CALGARY, AB: The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association endorses today’s announcement regarding the formal establishment of development commissions for wheat and barley in Saskatchewan.

“The formation of these Commissions will help promote our wheat and barley in international markets and here at home,” says Levi Wood, President of the Wheat Growers. “It will also help ensure we have ongoing farmer-directed research into the production of these crops.”

For the past several months Wheat Grower directors Cherilyn Nagel and Gerrid Gust have been serving on the steering committee that has been working to develop the mandate and operational details of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (SWDC). Both have been appointed by Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart to continue to serve on the interim board of directors, with Cherilyn serving as interim Chairperson.

“We’re quite excited to reach this milestone,” says Nagel. “Commissions have a good history of success in this Province in helping to promote and develop canola, pulse and many other crops.

We are determined to see the same success happen in wheat and barley.” The Wheat Growers are expecting the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission to take a leading role in promoting Canadian wheat and dispelling myths that have questioned its nutritional benefits. We also see the Commission as playing an important role in agronomic research and working to maintain and improve access to international markets.

The Wheat Growers are also working to ensure the Saskatchewan wheat and barley commissions work hand in hand with existing wheat and barley commissions in Alberta, and the Manitoba wheat and barley association that is under development in Manitoba.

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