MBC130407

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SPECIAL SECTION

POTATO FOCUS:

GONE FISHIN’

Zebra chip disease latest threat » Page 26

It’s derby season in Manitoba » Page 70

MARCH 7, 2013

SERVING MANITOBA FARMERS SINCE 1925 | VOL. 71, NO. 10

Clubroot found in Manitoba

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MANITOBACOOPERATOR.CA

$1.75

Wheat registration system faces review

Testing confirms clubroot in Manitoba soils By Laura Rance CO-OPERATOR EDITOR

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Some argue the system needs tweaking, others want a complete overhaul

esting has confirmed levels of clubroot capable of producing disease in two soil samples collected from Manitoba canola fields last year, provincial officials say. “It is significant in that we can no longer consider ourselves free of clubroot in Manitoba,“ said Holly Derksen, a plant pathologist with the Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Soils and Crops Branch. The two samples were among six samples found to contain clubroot DNA that were collected as part of a survey of Manitoba canola fields last See CLUBROOT on page 7 »

The Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale met in Saskatoon last week to decide which new varieties to recommend for registration but spent a lot of time discussing the future of the registration following a letter from Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz seeking changes. PHOTO: ALLAN DAWSON By Allan Dawson CO-OPERATOR STAFF / SASKATOON

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new review for the Prairie wheat varietal registration process could prove contentious, with defenders calling it key to Canada’s quality brand and its detractors saying it is a barrier to innovation. The industry was already looking at the system in anticipation of the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly ending. A year ago, it agreed to broaden the end-use quality parameters in the Canadian Prairie Red Spring (red) class making it easier to register what some believe to

be higher yielding, but lower-protein American wheats. But the industry also agreed the premier Canadian Western Red Spring and Canadian Amber durum wheat classes should be preserved to protect Canada’s brand. The Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale’s (PRCWRT) quality evaluation team unanimously agreed here last week to revise the quality standards for CPS wheat. Right now under the Seeds Act, the industry decides, which varieties should be recomSee WHEAT on page 6 »

WEATHER: WINTER WILL BE WITH US FOR AWHILE » PAGE 72

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2/13/13 9:46 AM


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