Western Grains Research Foundation to fund $1.6 million in new projects

The Western Grains Research Fund (WGRF) in partnership with the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) announced Tuesday they will be co-funding 12 crop-related research projects totaling $1.6 million.

“The WGRF Endowment Fund is used to fund crop research projects that benefit producers,” WGRF Board Chair Dave Sefton said. “Leveraging other funds has always been an important approach to help make our producer dollars go further. I would like to applaud the government of Saskatchewan and the other producer groups for their partnership in funding crop research projects that will benefit western Canadian farmers.”

The list of projects can be found on WGRF’s website. A few of the announced projects include management of Fusarium Head Blight in wheat and barley; strengthening clubroot durability and resistance in canola; improving faba bean, pea and alfalfa varieties; investigating management of flax; and quantifying the contribution of pulse crop residues to greenhouse gas emissions.

“WGRF celebrates its 35th anniversary this year,” Executive Director Garth Patterson said. “One of our strengths as an organization has been the ability to build strong collaborative relationships, like this one between ADF and producer groups. This funding process makes better use of everyone’s expertise and research dollars, at the end of the day increasing the number of projects that can improve agricultural systems, technology and agronomic practices.”