The Western Canadian Deduction (WCD) ended on July 31, 2017 with a smooth transition to the check-offs collected by wheat commissions/associations. WGRF remains involved in wheat variety development through a number of partnerships and agreements with university crop development centres and Government research facilities. WGRF is investing the remaining funds that were collected through the western Canadian wheat check-off and ongoing royalty funds into wheat variety development.

The Canadian National Wheat Cluster was announced on January 15, 2019 by the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (AAFC). Funding for the Wheat Cluster will come from AAFC through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriScience program and 10 producer and private organizations from across Canada. The Wheat Cluster will be administered by the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC), which includes the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask Wheat), the Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC), and the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA).

Canadian wheat farmers will see significant benefits through the newly announced Canadian National Wheat Cluster. Worth nearly $25 million over five years, projects funded through the Wheat Cluster address common issues that farmers face and will lead to improved varieties and agronomic practices. The Wheat Cluster program runs from 2018 to 2023.

The funders of the Wheat Cluster include:

  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada ($13.9 million)
  • Alberta Wheat Commission ($2.6 million)
  • Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission ($3.1 million)
  • Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association ($932,000)
  • Western Grains Research Foundation ($2.5 million)
  • Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance (CFCRA) ($1.6 million)
    • Atlantic Grains Council
    • SeCan
    • Grain Farmers of Ontario
    • Producteurs de grains du Québec
  • Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Development Commission ($185,000)
  • Winter Cereals Manitoba ($100,000)

For more information on the Canadian National Wheat Cluster please visit WheatResearch.ca.