SASKATOON – The federal and Saskatchewan governments have announced a combined $7 million in funding for crop-related research. Delivered every year through the Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund, the money will benefit 40 projects.
Research topics include the effects of drought on canola yields while the plants are in the flowering stage. Fusarium head blight and other disease-related research is included, along with ways to improve varieties of wheat, lentil, faba bean and canary seed.
READ MORE: Canary seed designated safe for humans to eat
Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart said funding crop innovation helps diversify the province’s economy.
“Everybody knows about the woes that the oil and gas sector’s been suffering the last couple years and it’s times like this I think that people really appreciate the contribution that agriculture makes,” Stewart said.
Stewart made the announcement at the third annual CropSphere conference in Saskatoon Tuesday.
Industry organizations are adding an additional $2.8 million in research funding, including $1.1 million from the Western Grains Research Foundation.
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