Prairie ag organizations join Global Agriculture Technology Exchange

Sep 18, 2024
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

Gate is a multimillion-dollar project to support Canadian cereal innovation

Three ag organizations from western Canada have announced their involvement to help position Canada as a world leader in cereal grains.

Alberta Grains, the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and the Manitoba Crop Alliance are contributing more than $13 million towards the Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate).

Led by Cereals Canada, which all three provincial organizations are a member, Gate is a $102-million-dollar project in downtown Winnipeg, Man., to support the Canadian cereal industry.

Canada’s cereals sector is the national leader in ag exports.

More than 80 destinations import Canadian cereals, valued at more than $ 10 billion.

The Gate will look to build on that success.

The building will be a multi-use facility for research, development and innovation focusing on milling, food processing and end-product development. It will be a hub for collaboration to create more opportunities for Canadian grain, and to provide technical support for buyers.

It will also serve as the headquarters for Cereals Canada.

“Gate will serve as a hub for food innovation to support Canadian farmers, domestic and global customers, and the value chain, and it will uphold Canada’s position as a leader in nutritious, high-quality food ingredients,” a press release says.

Cereals Canada and Grain Farmers of Ontario are also contributing to Gate, bringing total initial investments up to $18.4 million.

These financial commitments demonstrate that the ag sector is ready to do more on the global stage.

“Growers understand the importance of the global market and the need for technical exchange to keep Canada competitive for years to come,” JoAnne Buth, chair of the capital campaign, said in a statement.

For Gate to become a reality, more support is needed.

A gap of almost $84 million needs to be closed.

“The funding is conditional upon securing the required financial support from government entities and other funding partners,” a Sept. 17 Sask Wheat statement says.

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.