By Troy Gillard

Olds College new home for Alberta’s field crop development centre

Oct 16, 2020 | 2:31 PM

OLDS, AB – Agriculture and Forestry is moving its field crop development centre to Olds College and has announced an initial $10.5-million grant over three years to fund the program.

Since 1973, the program has been developing enhanced cereal varieties for feed, malt, food and bio-industrial uses, bringing more economic opportunities to Alberta’s agriculture industry.

“Olds has long been the centre of agriculture research innovation, so it was a natural fit,” said Agriculture and Forestry Minister Devin Dreeshen.

“From practical on-farm applications to advanced technical training, the college has helped build modern agriculture in Alberta. Tremendous barley varieties have been developed under Alberta’s barley breeding program and a more farmer-focused research program under Olds College will just make a good thing better.”

Alberta’s barley breeding program has successfully developed and introduced several new varieties of barley to both domestic and international markets. This includes AB Advantage, AB Wrangler and AB Tofield, and a highly sought after (but yet unnamed) variety, which are for feeding domestic livestock, as well as AB Lowe and AB Brewnet, which are now used for the growing craft brewing market.

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Olds College President Stuart Cullum welcomed the addition of the Barley/Triticale Research Program to their applied research portfolio. The program comprises breeding, pathology and biotechnology activities in relation to barley and triticale.

“Olds College is focused on delivering research programming that is centred on the needs of producers and industry partners and we are committed to collaborating with key stakeholders throughout the sector in order to sustainably position and grow barley/triticale research here in Alberta,” Cullum said.

Alberta Barley Commission Chair Dave Bishop said, “Barley is an important crop in Alberta for both the livestock sector and the brewing industry. We are pleased to see the continuation of a barley breeding centre in our province where over half of Canada’s barley is grown and look forward to working with Olds College in bringing new varieties to market that improve the bottom lines of Alberta farmers.”