“I think it would be a great step for both commissions, and I’m hopeful that we get to move forward.” – Tara Sawyer.

Alberta cereal commissions ‘halfway there’ on merger vote

If wheat growers vote in favour next month, a plebiscite will be held on sealing the deal

Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta Barley is one step closer to amalgamating with Alberta Wheat following a vote in favour of the proposal at the barley growers’ annual general meeting early this month. “At our AGM last week, the Alberta Barley delegates voted highly in favour of moving forward,” said chair Tara Sawyer. “Now the next step is the […] Read more

Plot2Farm heading into third season

Plot2Farm heading into third season

Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley are now taking Plot2Farm applications for next year. The initiative was launched in 2020 to better understand “how particular management practices impact crop quality and yield” on individual farms. The program seeks to replicate promising small-plot trial research results on farms, with producers being assisted by an agronomist. This allows […] Read more


Acclamations for directors the order of the day

Reading Time: < 1 minute Charles Simoneau from Guy has been proclaimed as Alberta Canola Producers director in Region 3, and Wayne Schneider from Leduc has been acclaimed in Region 6. But vacant director spots in Regions 9 and 12 failed to generate nominations so elections will be held at the AGM in January. Two Alberta Wheat directors were also […] Read more

Wheat and barley elections coming

Wheat and barley elections coming

Reading Time: < 1 minute Producers are being encouraged by Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley to nominate “local leaders” for the upcoming round of elections for directors and reps. Alberta Wheat has spots open for two directors and three regional reps in Region 3, one director from Region 2, and one director-at-large. Alberta Barley is seeking candidates for directors in […] Read more


Cereal merger survey now online

Cereal merger survey now online

Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley have launched their online survey to consult members on amalgamating to form a single commission. Since 2018, the organizations have shared a management team but have two boards and separate financial structures. Members of both farm groups passed resolutions at their 2019 annual general meetings calling for a comprehensive review […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Cereal groups want to harvest farmers’ views on merger

Reading Time: 2 minutes Producers being asked if Alberta Wheat, Alberta Barley should go for full amalgamation The seeds were planted long ago and now producers will get their say on whether they want Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley to merge. “The consultation will begin in July with an online survey, followed by online town hall events after harvest […] Read more


Cereal groups launch joint website

Cereal groups launch joint website

Reading Time: < 1 minute They haven’t reached the altar yet, but Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley have taken another step down the aisle by launching a joint website at albertawheatbarley.com. The two cereal commissions moved to a combined management structure in 2018 and are in the midst of considering a full merger. A committee is currently putting together a […] Read more

The search is on for the missing wheat yield

The search is on for the missing wheat yield

Reading Time: < 1 minute Wheat growers are wanted for the CWRS Yield Gap Survey. The Prairie-wide project is aimed at identifying key factors that are limiting Canada Western Red Spring yields. Survey results will be used to generate data on current CWRS wheat management practices in both irrigated and dryland production systems. Participants will be asked to provide yield […] Read more


FarmCash now available across the West

Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Wheat is opening up its FarmCash Advance Payments Program to growers across Western Canada. The farm group began the program in the fall of 2018 and offers cash advances to producers of more than 50 agricultural commodities – including all major crops, livestock and honey. There are 33 “administrators” of the federal loan guarantee […] Read more

Sheri Strydhorst, one of the province’s better-known crop experts, has joined Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley as an agronomy research specialist.

Familiar figures in the provincial agronomy scene on the move

Two canola council agronomists leave organization while cereal commissions hire second crop specialist

Reading Time: 2 minutes Two longtime Canola Council of Canada agronomists have moved on while another who specializes in cereals has joined Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley. Dan Orchard, who covered agronomy in Wetaskiwin, is now consulting in the same region, and Greg Sekulic, who was responsible for the Peace Country is joining Croplife Australia. “Nobody was cut, nobody […] Read more