Define success?

[gustgd]

http://westerngrains.com/news/wgrf-producer-
survey-results/

As some of you knw I am the Wheat Growers rep
to the WGRF.

Many of the members that I talk to support the
work that WGRF has done overthe years, and
believe in check-offs to support research. Other
members hate Western Grains and some of the
decisions made over the years.

So my question to you looks is how do you define
success?
Some feel that the rate of genetic gain has been
to slow. Some feel that certain characteristics
have been ignored in favor of others.
So here's your opportunity let me know how you
would like WGRF move forward in a post
Monopoly world.
While we're at it is CIGI something you feel has
served us well? What would you do differently?
Should we as western farmers be asking For
more? How would you pay

To put my cards on the table I think we will have
to put in more going forward. I would like to see
end point royalties. That way sucessful programs
get rewarded with more dollars.
Enough from me .

[gustgd]

While I have your attention I have a meeting this
week on the formation of a wheat commission in
Sask. What would you have them do?

[wd9]

Successful is having what you want, but
happy is wanting what you have.

[malleefarmer]

I'd say nearly all growers are happy with end point
royalties.
I have a docket in front of me for 30.37 tonne of
feed wheat sold a few weeks back $6615.03 total
paid to me.
$55.75 grdc levy
$10.62 pifs levy our state farming body needs
money
$30.37 end point plant breeding royalties
All the above levies are tax deductible.
One can apply I think to have second levy
refunded if one feels strongly enough but never
heard of it being done .
Grdc is grain research development corporation is
a govt research agency.
I may be wrong or not quite correct with these %
but 75% of plant breeding is private and 25% is
universities/colleges .
End point royalties vary with varieties and growers
know this when seed is purchased, royalties last
for 3 to 5 yrs a variety is usually superseded by
then.
Seed can be traded between farmers and a
declaration is signed and royalty is still paid upon
delivery.

[malleefarmer]

Breeding here in aust for wheat is yield yield
milling quality unfortunately rust resistance seems
to be not a priority due to low cost of
fungicides,and pre harvest pouting is a issue.
All the best varieties are rust suers or sprout
conversely types with good resistance to the
above yield sometimes alot less up to 15% guess
you guys have similar issues.
Frost resistance would be nice as well but takes
or ever apparently with conventional breeding
methods and we gm breeding isn't allowed to
speed up breeding attributes wanted.

[sawfly]

malle you commented on the the low cost of fungicide for wheat .
what does it cost acre / hectare

[charliep]

Also curious on a definition of success in plant breeding generally. Will be participating in a discussion about the seed industry over the next couple of days and the direction of WGRF I suspect will come up for discussion.

I note Malleefarmers comments about the Aussie system. Expensive but Australia is getting results/return on investment for farmers (at least from the communication I have from Australia).

[tipsy]

Gustgd, while I'm watchting it rain this miserable morning I was giving your topic some thought. A quick look thur my 2012 Saskseed guide shows 46 varieties of peas, of which btw none stand real well. 24 varieties of oats of which i don't grow. So leave comments others. I would question why is there not a round-up one developed for weed control? Probably more politics than breeding. Canola is not listed in the seedguide but i will suggest there is probably well over a 100 varieties to chose from. From my farms view there is not a lot of difference from any one of the 100 plus varieties and question why we have that many and i would offer they are outrageously priced. I see there are 8 classes of wheat and 35 varieties to chose from. So from the surface it would appear and I'll suggest that the farm community has been will served by plant breeding and from the money that has been available. Not to suggest there are not problems there are but money does not appear to be one of them. To finaly get to your question. I could live with a ceral commission and a check off/levy program IF it is voluntary and refundable without conditions and terms. Btw I find it interesting that WGR would be looking for ways to collect more money when WGR has what... somewhere around 80 million yet spend?

[JoeyPotato]

The WGR has money to spend and must be calcualted in. Any checkoff must be vol and refundable. End use roalties make the most sense.

How do you define success? The one who dies with the most toys wins. lol

[furrowtickler]

Getting done what needs to be done efficiently - annualy. JMO

[Francksaskfarmer]

Tough question... I am comfortable with point of sale check off but the main thing is how and who decides to spend these funds no matter if it is wheat canola etc...
Just came back last night from one week in France for my brother's wedding. I have several uncles and brothers farming there. Their crops look great even after some winter frost, they had favorable conditions to have the crop shape up. Their wheat heads look giant and lots of them for a potential of 2.5 times ours. They use 3 times of fungicide and yet they have fusarium and leaf disease problems.
That last point worries me as we are using the fungicides more and more. Their fields have tramlines that look like freeways, they use them so often.
On the other end I got to talk to several people that favor organic and are definitely against GMO.
In my opinion, we need to find genetic ways and possibly GMO to avoid using pesticides to control diseases and insects. And this work needs to be done in public/private partnership. funds need to be spent really efficiently, in order to speed the rate of findings.
Industry needs to be part of the decision and need to be collaborative.