Blog

Jan 13

Barley commissions announce formation of the Canadian Barley Research Coalition

By: Victoria Decker

The Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission (SaskBarley), Alberta Barley and Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA) announced today the launch of the Canadian Barley Research Coalition (CBRC), a national not-for-profit organization that will facilitate long-term investments aimed at improving profitability and competitiveness for Western Canadian barley farmers. CBRC will facilitate a collaborative approach to funding regional

Jan 10

Team Alberta Notice of Farmer Led Research Consultations

By: Victoria Decker

Team Alberta urges all farmers and ranchers in Alberta to take part in this government process to decide the future of agricultural research in Alberta. We highly recommend that all farmers provide the government with views about how research will help their operations grow in the future. Provide your input on the future of agricultural

Jan 10

Producers collaborate to set the direction of provincial research

By: Lauren Comin, Director of Research | Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions

The research programming of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Government of Alberta has been in a state of flux for the past five years. Changing governing parties has led to a change in priorities and operating models. The 2019-2020 provincial budget has called for significant savings to be found in the area

Jan 9

Grasshopper 2020 Forecast

By: Alberta Agriculture and Forestry

The 2019 grasshopper survey found moderate to high levels of grasshoppers throughout most of the Peace River Region and northern portions of central Alberta and growing grasshopper populations in southern Alberta. Investigations in the Peace and northern portions of central Alberta indicate that the most common species, Melanoplus bruneri was in low numbers in 2018

Jan 8

Making a (barley) list and checking it twice: demand for Synergy barley remains strong

By: Geoff Geddes, The Word Warrior

Last month saw the release of two long awaited lists: Santa’s nice/naughty compilation and the 2020-2021 Recommended Malting Barley Varieties list. The annual report from the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC) gives producers a breakdown of malting barley varieties with the best potential for selection and marketing. Like Santa’s scroll, the barley list has good

Jan 8

Producer input needed to develop National Barley Research Strategy

By: Erin Tateson

On behalf of the barley industry, the Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute (BMBRI) is working closely with the Barley Council of Canada (BCC) to facilitate the development of a national research strategy for barley. A key objective of the National Barley Research Strategy is to identify, and quantify, the research of highest importance to

Dec 18

Canada’s Agriculture Ministers urged to pick up the pace on improvements to Business Risk Management Programs

By: Victoria Decker

The Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions say federal, provincial and territorial governments should accelerate their efforts to improve Canada’s Business Risk Management (BRM) programs, including an overhaul of the AgriStability program. The commissions were hopeful that more progress would have been made in improvements to AgriStability at this week’s meeting of federal, provincial and territorial (FTP) Ministers of Agriculture in Ottawa. There is a broad

Dec 13

Alberta Barley announces chair and vice-chair roles following AGM during Prairie Cereals Summit

By: Victoria Decker

Following Alberta Barley’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), which took place this week in conjunction with the Prairie Cereals Summit, Alberta Barley is pleased to announce the executive of its board of directors. Dave Bishop will continue in his role as Chair and Wade McAllister will serve as Vice-Chair. Bishop, who farms in the Barons area, is

Dec 10

Wheat Initiative Growers Survey

By: Jeremy Boychyn, Agronomy Research Extension Specialist

As part of the Wheat Initiative, an international initiative that aims to improve wheat productivity, quality, and sustainable production, the Wheat Agronomy Expert Working Group is working to understand how growers prefer to receive extension information. Dr. Sheri Strydhorst (AF), along with other agronomic researchers around the globe, have developed a grower survey to help

Dec 10

Recommended malt barley varieties by CMBTC

By: Jeremy Boychyn, Agronomy Research Extension Specialist

Thinking of growing malt barley in the 2020 growing season? Check out the recently released CMBTC recommended malting barley variety list.