Calgary, Alberta
May 25, 2002

New crop lines recommended for federal variety registration by the Prairie Registration Recommending Committee for Grain (PRRCG) are the focus of a new report for western Canadian farmers.

The PRRCG Report was produced by Meristem Information Resources Ltd., an independent, Calgary-based communications company, in partnership with Western Grains Research Foundation and the PRRCG. The report also features an overview of key issues discussed at the 2002 PRRCG annual meeting in Winnipeg, including a look at proposed changes to Canada’s entire variety registration system.

"The PRRCG's role is to evaluate new crop lines developed for the Canadian prairie and make recommendations for federal variety registration," says Dr. Mario Therrien, Chair of PRRCG. "he lines recommended give farmers a preview of the varieties that will hit Prairie fields in the coming years, and the discussion surrounding the PRRCG decisions provides a window on the issues affecting variety registration.";

This year's PRRCG meeting came at a crucial time of transition for the registration system and the role of recommending bodies, says Therrien. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which oversees federal variety registration, has proposed major changes with significant implications for farmers.

Core sections of the report focus on new lines recommended by each of the four PRRCG subcommittees: Wheat, Rye and Triticale Subcommittee; Barley and Oat Subcommittee; Pulse and Special Crops Subcommittee; and Oilseeds Subcommittee. A technical review team with representatives from each subcommittee assisted in production.

"Western Grains Research Foundation sponsored this report in the interest of producers," says Lorence Peterson, Executive Director of the Foundation. "Western farmers invest nearly $4 million annually in wheat and barley development through Wheat and Barley Check-off Fund, and it's important they have current information on new lines in the pipeline and issues affecting their role in research."

The full PRRCG Report is available on the Meristem Land and Science Web site, www.meristem.com  - a resource for science-based information developed by Meristem with support from its partners. Report sections related to wheat and barley are also available on the Western Grains Research Foundation Web site, www.westerngrains.com. Producers can request report copies from the
Foundation office by phone: (306) 975-0060, fax: (306) 975-0316, or email: info@westerngrains.com.