Fleet meadow bromegrass is the 2011-12 Seed of the Year West.
The high yielding, high quality seed was produced by the late Bob Knowles, who bred new varieties of perennial grasses for Western Canada at Agriculture Canada’s research centre in Saskatoon. Many of the most popular dryland grass varieties in Western Canada came from his 52-year-old program.
Fleet was the first Canadian release of meadow bromegrass and became the most widely distributed variety in North America. It is still a leading variety, almost 25 years after its release in 1987.
Seed of the Year recognizes publicly developed varieties that have made a significant contribution to the economy, agriculture and the Canadian public.
Part of the western award is a scholarship of $4,000, which is awarded to a student enrolled in a western Canadian university and completing a Masters or Ph. D. in plant breeding or genetics.
For more information, visit www.seedoftheyear.ca/west.
