b'a lot of satisfaction when Im able topartner with producer commodity solve problems by delivering improvedorganizations and funding agencies on a varieties. WGRFs industry involvementprovincial, regional, and national basis to has been a large part of that. I havemaximize crop research investments.benefited from funding administered by the WGRF since I joined AAFC in 1999. Strategic Plan Pays OffIn 2019, WGRF established a new Board Efforts strategic plan which set forth significant At present, the WGRF board is comprisedchanges based on input from of 18 farmers in the four westernstakeholders that include the following:provinces.Expansion of crop-specific funding Many of the projects and initiatives areto include barley, canary seed, canola, only made possible because of producerchickpea, corn, fababean, flax, funding, says Degenhardt. lentil, mustard, oats, pea, soybean, Their collective voices ensure thatsunflower, wheat, and winter cereals.funding is awarded to research that is T ransformation of the WGRF most needed by their fellow farmers.Endowment Fund to a Research FundRob Graf, a plant breeder and scientist with More than 130 farmers from acrossfor the purpose of sustaining cropAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lethbridge, Alta.Western Canada have worked togetherresearch funding over the long term.on the WGRF board over the past fourConsolidation of priority funding decades. By guiding research fundingareas to variety development and decisions, theyve been instrumental inproduction (agronomy).advancing agriculture for the bettermentPatterson says in recent years, of all Prairie farms. the agricultural community has Patterson concurs and adds WGRFsexpressed concerns about the status relationships with research institutionsof capacity for crop-related research across Canada have been another criticalin Western Canada.element to its long success. WGRF heard these concerns and has We have always looked at funding thecommitted $32 million to expand crop most impactful research, whether thatresearch.be long-term upstream or both short- Phase one of this initiative was focused term and immediate. Its really about theon expanding human resources. WGRF impact on farmers and the science. supported the Universities of Alberta, Additionally, Patterson says as theManitoba, and Saskatchewan in their foundation continues to see tremendousvision to establish research chairs.value in a collaborative approach toWe also tripled investments inWestern Grains Research Foundation Board Chair funding research, it will continue toGraduate Scholarships at Universities ofKeith DegenhardtGROWING YOUR WORK OF ARTThe visionary design of Proven Seed shines through from every angle. Our leading-edge technology offers a whole new perspective on canola, cereals, corn,soybeansandforages.Whetheryourelookingforhighyieldsand performance from every seed across all acres, or specific herbicide systems and disease management, we know theres a Proven Seed that fits your field. Only available at Nutrien Ag Solutions retail. Visit ProvenSeed.ca to learn more.Proven Seed is a registered trademark of Nutrien Ag Solutions (Canada) Inc. Nutrien Ag Solutions and Design is a registered trademark of Nutrien Ag Solutions, Inc 9/ 21-78262-10 . 30seed.ab.ca78262-1_Proven_2021_Generic_7-125x3-25.indd 1 2021-09-14 9:57 AM'