b'Were still looking to bring more voices into the mixthe more input we have, the stronger and more effective our pro-gram will become.Reflecting on the transition, Collier highlights the impor-tance of flexibility. The key lesson weve learned is the value of being open to new ideas. With our rebranding, weve had the chance to be creative with our partnerships and funding models. Being open to different ways of doing things has brought us some incred-ible feedback and innovative ideas, which is exactly what we aim to achieve.Despite the changes, WCIs ambitions remain unchanged. Our goal is still to have our barley varieties grown on most Jeff Jackson, general manager for SeedNet, says the regionally adaptedbarley acres in Western Canada by 2030, Collier says. Were varieties bred by WCI are crucial to farmer success in Western Canada. absolutely on track to achieve that, and as we navigate these new strategic changes, were looking forward to not just meet-ing but exceeding that goal.Yadeta Kabeta is the barley breeder at WCI, which houses one of Western Canadas few programs for feed and forage barley. WCI, when it began as the FCDC back in 1973, was primarily established to breed barley for feed and forage.Since then, our priorities have evolved slightly, with other crops like triticale being added to the mix. However, feed and forage barley remain at the heart of our program. This focus is crucial because the livestock industry is incredibly important, not just in Alberta but across Western Canada, he says. WCIs barley program is dedicated to developing the feed grades needed to support this vital sector, and thats why main-taining a focused feed and forage barley breeding program is essential. WCI also has a robust malting barley breeding pro-gram that has successfully brought several promising varieties to the market in recent years, including AB Dram, Canadas first non-glycosidic nitrile variety.Barley is a naturally resilient crop, widely adapted, and suitable for sustainable production due to its relatively low input requirements. Our primary goal is to capitalize on these strengths by developing barley that is even more resilient to changing and variable environments, he says. Weve made significant progress in terms of yield, but theres much more potential to unlock, especially in terms of quality. Barley is particularly valued in the pork industry for its unique marbling effect, and we aim to delve deeper into this quality aspect, working closely with collaborators and partners to realize this potential. HELPING YOU TAKE CONTROL THROUGH AUTOMATIONwww.ezratek.comT: (204) 331-3000 AUTOMATIC BAGGERS BULK BAG FILLERS PALLETIZERS TAGGERS20 SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA SEPTEMBER 2024'