The Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) has broadened the grant application process for its Endowment Fund to help ensure it continues to sponsor valuable research projects for Western Canadian farmer investors.

The popular fund will now be open to projects in all areas related to wheat and barley research as opposed to the two specific categories the WGRF funded the previous year. The decision to open up the Endowment Fund to more research areas was made at the spring Board of Directors meeting.

"The Endowment Fund has proven to be a valuable research tool for the industry," says Peter Pepneck, WGRF Vice Chair and a Vauxhall, Alta. producer. "The Endowment Fund will continue to support projects that best meet the needs of our producer investors."

The Endowment Fund began in 1983 with $9 million in producer money turned over by the federal government from the discontinued Prairie Farm Assistance Act, a forerunner to today's crop insurance program. Since then, the Fund has contributed more than $18 million to over 200 crop research projects that directly benefit the western grain industry.

In the 2003 funding year, lower interest rates led the WGRF to re-evaluate the funding approach. In that year, two categories were open to receive funding - innovation and integrated crop management. The narrow criteria allowed the WGRF to continue funding projects of value to producers.

Under this year's approach, researchers wishing to apply for funding support in 2004 are requested to submit a Letter of Intent outlining their research proposal to the WGRF no later than July 16, 2004. This letter can be completed through the WGRF Web site at www.westerngrains.com.

"The Letter of Intent will allow the WGRF to evaluate the objective and scope of the research, as well as its economic importance to farmers," says Pepneck. "The WGRF will review all letters and select those researchers who will be asked to submit a full research proposal application. The final date to receive those full applications is September 1, 2004. Application information is available on the WGRF Web site."

Project selections are based on recommendations from the Foundation's Endowment Fund Research Advisory Committee, a panel that includes half farmers from the Foundation Board and half research scientists from Canadian universities and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The Advisory Committee meets annually to review new proposals and progress on current projects as a basis for recommendations to the Board.

"WGRF is examining approaches to offset the effect of lower interest rates and grow the Fund," says Pepneck. "We're confident that the Endowment Fund will continue to support valuable research for producers, as well as remain financially viable."

Western Grains Research Foundation is the largest grains research funding organization for farmers in Western Canada. Funded and directed by producers, it allocates approximately $5 million annually to research through the Wheat and barley Check-off Funds and the Endowment Fund.