Wheat Growers welcome new funding for wheat research

[gustgd]

Wheat Growers welcome new funding for wheat
research
The Western Canadian Wheat Growers
Association welcomes today’s announcement of
the formation of the Canadian Wheat Alliance and
the funding of $97 million toward wheat research
on the prairies over the next five years.
The Canadian Wheat Alliance is an initiative of
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Province
of Saskatchewan and the University of
Saskatchewan.
“We do need more research to reduce yield
losses due to environmental factors,” says Levi
Wood, President of the Wheat Growers. “This
funding will help develop new wheat varieties
better able to withstand drought, frost and
disease.”
The Wheat Growers commend the federal
government, the Province and the University for
their leadership and commitment to improving the
productivity of Canadian wheat farmers.
“We hope this funding will be a catalyst to
leverage even more dollars from the private
sector,” says Gerrid Gust, Chair of the Wheat
Growers. “It should help cement Saskatoon’s
reputation as a centre of excellence in wheat
research.”
For further comment, please contact:
Levi Wood President 306-535-2997
Gerrid Gust Chair 306-567-7120

[gustgd]

Alliance to develop new wheat varieties;
Expertise by U of S will be tapped
About $97 million over five years will be
invested to create the Canadian Wheat
Alliance (CWA), a joint initiative between
the federal and provincial governments and
the University of Saskatchewan that will co-
ordinate research and development projects to
improve the yield of Canadian wheat.
The CWA will support research to improve the
profitability of the Canadian wheat industry,
advance the development of Canada's wheat
crops, and help ensure the global
competitiveness of Canadian farmers.
It will look at ways to reduce losses under
extreme weather conditions such as drought,
heat, cold and diseases, and study ways to
more efficiently use chemical fertilizers to
help improve the environmental sustainability
of Canadian wheat.
"The new varieties that will come out of this
project will jump-start yields by an
estimated 10 bushels an acre," Federal
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said in
making the announcement on behalf of Gary
Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and
Technology).
"Over the next 10 to 15 years the alliance is
aiming for improvements of 20 to 30 per cent
in yields, losses due to disease, drought,
heat and cold stress tolerance and, of
course, nitrogen fertilizer requirements."
The network combines the expertise of the
National Research Council of Canada (NRC),
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the
Government of Saskatchewan and the University
of Saskatchewan.
The federal government will invest nearly $85
million in funding and in-kind contributions
toward the alliance.
The provincial government is committing $10
million to support wheat re-search in the
province over the next five years, of which
$5 million is dedicated to support the CWA
activities and leverage contributions from
other stakeholders. The U of S will
contribute $1.4 million per year through in-
kind contributions.
"Saskatchewan is a leader in agriculture
research and production, and this initiative
will help to grow our industry and entire
provincial economy," Saskatchewan Agriculture
Minister Lyle Stewart said.
"As demands change and grow, Canadian
producers need more options, including high
yielding crops that can survive in the
extreme climate of the Canadian prairies,"
added U of S president Dr. Ilene Busch-
Vishniac.
"Each partner brings a unique area of
expertise to the table. Combined, these
complimentary areas of knowledge in wheat
breeding, genomics, biotechnology and
pathology set the Canadian Wheat Alliance up
for long-term and continued success."
The CWA will work collaboratively with all
levels of government and also with public and
private sector organizations.
Earlier this month the federal government
announced the NRC would move away from basic
science and focus on more business-friendly
research.
NRC president John McDougall said that
doesn't mean they are picking winners and
losers in the private industry.
"What we are doing is picking challenges that
need to be addressed," he said. "Then we are
building teams that can address them. I don't
consider that to be picking winners and
losers. I believe that to be focusing on the
agendas that matter to Canada, to
Saskatchewan and making sure they are
properly addressed."
 
 
 
 
 

[rook]

maybe I'm missing something, but why do we need another organization? Isn't this WGRF's role?

[food4u]

Well said, Rook...

[wmoebis]

What characteristics has the WGRF been
researching? What is diff about this
research?

Does this mean that future monies that
have been taken from producer by the
railroads then given to WGRF will now be
returned back to producers?

[oneoff]

Too bad it wasn't only guss's money. But that is typically one's life story.

[bluefargo]

According to my reading this is funding from the 2
levels of government and the Crop Developement
centre. I didn't see any mention of WGRF.
Keep up the good work Gust. I cling to the belief
that the silent majority of readers on this site are
positive forward looking people.

[jensend]

Be interesting to see how long before
it's handed off to seed company to
patent the results of taxpayer funded
research.

[checking]

Professional panhandlers. I won't give gustd's organizations the benefit of the doubt as to how long it will be before anything beneficial is given away to seed companies to patent. I pay for what I want and need in agriculture. Paying twice irks me as do organizations that give leeches a bad name.

[Burbert]

Politicos and theys friends, wallowin in
the public trough, snortin bout changes a
comin down the pipe while stealing
Comedian framers blind. Got ridda the
Comedian Wheatie Bored, sooos every
man/woman fer themselves now!
Fhaperenritzensenatorduffyeh....

[gustgd]

Thanks BlueFargo!

The Wheat Growers support this funding
announcement because it adds to the pot, for
wheat research.

Not to address all the point's but yes WGRF
is supportive as well. Check website for
press release. It allows farmers dollars to
be leveraged against Fed/Prov University
money. Yes I hope private corporate dollars
are also leveraged. We need more dollars to
be invested.

The Federal checkoff for WGRF, CIGI and the
CMBTC ends, no more than 5 years after 2012.
After that it will be up to each provincial
Commission to determine where farmer checkoff
dollars will go.

As far as Seed companies getting some of the
benefit from the Wheat Alliance?? I've not
been part of the negotiations. I hope the WA
licenses out some of their work. No use it
sitting on a shelf collecting dust.
Same goes for WGRF. That is, unless you want
a farmer owned company comercializing
everything that is "discovered". Think of the
admin cost on that.
I for one think private money makes those
decisions better. Convince me or a majority
of directors otherwise.

As always I only speak for myself and not the
board of WGRF or the Wheat Growers. Some of
them might agree with you already.(Exept for
the WG's. Its not really our thing.

If any of you think crops research will
continue on as before. Think again. You may
have read about how AAFC will no longer
finish varieties and how 600 staff got their
walking papers...

[oneoff]

Well for every enabler/apologist/as kisser there should be someone to call propaganda and self serving interests for what they are.

[gustgd]

You'll have to remind us again
Oneoff. How did you want things to
happen again?

[oneoff]

If your memory weren't so short; you would not have to repeat yourself so often.

[MBgrower]

I agree, don't like paying twice, once as a check off, and again on seed royalties. let the private co's develop the varieties on their own, and i'll pay their royalties when I purchase their seed.

too many commissions, too much administration.

i'm opting out of all check offs from now on.