Saskatchewan Winter Cereals invests in new research in the Canadian National Wheat Cluster

The Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Development Commission is partnering with the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC) to support the Canadian National Wheat Cluster. Honorable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (AAFC) announced the Wheat Cluster with funding from AAFC through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriScience Program and 10 producer and private organizations from across Canada.

“The Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Development Commission is pleased to be part of the Wheat Cluster to support continued research into winter cereals,” said Mark Akins, Chair of SWCDC. “Producer funds are being wisely invested to make fall cereals more profitable with a sustainable acreage base.”

Over the next five years, SWCDC is investing $185,000 of producer funds in the winter cereal research activities with additional industry funding being provided by the Alberta Wheat Commission, Winter Cereals Manitoba and the Western Grains Research Foundation. Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Executive Director Carol Ann Patterson says, “This investment will contribute to the development of agricultural production practices and superior winter wheat cultivars to enhance economic benefits to winter cereal producers.”

The SWCDC will provide financial support to:

The Development of improved field ready CWRW wheat cultivars for western Canada which will be led by Dr. R. Graf and

Delivery of an innovative winter wheat agronomic package to achieve sustainable wheat production in the Canadian prairies which will be led by Dr. B Beres. Both researchers are at the AAFC Lethbridge Research and Development Centre. About SWCDC

The Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Development Commission is the provincially designated representative organization for producers of winter wheat, fall rye and triticale in the province of Saskatchewan. The organization encourages, promotes and assists in the development of winter cereals in the province. Funds collected from the winter cereal levy are used to fund research into new varieties, agronomic best practices, international marketing and education.