LACOMBE — The number of acres seeded to barley in Alberta lags well behind those dedicated to canola or wheat. But those gaps could narrow in the future, thanks to an $8-million commitment to barley research by the federal government.
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz used the Lacombe Research Centre as a backdrop for the funding announcement on Tuesday. He said the money will be used to develop crop production practices that will help barley farmers reduce costs and maximize profits.
Specifically, it will fund some 28 projects under the Alberta Barley Commission’s “barley research cluster.”
“A good part of the cluster’s work will happen right here at Lacombe, with the two lead scientists here,” said Ritz.
Research will also take place at other Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada centres, as well as at universities and other facilities.
“The clusters have been a very successful model for a number of other commodities over the past couple of years,” said Ritz. “They bring scientists, universities and industry together to set the research priorities that will move the industry forward.”
Alberta Barley Commission chairman Matt Sawyer stressed the significance of the federal money, which will come over a five-year period.
“This is a game-changer for the future of barley,” said Sawyer, who farms near Acme.
“This $8 million in AgriInnovation Program money is exactly the shot in the arm that barley research needs in Canada.”
John O’Donovan, a research scientist at the Lacombe Research Centre who specializes in agronomy, agreed that the funding will make a difference in the work he and his colleagues perform.
“We’ll be conducting a number of experiments that we wouldn’t have been able to conduct if we didn’t have this funding.”
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com