MBC130404

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SNOW, ICE AND FLOODS

FINDING THE LINE Between pets and food » Page 33

The forecast is wet » Page 9

APRIL 4, 2013

SERVING MANITOBA FARMERS SINCE 1925 | VOL. 71, NO. 14

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$1.75

MANITOBACOOPERATOR.CA

Drainage critics predict more water heading our way Is a production push encouraging illegal drainage? By Daniel Winters CO-OPERATOR STAFF / YORKTON

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ritics say Saskatchewan’s plan to increase crop production by 10 million tonnes by 2020 will greatly increase illegal drainage — and send more water rushing towards Manitoba. The provincial government’s ambitious plan, which also includes doubling agricultural exports by decade’s end, needs to be coupled with better water See DRAINAGE on page 6 »

Doug Brown was aiming at a career as a science teacher when he took a temporary detour into the plant-breeding labs at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. That was 40 years ago. PHOTO: SHANNON VANRAES

First fusarium-resistant spring wheat in pipeline HY1610 is a genetic breakthrough that almost didn’t make the cut By Allan Dawson

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CO-OPERATOR STAFF /SASKATOON

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aunching two new Canadian Prairie Spring red (CPS) wheats, including the first fusarium head blightresistant spring wheat bred for western Canadian farmers, is a great way to cap a 40-year-long career in planting breeding, says Doug Brown.

Ten years in the making, HY1615, which is resistant to the yield-crippling fusarium, and HY1610, which is 10 per cent higher yielding than other CPS wheats, were both recommended for registration by the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat Rye and Triticale (PRCWRT) at its annual meeting Feb. 28. “I’m just thrilled,” Brown said in an interview March 22. “These varieties offer

a lot of potential. I hope farmers get some real value from them.” But as pleased as the AAFC cereal breeder was to see his varieties get the nod, he also unabashedly admits he almost let what is now seen as a fusarium resistance breakthrough slip through his fingers. See NEW WHEAT on page 6 »

SLOW THAW: STILL WAITING FOR WARMER WEATHER » PAGE 31

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2/13/13 9:46 AM


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