Growers invest more than $3.7 million in 2024 to tackle canola agronomic priorities
The three Prairie, provincial canola grower associations have evaluated and selected 13 new canola research projects to receive funding under the Canola Agronomic Research Program (CARP) in 2024. This investment includes over $2.1 million from Alberta Canola, SaskCanola and Manitoba Canola Growers, as well as over $1.6 million from the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF), bringing the total investment to over $3.7 million
CARP supports canola agronomic research focused on increasing yield and profitability, reducing production risk and enhancing sustainability. The funded projects often provide new strategies for managing top pests and diseases, improving nutrient management and generating more resilient canola. Grower associations are pleased to partner with the WGRF, enabling even greater innovation and discovery.
“There is huge value in pooling levy dollars to invest in research projects that address canola agronomic issues that farmers in all three provinces face,” says Keith Fournier, SaskCanola Chair. “WGRF’s investment is an added bonus to the funding equation, as it allows levy dollars to stretch further for more important research to occur.”
“WGRF is proud to partner with the Prairie canola grower associations in supporting critical research initiatives through CARP,” states Laura Reiter, WGRF Board Chair. “Together, we are making investments in canola research that will benefit farmers by giving them the knowledge and tools needed for success in the field.”
The 2024 projects awarded funding are focused on:
• Understanding the impact of verticillium stripe and its relation to blackleg
• Clubroot management and monitoring
• Flea beetle tracking and trapping
• Developing novel strategies to improve resiliency against biotic and abiotic threats
CARP is funded by the three provincial grower organizations – Alberta Canola, SaskCanola and the Manitoba Canola Growers -- and is administered by the Canola Council of Canada (CCC). Additional funds are provided for some CARP projects by WGRF and other occasional partners. Proposals are reviewed by the grower association research committees, with additional agronomic insight from the CCC’s Crop Production and Innovation team. Since 1994, over $46 million has been invested in canola research through CARP.
The findings from these projects are incorporated into various tools, including the Canola Research Hub and the Canola Encyclopedia. More information on CARP can be found at canolacouncil. org
The Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) is a farmer-funded and farmer-directed non-profit organization investing in agricultural research that benefits Western Canadian farmers. WGRF is the largest producer funder of field crop research in Canada. Since 1981, WGRF has funded over $240 million of research in field crops of interest to Western Canadian farmers.