Western Canadian wheat and barley growers can get an overview of progress and activity with their check-off dollars in the 2004 Annual Report of Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF).
Farmers began supporting variety development research ten years ago through the Wheat and Barley Check-off Funds, administered by WGRF. That has resulted in important varieties that yield higher, resist major diseases and pests, and meet top quality requirements for a range of classes.
Among the latest examples of WGRF-backed wheat varieties are hard red spring varieties Superb and CDC Go, the hard white spring variety Snowbird, durum varieties AC Avonlea and Strongfield and winter wheats CDC Falcon and AC Bellatrix. Recent examples of WGRF-backed barley varieties include malting varieties CDC Copeland, CDC Select, Newdale and Calder, and feed varieties Rivers and CDC Trey.
"As we look to the future, continuing to build on this investment progress and support farmers' role in research is the top priority of WGRF - a priority we believe has never been more important, as agriculture enters a new era with many challenges and opportunities," says Dr. Keith Degenhardt, a Hughenden, Alta., producer and Chair of WGRF.
"Inside the Annual Report producers will find an overview of key developments in 2004, including the fundamentals of how the funding is collected, managed and invested in research progress," says Degenhardt. "More in-depth information on all topics covered in the report is available on the WGRF Web site, www.westerngrains.com, or directly from the WGRF office. The directors of WGRF also welcome producer comments or questions at any time."
In addition to funding new variety development, WGRF tackled a number of business issues in 2004. Top priority was developing new long-term agreements with research institutions outlining how check-off dollars are to be used in the coming years.
"When the Check-off Funds began in the 1993-94 crop year, WGRF established 10-year funding agreements with research institutions, which detailed funding allocations, breeding targets, review processes and other aspects of how the funding was to be administered," says Degenhardt. "As those initial agreements expire, WGRF has worked with breeding institutions to develop new long-term agreements to begin during 2005."
At the same time, WGRF has also been preparing its other major research fund, the Endowment Fund, for a new period of long-term funding. This Fund, the original core fund of WGRF that began in 1983, has traditionally generated up to $1 million annually in funding support for a broad range of research, covering many different crops and many different types of research.
However, in recent years, lower interest rates have cut the Fund's capacity significantly, which has meant fewer dollars for research investment and fewer projects funded. "WGRF is pursuing new management options to ensure the Fund continues delivering strong benefits," says Degenhardt.
Among other key developments, farmers remain eligible to earn a federal tax credit on the dollars they invest in research through the Wheat and Barley Check-off Funds. Also, the Foundation has received a share of the royalties generated by varieties that were developed with partial Check-off support. The Board has funneled these dollars back into further wheat and barley research.
Complete WGRF 2004 Annual Report in PDF format: http://www.westerngrains.com/about/AR2004.pdf
A limited number of printed copies are also available to western Canadian crop producers by contacting the WGRF office by phone: (306) 975-0060.
