New directors to the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission say the concept of a producer-funded, farmer-controlled wheat breeding program deserves serious consideration.
“We want to invest producers’ money the most efficient way we can to maximize their profitability (and) … we’re going to explore all avenues to do that,” said Glenn Tait, a farmer from Meota, Sask., who was elected to the SWDC board last month.
“Farmers are just a small cog in the wheel..… They have very little discretionary power with respect to breeding programs …”
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“I hope to bring farmers into a greater position of power through their check-off money.”
Tait was one of seven elected SWDC board members who took office after the commission’s inaugural annual general meeting Jan. 13 at CropSphere, held as part of Crop Production Week, which runs Jan. 11 – 18 in Saskatoon.
“(A farmer controlled wheat breeding program) is absolutely possible,” he said. “If we can retain the value of farmers’ research, that would be great.”
Beginning this year, the SWDC will be in charge of managing producer check-off revenues collected on all spring wheat produced in the province.
Producer levies of 52 cents per tonne are expected to generate $4 to $5 million per year.
The money will be used to support wheat research that benefits SaskÂatchewan growers, including the development of new varieties.
Dan Danielson, a Saskatoon producer who has been growing cereals for 30 years, said it is imperative that farmers’ investments benefit farmers and not big business.
He said farmers must retain control of the research and the products that their money funds.
“From what I understand of the candidates (that were elected), myself included, we favour public research … we favour farm-saved seed and we don’t want all of our production to go back to a contract,” said Danielson.
“I think it’s fair to say that we wouldn’t mind having a look at that (a farmer controlled breeding program).”
He said the federal government’s elimination of single-desk marketing has diminished farmer influence.
He said the first slate of SWDC directors will help growers recapture some of that influence.
“I really think that to some extent, government hasn’t really listened to farmers very well, and I am hoping that I can be part of a change in that,” he said.
Other directors elected to the commission’s board of directors include former CWB director Rod Flaman of Edenwold, Sask., single desk supporter Bill Gehl of Regina, Ken Rosaasen of Saskatoon, Laura Reiter of Radisson, Sask., and Bill Rosher of Kindersley, Sask.
