The National Farmers Union argues that Seeds Canada’s variety-use pilot project may be intended to normalize the concept of paying companies for farm-saved seed and help the industry lobby Ottawa to make royalty payments on farm-saved seed mandatory. | Reuters/Nick Oxford photo

Say no to crop variety-use agreements

The annual seed guides have arrived, bringing farmers reliable information on which to base this year’s variety choices. These publications have a long history of providing objective, science-based information. The seed guides also present information regarding the varieties’ intellectual property status. While often overlooked when choosing a new variety, this information should be considered — […] Read more

A new class of lower quality milling wheat could undermine the important Canada Western Red Spring class.  |  File photo

New wheat class casts doubt on future

The Canadian Grain Commission recently proposed creating a new class of lower quality milling wheat with the stated objective of protecting the integrity of the Canada Western Red Spring class. However, the introduction of this new class may actually undermine CWRS wheat by facilitating the introduction of higher yielding, lower protein American hard red spring […] Read more