Grainswest - Spring 2023

grainswest.com LET’SMAKE IT TO 100% info@cleanfarms.ca @cleanfarms When recycling ag containers, every one counts Great job recycling your empty pesticide and fertilizer jugs, drums and totes. Every one you recycle counts toward a more sustainable agricultural community and environment. Thank you. Ask your ag retailer for an ag collection bag, fill it with rinsed, empty jugs, and load up your jugs, drums and totes, to return to a collection site for recycling. In AB and MB, ask your ag retailer if it’s a jug recycling location. Details at cleanfarms.ca NEW! Return empty seed, pesticide and inoculant bags for environmentally safe management. Find a collection location near you at cleanfarms.ca ai167483242158_CFARMS_wheat_WST_Prairie_ad_4.775x9.75_print.pdf 1 2023-01-27 10:13 AM breeding and genetics work will be present in varieties FCDC will register in coming years. Barley has always had an issue with not having short, strong straw. At field days, I’ve seen in some of Flavio’s new varieties there’s a huge change from what has been produced at FCDC over the years. GW: What do farmers want to see from FCDC breeders? JL: We’re looking for the next big thing. Over these last few years, Prairie breeders have done a really good job of creating new malting and feed varieties that are setting the bar higher. A lot of check-off money goes into breeding a variety. We want to make sure money that goes toward variety development is not just creating a long list of cookie cutter varieties. We want our breeders to produce bigger, better barley. GW: What are Canada's natural advantages to grow barley, especially considering a large amount is exported? JL: We’re selling our barley into the global market. Canadian barley, just like Canadian wheat and other commodities, is known around the world for being the highest quality. That’s a result of the genetics our breeders are using, the soil we’re growing it in, our beneficial management practices and our environment. We are in a short season growing area compared to Europe, but our warm days and cool nights really make our barley of the highest quality. GW: What are your hopes for FCDC? JL: Farmers are really looking forward to FCDC continuing to be a breeding centre in the heart of barley country. Under the new direction and leadership of FCDC the feeling is they will be able to execute on the strategic plan and the business plan. The barley breeders will push each other to produce better varieties with shorter straw, bigger yields and better disease resistance.