The Western Grains Research Foundation has added four more organizations to its membership.
At its annual general meeting held March 5 in Winnipeg, the WGRF expanded its membership to include the Alberta Barley Commission, the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Association, the Saskatchewan Wheat Commission and the Saskatchewan Barley Commission.
Dave Sefton, a farmer from Broadview, Sask., was re-elected as WGRF chair, and Keith Degenhardt of Hughenden, Alta., was re-elected vice-chair.
“In the past year, WGRF has strengthened relationships with our member organizations and research partners, updated our bylaws and continued to increase research investments,” said Sefton.
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“I believe research is of great importance to our industry, and 2014 will see WGRF continue to increase its role as a leading funder of agriculture research in Western Canada.”
In addition to Sefton and Degenhardt, the foundation’s 2014 board of directors includes:
• Bill Gehl of Regina, Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission
• Bob Anderson of Dugald, Man., Prairie Oat Growers Association
• D’Arcy Hilgartner of Camrose, Western Pulse Growers Association
• Don Dewar of Dauphin, Man., Keystone Agricultural Producers
• Doyle Wiebe of Langham, Sask., Canadian Canola Growers Association
• Garth Butcher of Birtle, Man., Western Winter Cereal Producers
• Gerrid Gust of Davidson, Sask., Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association
• Jason Skotheim of Spruce Home, Sask., Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission
• Joe Rennick of Milestone, Sask., Canadian Seed Growers Association
• Kevin Auch of Carmangay, Alta, Alberta Wheat Commission
• Martin Moore of Fort St. John, B.C., British Columbia Grain Producers Association
• Mel Stickland of Red Deer, Western Barley Growers Association
• Ray Askin of Portage, Man., Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association
• Stewart Wells of Swift Current, Sask., National Farmers Union
• Todd Lewis of Regina, Sask., Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan
• A member to be determined from the Alberta Barley Commission.
WGRF is a farmer funded and directed non-profit organization investing in agricultural research that benefits western Canadian producers.
The foundation invested more than $7.4 million into breeding and field crop research last year.
