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Sask Barley joins Western Crop Innovations

Western Crop Innovations continues to grow. 

The Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission has joined Western Crop Innovations (WCI) as a voting member.

Sask Barley has committed $50,000 in core funding as a transitional grant for the current fiscal year.

Western Crop Innovations (WCI) work focuses on developing feed and forage barley, malting barley, and triticale varieties specifically tailored for the Western Prairies.

The newly formed organization - formerly known as the Field Crop Development Centre - was founded earlier this year. 

WCI's Interim Executive Director Mark Olson says SaskBarley's endorsement is important adding there is a reason we named our organization WESTERN Crop Innovations - the work we do is intended to benefit farmers from Manitoba to BC.

Sask Barley's  Executive Director Jill McDonald says joining WCI as a Tier 1 member allows us to collaborate more closely on projects that will directly benefit our growers, and we’re excited to contribute to shaping the future of this organization.

The Western Crop Innovations website says they are focused on delivering varieties that not only enhance environmental sustainability but also improve agronomic outcomes for producers.

"Our team of researchers is committed to achieving high yields, bolstering disease resistance, and ensuring superior end-use quality characteristics. To accomplish this, we plant, maintain, and evaluate 40,000 plots annually across our facilities in Lacombe and other sites throughout Alberta in our pursuit of the next breakthrough variety. Supported by in-house expertise in pathology, quality, and biotechnology, our breeding program utilizes cutting-edge technologies such as molecular markers and NIR (near-infrared) spectroscopy to efficiently identify the most exceptional materials in our breeding pipelines. Additionally, our pathology team diligently screens over 12,000 breeding lines in disease nurseries annually. "

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