Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
November 16 , 2009
The 2009 Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) survey results show that Western Canadian farmers continue to embrace new varieties of wheat and durum that have been supported by the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF).
“WGRF looks forward to seeing the CWB survey results every year. When we see WGRF supported varieties leading the way it continues to reinforce that the producer check-off dollars are helping to fund world class public plant breeding efforts.” says Lanette Kuchenski, WGRF’s Executive Director. Every dollar a farmer invests through WGRF’s check-offs is leveraged to attain additional government funds that match or double the investment made by producers.
Under the Canadian Western Red Spring (CWRS) class the top varieties grown in Western Canada were again AC™ Lillian and AC™ Harvest both WGRF supported varieties. AC™ Lillian has been the most popular variety on the Prairies for the past three years. It currently comprises 17.5 per cent of western Canadian wheat acres. A newer CWRS variety AC™ Kanehas shown great promise, in its first year AC™ Kanewas the most popular variety grown in Manitoba, with more than 22 per cent of the seeded acres in the province. AC™ Kane has very good sprouting resistance, fair rating for FHB resistance and very good leaf rust resistance along with good stem rust resistance.
In the Canadian Western Amber Durum (CWAD) category, another WGRF supported variety AC™ Strongfield still leads this category and makes up 63 per cent of all durum acres grown. AC™ Strongfield is a conventional height amber durum that is well adapted to the durum growing area of Western Canada.
The Canada Western Red Winter (CWRD) category has seen a significant increase in acreage in the past 20 years. Variety choice in this category is very specific to region. Across all three Prairie Provinces WGRF supported varieties are the respective number one choice by producers: Radiant is most popular in Alberta, CDC Buteo in Saskatchewan and CDC Falcon in Manitoba.
WGRF Supported varieties also led in the following wheat categories:
- Canadian Prairie Spring White (CPSW): AC Vista
- Canada Western General Purpose (GWGP): CDC Ptarmigan
- Canada Western Soft White Spring (CWSWS): AC Andrew
In the barley category WGRF supported variety CDC Copeland was again the second most popular malting variety grown in 2009. CDC Copeland is gaining in acreage on AC Metcalfe each year.
A full list of varieties that have been assisted by WGRF’s check-offs can be found at
www.westerngrains.com under Check-offs.
WGRF invests in wheat and barley variety development at public breeding centres across Western Canada that target issues such as improved solid stemmed varieties to combat sawfly, fusarium head blight research, earlier maturing varieties and hardy winter wheat varieties. Check-off funds also supported the development of the midge tolerant varieties that are set to be distributed to farmers for 2010 (www.midgetolerantwheat.ca)
WGRF is a non-profit organization that is farmer funded and directed. Set-up to fund research that directly benefits prairie farmers, the WGRF administers an Endowment Fund and the Wheat and Barley Check-off Funds, with annual research funding in the range of $4 to $5 million.
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