Cereal seed business

[tweety]

Do the prairie cereal commissions have the balls to own and control the cereals seed and germplasm industry?

Or is it just one more thing where farmers can't get their act together on and it slips away?

[farmaholic]

It would require leadership and vision. I am not that person...LOL

[jamesb]

An interesting show, but I have a problem with state funded media. RT (founded as "Russia Today") is a Russian state-funded television network which runs cable and satellite television channels, as well as Internet content directed to audiences outside the Russian Federation.

[jamesb]

If we as farmers want to ante up we could get in the game. Sask Pulse did it with their Variety release program. As far as i know it the only crop we can legally brown bag because we as farmers paid for that right. We would have to buy a seed company or fund their plant breeding research

[wmoebis]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't R & D where some/most of our check off's go.
And isn't that why we pay more than commercial grain price for seed? To cover cost of R & D.

[rkaiser]

Fair enough James. Are you suggesting it is better for everyone to watch Fox and CBC and the other "true" story tellers? Russia openly admits they fund RT including their American team. Bankster and corporate led governments in the west will not admit to any hanky panky or propaganda with news in the west. Which is more truthful?

[furrowtickler]

What are seed growers thoughts on this ?
Tweety - i hope these comissions have the balls - or the big 4 will have full control of all cereals as well

[TOM4CWB]

Question?
Did you folks ever consider the fact that grain growers already have a seed cooperate called Secan... Which plows any profit we create back into new varietys and R and D!

The wheel has already been created... Join SeCan and be your own seed companies cooperative member... SeCan has many great varieties... Get back at the multinational seed companies grow SeCan cereal varieties!

[grower99]

There has always been a role for the feds in this part of agriculture.It is this govt that is reducing their role in public breeding. This govt panders to the wishes of big corporations at the expense of the growers. Supporting initiatives that benefit all Canadians whether it is medicare,public services,crop insurance...is not ideologically acceptable. Let private enterprise look after it - laissez faire economics.

[tweety]

Kansas state along with the university of Kansas do germplasm and varietal breeding owned by Kansas wheat ie the farmers.

75% of the wheat varieties grown in Kansas and around Kansas is from this farmer owned organization.

So its not impossible.

[TOM4CWB]

We do as much here... in a little different way. Secan.

As Canada's Seed Partner, SeCan actively seeks partnerships which promote profitability in Canadian agriculture. SeCan is the largest supplier of certified seed to Canadian farmers with more than 700 members from coast to coast engaged in seed production, processing and marketing. We are a private, not-for-profit, member corporation with the primary goal of accessing and promoting leading genetics.

We work closely with our breeding partners to bring the top-performing cultivars to Canadian farmers. SeCan has more than 430 varieties across the major field crops, including cereals, oilseeds, pulses, special crops, grasses, and legumes. Most of the varieties we distribute were developed by publicly-funded Canadian plant breeding organizations such as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, provincial ministries of agriculture, and universities. We also distribute varieties sourced by private and foreign companies.

Our genetics are easily accessible. Farmers can purchase SeCan varieties at most dealers of certified seed in Canada, which allows them the convenience of choosing a preferred local supplier.

Since SeCan was formed in 1976 we've been able to bring new varieties with improved features into commercial production more quickly. This is a benefit to everyone in the business, including farmers, millers and other processors, consumers and exporters.

We're proud of our accomplishments. SeCan continues to be a major supporter of plant breeding in Canada. To date, the organization has returned more than $70 million in royalties and research funding. We support Plant Breeders' Rights as a way to ensure the long-term sustainability of a healthy and viable seed industry in Canada.

Please contact us if you have any questions about SeCan or the benefits of membership. SeCan has the "Genes that fit your farm".

https://www.secan.com/?sv=&category=Home&title=about_us

[sumdumguy]

Was Secan suffering prior to Upov?

[tweety]

To add to sumdum's question, what do you gain in upov91 that was not already legislated thru pbr and seeds act?

Secan isn't owned by farmers, its owned by a select group of seed growers. Secan, in the future, will have to start paying for that germplasm and varieties to farmers after the government breeder germplasm model is initiated. Your basically free ride would be over. Farmers would own and control all of that.

Note to Secan, careful for what you have asked for (upov91) because sometimes you get it.

That's if they (commissions) can get their shit together. Its all there for the taking with huge benefit to the farmer.

Or will we just keep whining about seed company control and price. The Sask3 way.

[grower99]

Tom, that is why it is essential to have Ag Canada...keep a significant role in breeding of cereals...

[furrowtickler]

Very good questions / points tweety .