Wheat

Former scientist puts Canadian wheat research under the microscope

Stephen Morgan Jones discussed his findings and offered a prescription during the Canadian Global Crops Symposium

Canadian wheat research needs to pull itself together. Right now there isn’t enough focus and co-ordination, there are too many parochial decisions being made at the provincial level, and the projects that receive support are too small and scattered, says a former senior research manager with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). “The average size of

Nuffield Scholarship application deadline April 30

Four scholarships of $15,000 each are available for those between 25 and 45


Applications for 2017 Canadian Nuffield Farming Scholarships are due April 30, 2016. Scholarships are awarded to individuals with a passion for agriculture and a desire to expand their knowledge, pursue new ideas and share their findings with others, for the betterment of Canadian agriculture. Applicants should be in mid-career, between the ages of 25 and


wheat and barley stalks

Winter Cereals Manitoba ponders plant breeding

End-point royalties are unlikely to be popular with farmers and are viewed as unfair and inefficient

Winter Cereals Manitoba members are grappling with how farmers can best fund development of new wheat and barley varieties. It’s part of a sector-wide soul searching for checkoff-funded wheat and barley groups across the Prairies, prompted by the ongoing need for new varieties and the changing funding landscape following the move to an open market.

Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association director Dean Harder explained proposed new voting options at the association’s annual meeting during Crop Connect in Winnipeg Feb. 11. The changes, which would allow for advance voting, were part of a bylaw change members approved.

Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association introducing hybrid voting

Farmers will have the option to cast their votes in advance through a 
mail-in or electronic ballot or in person at the association’s annual meeting

There will be three options for voting in Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA) director elections: an advance mail-in ballot, an advance electronic ballot or voting at the association’s annual meeting. Members voted in favour of a bylaw containing the changes Feb. 11 at the MWBGA’s annual meeting in Winnipeg during Crop Connect. “This

wheat

Prairie wheat growers wanted to assist in gluten strength study

Farmers can get some valuable data about their wheat, and potentially help boost returns for the whole class

Scientists investigating the effect weather, agronomics and genotype have on milling wheat quality are appealing to farmers across the Prairies to participate in their study. The goal is to improve the quantity, quality and consistency of Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat and in so doing increase returns to farmers. In return participating farmers will


Western Grain Research Foundation announces five years of funding for AAFC wheat, barley breeding

The money will provide Agriculture Canada with stable funding despite changes in 
wheat and barley checkoffs coming next year

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) will get steady funding for wheat and barley breeding over the next five years through the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF). The WGRF is investing $21.4 million — $20 million and $1.4 million for wheat and barley, respectively, up until 2020, it said in a news release Feb. 8. The

How should farmers collect money for cereal varietal development — checkoffs, end point royalties or both?

How should farmers collect money for cereal varietal development — checkoffs, end point royalties or both?

Some farmers benefit from research without supporting it

For every dollar invested in wheat varietal development there’s a $20 return, says a study conducted several years ago by University of Saskatchewan agricultural economist Richard Gray and his colleagues. So why aren’t farmers investing more? “Because checkoffs are refundable. They can free ride. Full stop,” Gray said in an interview Jan. 14. Those who



(Jack Dykinga photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Minogue: Wanna start a cereal seed company?

It’s clear from where the Prairies’ cereal growers’ groups sit that it’s time for farmers to get more involved in wheat and barley breeding — and they have a new report in hand suggesting ways to do so. Options in the report, from the newly-formed Wheat and Barley Variety Working Group, range from improving the

Hands experimenting with wheat in a laboratory

Farm groups announce funds for wheat genomics research

The project will foster development of improved cultivars that are resistant to disease, pests, heat and drought

The Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC), the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask Wheat), and the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) are committing a combined total investment of $3,582,992 over four years for a world-leading research project on wheat genomics. The Saskatchewan-based research project is designed to improve productivity and profitability for wheat farmers. The $8.8-million project,