An initiative to save the western Canadian barley industry is planned.
Production has dropped nearly 30 percent in the last 10 years, and the Western Barley Growers Association wants to staunch the losses while there is still an industry to protect.
Association members have met with government and barley users over the last year to discuss what is going wrong and gain support to rebuild what was once a primary prairie crop.
Funding is being collected to support a study, said association president Brian Otto of Warner, Alta.
Letters of support from every sector of the business have been received to save an industry in which less than seven million tonnes were harvested last fall.
Discussions are also planned with the Canadian Wheat Board, Otto said during the association’s recent annual meeting in Calgary.
The initiative should identify the weak parts of the barley value chain as well as solutions to rebuild demand for feed, beer and other food products.
“We have seen things that aren’t working identified but nobody has ever proposed how you fix it,” Otto said.
The association has a meeting scheduled with federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz to discuss the strategic plan.
