Canada is falling behind in private wheat breeding research

[charliep]

I don't know if there is that much difference between livestock and crops. In
both cases, you need to pay for access to genetics.

Perhaps hogs and the feather industries come closer to what the crop
industry might look like. If I were to survey today, what percent of pig
operations would use their own home grown breeding stock versus
purchased genetics? If you buy breeding stock, you pay for it with the
driver you see value in the investment. The same questions could be asked
about chicken and turkeys.

Tongue in cheek but the hog industry is a lot like canola and cattle more
like wheat. But that might spark a debate and would be off topic.

[charliep]

Just to help me, what percentage of farmers use certified seed (cereal grains)? The number in my head 15 % but need to give this reality check.

[wd9]

wmoebis, the difference is in transgenics and the regs around that. You can cross conventionally or use mutagenesis all you want in grain like livestock.

For example if you had a beef cow that had the meat consistency of chicken thru DNA manipulation, it too would be subjected to the rigors of novel trait registration hell and would probably not get approved.

[furrowtickler]

Agstump, what planet are you on, we live in Western Canada - there is little hope that money flows anywhere from board grains. All I ever see and hear is excuses from the borg why we should not expect real market prices for wht - excuses are for loosers. And don't give me b/s about the current raise in pro's - they are still a joke.

[gustgd]

Off topic but since I started I can take it.

For the animal analogy if you cross a Brahma with a Char you can sell it.

If you cross Superb with Texas wheat you get feed. Doesn't matter how good it performs. Millers can be beating down your doors. If it's not a registered Variety in Canada it's FEED.

Maybe if you wanted to go through the CWB buyback ....................

[gustgd]

Thanks for any/all comments

Also it's very tough to make money on extension.
I've been reading about this guy pushing yields through very intensive management.

http://www.needhamag.com/press_releases/

Although when you talk about some of these practices risk reward gets out there. God still makes the final call.

Maybe some not for profit groups can test some different strategies in then get out the extension.

Looking for direction.

[charliep]

Off topic but an interesting article about progress in gene mapping wheat.

[URL="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/a-new-dawn-for-agriculture-2063308.html"]wheat genome breakthrough[/URL]

<a href=<http://www.globalnews.ca/world/cracking wheat genome could improve food security scientists/3453208/story.html>wheat genomics stem rust ug99</a>

also note some of the disease issues facing wheat. Not at Saskatoon this summer for the field day at the U of S but apparently a good presentation on the stem rust ug99 that is in Africa/the middle east but has potential to move into other regions.

[charliep]

Second one didn't work. Have to go to globalnews and do a search on wheat.

<a href="http://www.globalnews.ca/>wheat genomics story stem rust ug99</a>

[charliep]

Try 2
[URL="http://www.globalnews.ca/"]wheat genomics ug99[/URL]

[charliep]

A strange question. If a person is standing still and everyone else is moving forward, can you keep up?

[rook]

how much money is necessary for results? Dooesn't the western grain research fund get tens of millions from the railway fines? I'm not making a political comment - I'm sincerely asking what commitment is necessary to achieve results. Are they getting enough to replace the feds decreasing spending on plant breeding?

[gustgd]

Rook good question and one that WGRF gets all the time.

The railway money approx 70 million is to be spent/invested across all commodities. Everything from Canola to flax to chick peas.....
A board decision has been made by the WGRF to only spend the interest earned. Under special circumstances we might dip into principle depending on the project, maybe the phytotron in Saskatoon, the cereal research center in Winnipeg or some new seeding equipment for Lacombe, to test how varieties perform under zero till conditions.
All of the above are examples no decisions have been made.

The checkoff dollars are by legislation directed to the commodity that contributed. Wheat dollars go to wheat research barley to barley.

[gustgd]

On how much is necessary, is a much tougher question.

As I understand it, it's a numbers game the more crosses you make on a parent line the more chance you have of getting something that you desire.
Like the song says all it takes is time and money.

That being said, who puts up the money?

If farmers don't/won't put up dollars yet still want varieties to allow us to remain competitive in Wheat production.
Then my feeling is that we allow the private sector in as well.
The private sector needs ROI or they go to Australia, France, Argentina, RUK........... pick your export competitor.

Not to say I have any or all the answers, and someone please correct me where I'm wrong but stronger Plant breeders rights is one place to start.

Now how to keep a farmers right to save seed.