should be held accountable.” – EARL GEDDES Kernel visual distinguishability was pushed into an early grave last August to clear the way for new developments in high-yielding wheat suitable for livestock feed and ethanol.

Australia Grain Pipeline Needs Investment

“East coast grain exports are moving at absolutely a snail’s pace and exports generally across the industry for wheat are a lot lower than they should be.” – MI KE CHASELING Australia’s grain supply pipeline needs significant investment to overcome problems exporters face in getting grain to customers, an industry representative said March 3. Mike



In Brief… – for Mar. 12, 2009

Winding down: The Net Income Stabilization Fund (NISA) is in the final stages of winding down. All accounts will be closed as of March 31, its administrators say. NISA came to an end and began winding down accounts in March 2004. Participants were given the option to withdraw their NISA balance in one lump sum


AG review not necessary

Agriculture Minister Ritz is sanctimoniously outraged over the fact the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) reported a minuscule loss in their contingency fund due to the global market meltdown. Of the record $8.418 billion in gross sales, the contingency fund loss was less than one per cent. The contingency fund was established to backstop CWB producer

Wheat Follows Wall Street Down

Weakness in the U. S. stock market has dragged wheat prices lower even as dry weather throughout the U. S. Plains this winter has threatened to severely damage this year’s crop. “I think that the stock market really does have a death grip not only on wheat, but a lot of the commodities,” said Joe


Scientists Find Genes To Protect Wheat From Rust

Scientists have pinpointed two genes that protect wheat against devastating fungal diseases found worldwide, potentially paving the way to hardier wheat strains, international researchers reported Feb. 20. New research published in the journal Science showed how the genes provide resistance to leaf rust, stripe rust and powdery mildew, diseases responsible for millions of hectares of

Kyle Durum Wheat “Seed Of The Year” In The West

Kyle durum wheat, the most popular durum grown in the West between 1988 and 2005, was named Seed of the Year for Western Canada at the recent Prairie Grain Development Committee annual meeting. Kyle and its developer, Fred Townley-Smith, a retired Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) plant breeder, were recognized Feb. 25. The first crosses