b'He insists there is no reason to fear one crop will cannibalizefunded on a merit-based system (136 responses), regardless of the other. If we make both crops do well, farmers have morecrop. Many believe this is sensible given a majority of Canadian options and thats the goal. Its about making both cropswheat is exported while barley remains domestic between profitable, not eliminating options for farmers. animal feed and brewing. Sawyer believes the same thing and since most farmers growAll questions, though, really centred upon the big one: Do both crops, its a positive across the board.you think AWC and Alberta Barley should amalgamate? The Im a believer that any improvements in a crop benefits allanswer was clear with 71 per cent saying yes (135 responses).farmers, she says. Its going to provide value, and movingDespite an initially warm reception from farmers, Steve says away strictly from check-off revenue, were going to be able tothere is still a long way to go if this eventually happens.capitalize for barley and wheat farmers where youre not tied toFeedback weve been getting from farmers has been that they a certain amount of funding. like the idea, but we want to make sure we are hearing from Overall, cost savings have only allowed the commissionseverybody.to expand their reach, and they say it has let them create newFarmers also have the opportunity to raise their voice at resources for farmers, including The Growing Point newsletter,regional meetings as well as the Alberta Barley and AWC annual In The Field webinars as well as Plot2Farm on-farm fieldgeneral meetings, taking place throughout the winter. research trials and paid for the hiring of two research extensionAs Hames puts it, farmers need to decide if this will be a net agronomists. positive or negative.Theres time to speak up if you have something to say either Preliminary Results Support Merger for or against, thats critical, he says. Is amalgamating creating Support for joining forces has been overwhelmingly positiveopportunities or making opportunities less?from those who responded in the survey. Seventy-one perIf resolutions are passed at upcoming regional meetings, and cent of respondents favoured a single, 12-person board (143accepted at both groups AGMs, a formal plebiscite could be responses) while another 72 per cent favoured keepingtriggered as early as March or April 2022. checkoffs separated and opting to make research projects be Trevor Bacque40seed.ab.ca'