JULY 2017 GERMINATION.CA 63 TheHeadlines cides residues in soil. He began his new role with ISTA on June 1. XITEBIO TECHNOLOGIES WELCOMES BILL BUSBY TO ITS SALES TEAM XiteBio adds Bill Busby as its new sales manager. He will be based out of the company’s head office in Winnipeg, Man. He will be taking on a leadership role in promoting sales and marketing efforts of XiteBio with special empha- sis on the U.S., Eastern Canada and Manitoba markets. FMC ANNOUNCES NEW KEY STAFF FMC Agricultural Solutions in the United States and Canada has named Mike Harper their industry-relations manager. In addition, FMC has named accomplished agricultural com- municator Lisa Homer as senior communications manager for the U.S. and Canada. Christina Coen was added to the FMC marketing and communications team in Philadelphia. These new team members will support the FMC agricultural crop protection portfolio in the U.S. and Canada. PRODUCT CONSULTATION BEGINS ON PROPOSED NEW WHEAT CLASS The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) began a consul- tation on its proposal to introduce a new eastern wheat class. The CGC is proposing to develop a Canada Eastern Special Purpose class. This class would allow all registered wheat varieties to be assigned to a class and receive a statutory Canadian grain grade. The proposed Canada Eastern Special Purpose class would ensure that eastern wheat classes con- tinue to meet the needs of producers and support future market opportuni- ties. The proposed wheat class would take effect on July 1, 2018. RESEARCH MIDGE TOLERANCE DETECTED IN MOST SWS SPRING WHEAT: SECAN Through recent advancements in marker technology, SeCan has just discovered that the majority of the soft white wheat varieties grown in Western Canada contain the Sm1 trait for midge tolerance — and for this reason they will require stewardship. In response, SeCan will add refuge to all future seed stocks released to SeCan members of AAC Awesome, AAC Paramount (once field results confirm resistance), AAC Indus, and AC Sadash. XiteBio’s Bill Busby