Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers worked with government and industry partners across the prairies and Ontario to further pulse crop research through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) Agriscience Cluster Program.
Results from the five-year research program done through CAP's Pulse Science Cluster are being released.
Daryl Domitruk, the executive director of the Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers says they put about $1.4 million dollars into eight projects over the five-years.
"The things that were really a priority for us. Number one was to maintain activity in the dry edible bean breeding program at the AAFC station in Morden. Over the five year period we were able to maintain selections for disease resistance in particular, but also yield and quality."
He notes Manitoba is primarily a grower of pinto beans, black beans and navy beans and they were able to identify material that would also allow research to focus on those classes of beans going forward.
Another project they were involved in co-funding focused on the dry pea breeding program at AAFC's breeding program at Lacombe, Alberta.
"The Lacombe program was able to release a number of varieties that are relevant here in Manitoba and give producers ongoing access to new improved genetic. Especially with the level of dry pea processing that we have here in Manitoba. It's important that we maintain that connection with programs like that on behalf of our growers."
Source : Pembinavalley online