Winter Wheat Research on the West Coast Helps Offset Cost of Imported Grain

During today’s visit to Rideout’s Field in Cormack, the Honourable Tom Marshall, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency, saw firsthand the results of a creative approach taken in the agricultural industry to grow winter wheat on the west coast of the province.

“All around me at the Cormack farm, healthy winter wheat was flourishing in acres of fertile land, grown locally to help farmers offset the cost of importing grain,” said Minister Marshall. “This is a very positive initiative for the province’s agriculture industry, one that aids our farmers and also increases self-sufficiency and food security. By producing our own grain we will not be directly impacted by international, national, and political events that may lead to increased grain prices, demands, and availability.”

Approximately 50,000 tons of grain is imported to livestock farms in Newfoundland and Labrador, costing producers over $23 million annually. In 2012, the Provincial Government committed to conducting grain and forage research to decrease the cost of production for the dairy and poultry industries.

Budget 2013: A Sound Plan, A Secure Future contributed $1 million for research and development, including this initiative. The wheat is harvested and processed using equipment owned by the Provincial Government which is stored at the Pynn’s Brook Agricultural Station.

“The positive impacts of growing grain locally include less capital outflow which increases farm value,” said Melvin Rideout Jr., owner of Rideout’s Field. “Farmers also know the quality of the feed they are using and there is potential for higher nutritional value due to decreased transportation times.”

As part of the agriculture tour, Minister Marshall also visited Humber Valley Potato, which plans to grow grain in rotation with its potato crop.

The local agriculture industry is continually developing and diversifying with annual farm revenues totaling upwards of $150 million. The industry generates direct and indirect employment for approximately 5,000 men and women in rural communities of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The backgrounder below provides more information about this research project.

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Media contact:
Diana Quinton
Director of Communications
Department of Natural Resources
709-729-5282, 631-8155
dianaquinton@gov.nl.ca 

BACKGROUNDER
Grain and Forage Research Undertaken by the Department of Natural Resources

• In 2012, the Department of Natural Resources, Agrifoods Development Branch, committed to conducting grain and forage research to decrease the cost of production for the dairy and poultry industries. It was recognized, through discussions with farmers, that continuous increases in the cost of grain imported into the province was having a negative impact on the livestock sector in this province.
• Winter wheat trials were established in 2012 by Dr. Vanessa Kavanagh, Alternative Feeds Coordinator with the Production and Market Development Division. This is the first harvest.
• Twenty acre trials were established on five dairy farms, three in the western region (in Cormack), and two in the eastern region (in the Goulds area). Large, field-scale research allows the department to evaluate grain varieties as close as possible to the conventional agronomical system. Small plot trials have been taking place since 1993.
• Grain is used as feed for the livestock industries. In addition, the straw is used for feed and bedding.

2013 09 10                              2:55 p.m.