A recent producer survey highlights excellent support for check offs to fund crop research, says the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF).
"Three-quarters of producers believe that the wheat and barley check-offs are important to producers for variety research according to the survey," says Garth Patterson, executive director of the WGRF/
Overall, producers surveyed have a positive perception of WGRF and highly value farmer directed agricultural research. "In fact, 89 per cent of producers believe it is important to have a research oriented organization like WGRF," says Patterson.
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Through the wheat and barley check-offs and the Endowment Fund WGRF invested over $6.3 million dollars into breeding and crop production research on behalf of produces in western Canada last year. "WGRF prides itself on being producer funded and directed and as an organization, it is great to hear such positive feedback from producers" said Patterson.
The survey also shows support to increase investment in wheat, as evident by the fact that 65 per cent of producers agree that increased funding of wheat breeding is important to increasing wheat profitability for farmers. There is also strong support by producers for an increase in both public (84 per cent) and private (68 per cent) wheat breeding.
Top research priorities listed in the survey included improving disease and pest resistance management, and the development of higher yielding varieties. "WGRF would like to thank the producers who participated in the survey" says Patterson. "The information collected will help WGRF with our research investments and our efforts to collaborate with private industry."
The survey was conducted on behalf of the WGRF by Insightrix Research, and involved a telephone survey of 600 twheat and barley producers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. WGRF was interested in gauging producer’s awareness, understanding and opinions of WGRF, the wheat and barley check-offs and research priorities.
