b'Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan,to farmers. We are currently reachingwestern Canadian grain industry. The adds Patterson. out to farmers, scientists, industry, andscope of that impact encompasses In 2019, the WGRF initiated phase twoagronomists to develop a farmer-focusedprojects from that of basic higher risk of its capacity-building initiativearesearch plan. We will have more detailsresearch to the applied disciplines of competitive, proposal-based processas we progress, but the goal is to renewplant breeding and agronomy. WGRFs to expand the tools (infrastructure andthe WGRF research plan to drive long- involvement in funding plant breeding equipment) necessary to accelerate cropterm, sustainable impact on westernsince 1995 effectively doubled the rate research for the benefit of field cropCanadian field crop farmers and theirof yield increase in western Canadian farmers in Western Canada. profitability. wheat. Thats huge.WGRF is projecting over $53 millionWhen asked how important the of research funding over the next fourWGRF has been to the seed industryWhats Next?years for new and ongoing initiatives,with respect to variety development,As for what the next year or two holds explains Patterson. This includes theDegenhardt doesnt hesitate. for WGRF, Patterson says COVID has phase one and phase two capacityWGRF has an impressive recordobviously affected everything including initiatives, five research clusters, andof funding wheat and barley varietyresearch, scientists and organizations funding for both new and ongoingdevelopment through the years, but itthat fund the research.research projects. does not stop there. WGRF funds varietyHowever, weve got over 170 projects development in 15 different crops withthat were currently funding. Most Industry Changes Coming the goal of helping deliver farmersprojects are going to be impacted, but Like any industry, Degenhardt says therevarieties that not only offer higher yieldswe dont know the extent to it yet. Its will be significant changes in agriculturebut improved end-use properties, andunlikely that any WGRF-funded research over the next five to 10 years. Continuingbetter disease and insect resistance.will be cancelled because the foundation to fund research will help farmers stay inThe agronomy research we fund alsosupports multi-year projects, over three the game and get a good return. contributes by helping to unlock theto five years. We will continue to work We are in the early stages. WGRF isgenetic potential of these varieties forwith the researchers and institutions, to conducting stakeholder consultations tohigher yields. give them the flexibility they need to identify and confirm cross-cutting cropGraf concurs and adds, WGRF hasadjust their timelines due to COVID.production issues of greatest concernhad a huge impact in all aspects of the Lisa KopochinskiDamas OMEGACleaning/Grading MachineHigh grading efficiency with low power consumptionYOUR DIRECT BENEFITS: HIGHER EFFICIENCY. A LOT HIGHER.DAMAS OMEGA offers much higher grading efficiency than any other comparable machine on the market today. SIMPLER OPERATION. The DAMAS OMEGA range of machine offers independent pre-suction and after-suction systems. This means that you can adjust one air system without having to adjust the other one as well, saving you valuable operational time and allowing you to optimize the running of the machine quickly and easily. Air exhaust reduced by up to 80%. BETTER WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND IMPROVED DAILY ECONOMY.The adjustment of the suction systems is carried out using frequency converters, reducing the turbulence in the air ducts and making it possible to optimize the running of the entire system smoothly and quickly. PRACTICAL CLIPPING EFFECT WHEN CLEANING BARLEY. In most cases, you wont need to invest in a clipper/de-awner for barley when you have the DAMAS OMEGATheDAMAS OMEGAis a flexible and efficient in your production line. The built-in distributor worms in the inlet hopper and the large feed roller produce a substantial clipping effect, large enough in many cases to eliminate the need for a dedicated clipper machine.cleaning/grading machine which can be used for a wide variety of cereals and seeds, from light to heavy seeds all the way from pre-cleaning to fine cleaning. The DAMAS OMEGA is capable of handling up to 300 tons per hour when cleaning cerealsand up to 30 tons per hour when grading seeds.www.canseedequip.com|800-644-8397Email: [email protected] | 32seed.ab.ca'