b'The advantage is making us a bit leaner and cleaner, heTHE MORE YOU KNOW: says. In reality, most of the members are members of both commissions. Amalgamation is nothing new for AWC. Its genesis was the result of the Alberta Soft Wheat Producers Commission and Individual Voicesthe Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission joining The single biggest issue raised at the virtual town hallsforces and began operating Aug. 1, 2012, the day the surrounded merit-based funding. Certain farmers felt it couldCanadian Wheat Board was stripped of its monopoly. Today, dilute wheat or barleys interests in favour of the other, althoughAWC represents all wheat classes. more voiced concern that barley stood to lose more than wheat. The subcommittee acknowledges that area of concern, andFIRST!Hames thinks both groups could be well represented and points to the recently formed Manitoba Crop Alliance, which representsAlberta Barley is the provinces oldest commission, having corn, sunflower, barley, wheat and flax, as an example ofbeen established in 1991 by the Western Barley Growers success and cost savings. Similarly, the Grain Farmers of OntarioAssociation to ensure research and promotion for the crop represents barley, corn, oat, soybean and wheat farmers interests continued. It was the first barley commission established in However, Hames says the commissions already operatethe country. Talk about being a trailblazer!within a merit-based system; proposals are sent in, reviewed by research committees, and selected based on what will be most beneficial to farmers. Within a merit-based framework, eachSURVEY SAYS:crop is given flexibility. Survey questions showed results that overwhelmingly His hypothetical scenario is that if barley had one-third offavoured amalgamation. The only one that didnt? Do you the overall research dollars, but needed a few extra for a greathave concerns of either crops representation in a shared proposal, an amalgamated commission can make that happen.model? It was a virtual tie with 48 per cent saying yes and 52 It doesnt mean theyre going to get 40 per cent, but maybe ifper cent saying no (135 responses).one year they need 35, we can make that happen.CONLON BARLEYBankable Quality Shorter straw with good lodgingExcellent Yields Smooth AwnedEarliest MaturityWorking Hard to Earn Your Trust!Airth Farms, Brooks - 403-501-3688Sleepy Hollow Seeds, Milk River - 403-647-2228Wildeman Holdings, Clive - 403-470-8528Spring 2022 39'