National exposé is not a balanced view: MPC

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22 The Manitoba Co-operator | December 13, 2012 After years of neglect, wheat research is in fashion again Undestanding wheat’s complicated genome is key to attracting research investment needed to boost yields By Alex Binkley CO-OPERATOR CONTRIBUTOR / OTTAWA After being ignored for years, wheat is beginning to regain its lustre and attract the attention of researchers, says Peter Langridge, CEO of the Australian Centre for Plant Function Genomics. For the world to feed the nine billion people expected by 2050, “we need an 82 per cent increase in wheat production,” Langridge told a recent Genomics Canada conference. “The average yield for wheat is 3.1 tonnes per hectare compared to 4.3 for rice and 5.2 for corn. By 2050, the FAO (the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization) says we will need to be getting more than eight tonnes of corn per hectare and close to five tonnes for wheat.” That’s a huge challenge because governments around the world have downgraded wheat research and mainly let it pass into private hands, said Langridge, adding Canada’s participation in an initiative by the G20 group of countries to bolster wheat research is a step forward. That research is focused on developing varieties able to withstand the stress of climate change. New varieties of wheat not only have to have higher yields but be profitable for farmers to grow, added Faouzi Bekkaoui, head of a wheat improvement program for the National Research Council. “But it takes 11 to 14 years to breed new varieties, so we have to think long term about what we want to achieve,” he said. While the Genome Canada conference was taking place, European and American scientists announced they had discovered key components of the genetic code for wheat — a finding that will bolster research efforts. EssEntial tools for farmErs The farmer’s Product Guide helps you make informed decisions on everything that’s essential to your farm. From equipment and accessories to buildings, technology, tillage and trucks – the farmer’s Product Guide covers it all. find exactly what you’re looking for at www.farmersproductguide.com “Analysis of the wheat genome sequence data provides a new and very powerful foundation for breeding future generations of wheat more quickly and more precisely, to help address this problem,” stated an article on the discovery in the journal Nature. Wheat is a complex hybrid and it’s almost five times bigger than the human genome. Meanwhile, Syngenta announced the expansion of its wheat-breeding facility in Junction City, Kansas. The 100-acre facility includes research labs and greenhouses where breeders and researchers are employing cutting-edge applied technologies. These include hybridization (which brings yield stability and consistency), double haploid technology (which stabilizes the desired variety earlier and more quickly, cutting years out of the development cycle) and genetic markers (which allow for native trait identification in seedlings). This kind of research could lead to major improvements, said Dave Sefton, chair for the Western Grains Research Foundation and a grain farmer from Broadview, Sask. “We are supportive of, and look forward to, any public, private, producer partnerships that have the potential to deliver net benefits to Canadian farmers,” he said. Wheat varieties developed in Canada for high yields, disease resistance and strong milling and baking characteristics have been sent to the Junction City facility for further testing and multiplication prior to field-scale trials in Canada. PHOTO: THINKSTOCK.COM thousands housands of fully searchable ag product and service listings! for more information on the Farmer’s Product Guide please visit www.farmersproductguide.com or call Terry at 204-981-3730 rEquirEd. rEfErEncEd. rEsPEctEd. His company wants “to transform wheat production worldwide by creating new technology platforms,” said Norm Dreger, Syngenta’s head of cereals in North America.
The Manitoba Co-operator | December 13, 2012 23 U.S. drought expands, blankets High Plains Nearly 63 per cent of the contiguous U.S. is suffering moderate to extreme drought By Carey Gillam REUTERS Drought is tightening its grip on the central United States as winter weather sets in, threatening to ravage the new wheat crop and spelling more hardship for farmers and ranchers already weary of the costly and ongoing dry conditions. While conditions started to improve earlier in November, they turned harsh to close out the month as above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation proved a dire combination in many regions, according to the Drought Monitor, a weekly compilation of data gathered by federal and academic scientists issued Nov. 29. Forecasts for the next several days show little to no relief and weather watchers are predicting a drier-than-average winter for much of the central United States. “The drought’s impacts are far reaching,” said Eric Luebehusen, a meteorologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in the report. The U.S. High Plains, which includes key farm states of Nebraska, South Dakota, and Kansas, are the hardest hit. In that region, almost 58 per cent of the land area is in extreme or exceptional drought, the worst categories of drought. A week ago, the tally was 55.94 per cent. Nebraska is by far the most parched state in the nation. One hundred per cent of the state is considered in severe or worse drought, with 77.46 per cent of the state considered in “exceptional” drought — the worst level, according to the Drought Monitor. Overall, roughly 62.65 per cent of the contiguous United States was in at least “moderate” drought as of Nov. 27, up from 60.09 per cent a week earlier. The portion of the contiguous United States under “extreme” or “exceptional” drought — the two most dire classifications — expanded to 20.12 per cent from 19.04 per cent. Only 7% of people have planned a gift in their Will, but 34% would if asked. We’re asking. For more information: Ph: (204) 949.2032 Toll-free: 1.888.473.4636 heartandstroke.mb.ca/ willplanning OUTSTANDING SERVICE IN SEED Art Peters of Boissevain posthumously received one of the Outstanding Service Awards presented this year by the Manitoba Seed Growers Association at its awards banquet in Brandon Dec. 5. There to receive it were his widow Leona (l) and Scott, one of the Peters’ three sons. The award was presented by MSGA president Ryan Murray. Art, owner of West-Gro Seeds Services, had been a seed grower for 40 years when he was killed in a flying accident in 2010. Son Scott has taken over the farm. Kurt, the oldest, lives and works in Canal Flats, B.C., in the logging industry. Bradley, the second eldest, lives and works in Boissevain on information technology. PHOTO: ALLAN DAWSON Yields big. Stands strong. Sets a new standard...World Class Standability! VT 500 G canola takes maximum nitrogen rates without lodging. This unique trait allows farmers to maximize fertility with confidence. Get the yield you’re looking for and swath it faster with VT 500 G. For more information, visit your Viterra ag retail or seed.viterra.ca NitrogeN rAte impAct oN LoDgiNg WORLD CLASS EXCELLENT VERY GOOD GOOD POOR LODGING RESISTANCE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Data extracted from the 2011 Viterra Performance Checks. 55-80 LBS 90-100 LBS 100-120 LBS APPLIED LBS N/ACRE VT 500 G VR 9953 G VT REMARKABLE DEKALB 73-45 Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship ® (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. This product has been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Excellence Through Stewardship ® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready ® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup ® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup ® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Genuity and Design ® , Genuity Icons, Roundup Ready ® , and Roundup ® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC, Monsanto Canada, Inc. licensee. ©2012 Monsanto Canada, Inc. 10607G-VIT-VT500G_GrainNews_MBcoop_ABFE_8.125x10.indd 1 30/08/12 2:16 PM
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