Mike Espeseth, WGRF - Farmer Funded Farmer Directed Research

Producer Funded
Producer Directed
Research
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Presentation Outline
WGRF Overview.
New Wheat and Barley Check-Offs.
New WGRF.
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WGRF Member Organizations
Alberta Wheat Commission
BC Grain Producers
Canadian Seed Growers
National Farmers Union
Sask Flax Commission
Western Pulse Growers
Western Winter Cereal Growers
Marketing (vacant)
Agricultural Producers of SK
Canadian Canola Growers
Keystone Ag Producers
Prairie Oat Growers
Western Barley Growers
Western Wheat Growers
Wild Rose Ag Producers
AAFC (non-voting)
Note: Each organization nominates one Board member
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Research Focus
 To benefit western Canadian producers.
 WGRF manages an Endowment Fund, and
the Wheat and Barley Check-Off Funds.
 WGRF invests over $6 Million annually into
crop research.
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Wheat and Barley Check-Offs
 $82 million dollars to date for variety development:
 $68.9 million from the wheat check-off,
 $13.1 million from the barley check-off.
 Institutions supported:
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AAFC,
University of Saskatchewan (Crop Development Centre),
University of Alberta,
University of Manitoba,
Alberta Agriculture Food and Rural Developmet.
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High Producer ROI From WGRF
Wheat
$1 Check-Off = $20.40 Producer Value
Barley
$1 Check-Off = $7.56 Producer Value
Source: Gray, Nagy, Guzel. 2012.
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Print and digital Ad’s are running across Western Canada until January 2013.
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The New WGRF
 Support wheat/barley
commissions and councils.
 Increase research support
from Endowment Fund.
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New Commissions and Councils
 Leadership from Wheat/Barley Commissions
and Councils.
 WGRF will collaborate with the Commissions
and Councils on research as requested.
 WGRF committed to a smooth transition to
provincial check-offs.
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WGRF Endowment Fund
 $90 million.
 Research in all western Canadian field crops to
maximize producer benefit.
 To date: $26 million for 230 projects.
 Co-fund with provincial agriculture funding bodies
producer commodity organizations.
 2013 Target: $15 million over four years and double
to $30 million with co-funding.
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Funding Priority Research Areas
 Agronomy
 Variety Development
 Minor Crop Development
 Crop Utilization
 Crop Risk Management
 Post Harvest Management
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Growing Forward 2
 WGRF is working with other
producer organizations to
develop GF2 proposals for:
 Wheat
 Barley
 Agronomy
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Producer Funded
Producer Directed
Research
Questions?
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