b'MESSAGES | Alberta Seed ProcessorsAT TIME OF WRITING, its heart wrenching to see our neighbours in British Columbia suffer unmeasurable losses and damage due to flooding. The paradox of the recent Western Canadian drought just months prior to these devastating floods is shocking to put it lightly. The resulting disruption of supply chain routes has justly garnered the attention of every Canadian. Relief efforts focusing on minimizing and repairing infrastructure damage will give way to new and emerging recovery activities. The hope for B.C. is for a recovery with emergent opportunities that build stronger communities.The spring issue of the Alberta Seed Guide has published the regional variety trail (RVT) results for over a decade now with the goal of delivering robust data that supplies non-biased information to farmers regarding the performance of seed varieties which are regionally tested here in Alberta. In the past 18 months there have been significant changes to the program due to the withdrawal of the Alberta government from directly participating in agricultural research. The barley, canola, pulse and wheat crop commissions are now playing a major role in the execution of the RVT programs. This is just one thing that your check off investment does for the agriculture industry at large. Thank you to all the farmers that havent requested a check-off reimbursementyour investment matters! A plethora of people work tirelessly behind the scenes to plan and execute plot work, inspect sites, and manage and cross reference data. Although its nearly impossible to mention everyone, there are four individuals who need to be highlighted. Sheri @CoppockT Strydhorst with the Alberta Wheat and Barley commissions has taken the [email protected] cereal RVT program, ensuring the continuation of the program, which is no small feat.(403) 489-9999 Jim Anderson of Nutrien has generously filled the role as barley crop coordinator for the past 14 years, thank you Jim. Rob Graf, with Agriculture and Agri-food Canada-Lethbridge, has been the chairman and anchor of the cereals committee. His calm, steady leadership has created a legacy of rigour and fairness. Rob deserves much more gratitude and accolades than words can express. Last, but not least, Trent Whiting with SeCan plays an indispensable role in assisting with the many lists within this publication.This issue of the Alberta Seed Guide focuses on optimizing opportunities. The 67 farmer-owned seed and grain processing cooperatives that comprise Alberta Seed Processors Association are also busy ensuring business sustainability by optimizing opportunities. There continues to be significant investment with one new build in Camrose and major expansions to increase capacity at several other sites. None of this happens on its own, it always requires investment of time, money and sometimes grit to get the job done. Kudos to the shareholders of the co-ops that have operated with the vison of long-term futures full of opportunity. Additionally, a few sites continue to participate in specialty grain and pulse markets, despite the well-known container shortage. These are just a few cases of small and medium sized farmer owned enterprises optimising opportunity.The Alberta Seed Guide has articles on the opportunities of the modernization of the provinces irrigation system, the plant disease outlook for next year, and interviews with a seed grower, seed plant management team, and plant breeders also tell the stories of how optimizing opportunities has enhanced the value of what each of these important links in the crop industry value chain bring to the farm gate.We trust this issue of the Alberta Seed Guide uncovers a whole lot of reasons to remain optimistic about the future! Thank you for staying connected to the seed industry by reading the Alberta Seed Guide.Tom Coppock, President, Alberta Seed ProcessorsSpring 2022 5'