By Alice McFarlane

Developing field-ready wheat varieties

Jun 10, 2025 | 12:08 PM

A new agreement will ensure Prairie farmers can continue to access high-quality wheat varieties and associated genetics from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) breeding programs for years to come.

The Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC) has committed $19.9 million over the next three years to a core breeding agreement (CBA) with AAFC for the development of field-ready wheat varieties.

Dean Hubbard, CWRC chair and a farmer near Claresholm, Alta. said the agreement is about making sure Canadian wheat farmers continue to have access to top-quality varieties that perform in the real world.

“By supporting AAFC’s breeding work, we are helping tackle some of the biggest challenges on the farm, like disease, pests and tough weather, while keeping our focus on the quality standards our customers count on,” Hubbard said.

CWRC funding via the 2025-28 CBA will support the development of field-ready Canada Western Red Spring, Canada Western Amber Durum, Canada Prairie Spring Red, Canada Western Soft White Spring and Canada Western Red Winter wheat varieties that reduce business risk and enhance competitiveness for western Canadian farmers.

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AAFC will develop wheat varieties with strong resistance to diseases like Fusarium head blight, rusts and leaf spotting diseases, as well as insect pests such as orange wheat blossom midge and wheat stem sawfly. AAFC will also prioritize new varieties that can withstand adverse environmental conditions such as heat and drought stress. Strict quality standards will ensure that all new varieties address market needs.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald said the investment will ensure our farmers have wheat varieties that can better overcome disease and weather challenges and maintain Canada’s competitive advantage in cereal production.

“Researchers with AAFC have been breeding wheat for 100 years, supporting Canadian farmers in maintaining their global reputation for producing a premium product,” MacDonald said.

CWRC investment through the new CBA is divided among the organization’s founding members by a funding shares agreement. The CWRC also maintains CBAs with the University of Saskatchewan Crop Development Centre, the University of Manitoba and the University of Alberta.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com