Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association director David Rourke says it will do most of its research on joint projects with other provinces.

Giving farmers a role in variety development

Should farmers just provide a little assistance, or form their own breeding company?

What role should farmers play in developing new wheat and barley varieties? It’s a question Western Canada’s cereal groups are tackling together, says Brent VanKoughnet, a consultant working with the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA), one of the groups involved in the project. Directors and staff from eight organizations, with some funding and

man at podium speaking into microphone

Asian markets interested in Canada Prairie Spring wheats

Manitoba farmers haven’t shown much interest in the class in recent years focusing instead on CWRS


Canada’s Western Red Spring wheat, this country’s flagship wheat that is famous for its bread-making quality, is accustomed to having the spotlight all to itself. But lately two of its siblings — Canada Prairie Spring (CPS) and Canada Western Red Winter classes of wheat have been earning quite a name for themselves with buyers. Interest


Elwin Hermanson, Canadian Grain Commission chief commissioner

Canadian Grain Commission to review wheat class system

Wheat classes serve Canada’s grain industry well, but chief commissioner 
Elwin Hermanson wants to see how they can be improved

The Canadian Grain Commission is planning to review this country’s respected wheat variety classification system to see how it can best meet the needs of customers while adapting to a wider range of varietal qualities. Chief commissioner Elwin Hermanson told the Manitoba Seed Growers Association annual meeting Dec. 11 the review is about improving the

wheat field

AAFC proposing two-tier crop variety registration system

One category would require merit testing and the other would only require the registrant to demonstrate a variety was new, distinguishable, uniform and stable

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is proposing to reduce Canada’s crop variety registration system from three tiers to two by 2016. One of the tiers would still include merit testing as part of the process for registering new wheats for western Canadian farmers, which is seen by many as an important tool in assuring wheat


Manitoba Seed Growers’ Association president Eric McLean

Manitoba No. 1 in pedigreed seed acres

Manitoba has far fewer crop acres than Saskatchewan and Alberta, but the growing demand for soybeans has pushed Manitoba’s pedigreed acreage to the top

It’s unlikely Manitoba Seed Growers Association (MSGA) members will be doing a happy dance or celebrating like kids winning a hockey championship, but Manitoba is No. 1 — and for the second year in a row. Manitoba had more inspected acres of pedigreed seed than any other province in 2014 and 2013 — thanks mainly

Dominoes starting to fall as end of single desk draws nearer

Research and market development, keeping an eye on the railways, 
and the fate of short line railways are just three of the issues KAP is trying to address

Manitoba’s farm leaders are scrambling to plug holes that will be left by the demise of the single-desk CWB. Research and market development, keeping an eye on the railways, and the fate of short lines were high on the agenda when Keystone Agricultural Producers delegates gathered at their General Council meeting last week. But challenges


Warning: Soil with seed can spread clubroot

Manitoba seed and potato growers are being warned about the risk clubroot-infected soil could get to their farm in the seed they bought for spring planting. The Manitoba Clubroot Action Team, consisting of representatives from the Manitoba government, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the Canola Council of Canada, issued the warning in separate letters to



Agriculture Hall Of Fame – for Jul. 28, 2011

Vernon McIntyre was born in 1919 in Neepawa, Man. and was raised in Kelwood along with his brother and sister. In 1930, the family moved to a farm near Elphinstone. Due to his father’s poor health, Vernon took over the farm duties while still in his teens. Vernon completed his schooling by correspondence. In 1950

Seed Interactive — A New Online Variety Info Source

It has all the data found inSeed Manitobaand more Farmers making last-minute seeding changes have a new web-based tool to get the skinny on crop var iet ies cal led Seed Interactive (www.seedinterac tive.ca). The browser-based Internet site has all the variety information, including yield and agronomic and disease data, gathered through the Manitoba Crop