CMBTC To Receive Continued Funding From Prairie Barley Commissions

 

The Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC) announced today it will continue to receive funding from Alberta Barley, the Manitoba Wheat & Barley Growers Association (MWBGA) and the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission (SaskBarley) to support its operations serving Canada’s malting barley value chain.

 

The announcement comes after the July 31 conclusion of the Western Canadian Deduction (WCD) check-off, which provided the CMBTC with $0.03 per tonne of barley delivered to Canadian Grain Commission licensed companies over the past five years.

The three provincial barley associations have taken over the collection and administration of the check-off for their respective provinces and committed to continue supporting the valued work the CMBTC provides to prairie farmers.

 

“One of our main goals at SaskBarley is to strengthen the competitiveness of Saskatchewan’s barley industry and the CMBTC supports this goal by facilitating programs that aim to commercialize Canadian malting barley,” says Jason Skotheim, SaskBarley Board Chair.

 

“The MWBGA is pleased to partner with SaskBarley and Alberta Barley to provide core funding to the CMBTC,” says Fred Greig, MWBGA Board Chair. “The CMBTC is a leader in providing market support, technical services and training to the malting barley value chain and its customers, with the goal of improving net returns for Manitoba and Canadian barley farmers.”

 

“Alberta Barley recognizes the value of the CMBTC’s expertise in malting and brewing, and their work to help create and sustain markets for Alberta’s malting barley farmers,” says Jason Lenz,Alberta Barley Board Chair. “It’s part of the Canadian quality brand recognized by our international customers.”

 

Canada is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of malting barley and malt, with combined domestic and international sales revenues of $1 billion annually.

“Continued funding from farmers will support the CMBTC’s operations, including our work to introduce promising new varieties to our domestic and international customers,” says Peter Watts, Managing Director of the CMBTC. “With improved yield and disease resistance, and equal or better quality than existing varieties, the new lines will create value for farmers and help make malting barley an attractive crop to grow.”