Friday the 13th of January was a good day for winter cereals in Saskatchewan. On that day 68 people gathered in the Saskatoon Inn as part of Crop Production Week to talk about the future for these potentially
important cereal grains. And the results were tremendous. Thirty-four people joined a new organization called the Saskatchewan Winter Cereal Growers and showed the doubtful that Saskatchewan farmers want winter cereals as part of their rotations.
The event was the first annual meeting of the new commodity association which had been formed by a small steering committee of interested winter cereal growers. The meeting was designed as a launch vehicle for the new group and as a method of gauging the support for the new organization. Judging by the turnout and membership sign-up its an easy conclusion that there is strong interest in winter cereals and having producers play an active role in realizing the potential of these crops.
The first annual meeting heard from Dr. Gary Storey and Dr. Brian Fowler on the future of fall rye and winter wheat. Dr. Storey's message showed that fall rye has tremendous potential and provided recommendations for revitalizing the industry. Dr. Fowler also was very positive for winter wheat and outlined what he thought needed to be done to make winter wheat a viable crop choice. These presentations set the stage for discussion on the role that the Saskatchewan Winter Cereal Growers could play in developing winter cereals and the list of suggestions was a long one.
The predominant message that came from the meeting was that winter cereals needed a voice and that voice needed to come from winter cereal growers. Research, extension, new market development and general advocacy were among the main points brought forward. The many suggestions formed the basis for setting the objectives of the Saskatchewan Winter Cereal Growers which follow:
The purpose of the Saskatchewan Winter Cereal Growers is to promote the development of winter cereals (fall rye, winter wheat and winter triticale) as viable crop choices for Saskatchewan farmers. This purpose will be reached by: