News
USask researcher awarded $4.2 million to battle root rot
SASKATOON – Root rot in pulse crops has grown to be a devastating issue for growers across Saskatchewan and Western Canada, so a team of University of Saskatchewan (USask) research...
More than $10 million awarded to USask crop research projects
By:MATT OLSON, RESEARCH PROFILE AND IMPACT
Twenty-nine crop science projects from researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) have received a total of close to $7.5 million from the Governments of Canada and Saska...
USask appoints new lentil and faba bean breeder
Dr. Ana Vargas (PhD) has been appointed as the new lentil and faba bean breeder and an Agri-Food Innovation Fund Chair at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).
A life in wheat
By:Clare Stanfield for AgKnowledge
As Dr. Pierre Hucl (PhD) steps down as a Strategic Research Program (SRP) chair, he reflects on the evolution of wheat breeding in Canada and looks ahead to a bright future.
CDC flax variety honours former flax breeder
CDC Rowland is a large-seeded oilseed flax variety that’s been termed a “game changer” for western Canadian flax growers.
Increased funding a vote of confidence for the Crop Development Centre
By:Adele Paul
In January, the Crop Development Centre (CDC) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) received news that their Core Operating funding from the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) ...
CDC yellow field pea cultivar named in recognition of local Saskatchewan farmer
CDC Lewochko, is a medium seed size, semi-leafless yellow field pea cultivar with a high seed protein content.
Eye in the sky speeds forage research on saline soils
By:Michael Robin - Western Producer
A blustery day grounded Alex Waldner’s planned demonstration flight — an occupational hazard for Saskatchewan drone pilots, she said — but the University of Saskatchewan master’s s...
USask wheat breeder earns province's highest honour
By:USask Crop Development Centre
Dr. Pierre Hucl (PhD) has been named a 2023 Saskatchewan Order of Merit recipient in recognition of his remarkable contributions to crop development and research.
Exciting times in wheat research at the Crop Development Centre
Krystalee Wiebe is optimistic that USask genetic research projects in wheat and durum will be vital in addressing future agricultural challenges.
USask research chair successor to lead spring wheat and canaryseed breeding program
Dr. Adam Carter (PhD) has been appointed as the new Strategic Research Program (SRP) Chair in Spring Wheat and Canaryseed Breeding and Genetics at the University of Saskatchewan (U...
Strengthening agricultural systems through plant-breeding and tools for farmers
By:FOOD SECURITY REPORT VIA GLOBE AND MAIL
Farm productivity is subject to a complex web of conditions. On the economic side of the balance sheet, there are factors like supply chain woes, inflationary pressures and supply-...
CDC milling oat variety bred to endure.
CDC Endure, is a milling oat variety released in 2019 with a strong agronomic package that had the potential to “endure” for many years as a popular variety with growers and indust...
Cool Beans: How Ana Vargas chose the Crop Development Centre for her life’s work
By:Adele Paul
Ana’s unique history inspired her love of pulses, and the University of Saskatchewan (USask) provided the perfect place to turn her passion into meaningful impact.
CDC durum variety named for its dark awns
CDC Vantta, a newly released Canadian Western Amber Durum (CWAD) wheat variety, is noticeably different. Released in 2021, CDC Vantta is a new CDC durum variety that is noticeably ...
International Day of Women and Girls in Science; recognizing our faculty members in Plant Sciences and the Crop Development Centre
February 11th marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGS) - an annual event that recognizes and celebrates the achievements of women in the areas of science, ...
USask researchers aim to reclaim saline soils
By:Saskatchewan Forage Council
Researchers with the University of Saskatchewan (USask) forage breeding team are looking to provide growers with better methods for managing saline areas.
USask awarded $14 million to support innovative crop research
By:Research Profile and Impact
The University of Saskatchewan (USask) has been awarded $14 million through Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund (ADF), with $7.2 million of the funds allocated to operating...
CDC Professor and Director awarded prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal
As a highly successful wheat breeder with the Crop Development Centre for almost two decades, Dr. Curtis Pozniak (PhD) was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Sask...
From summer student to PhD: Cultivating an appreciation for plant genetics
By:Nykole King
Adam Carter can pinpoint two specific moments in his young life that put him on track to pursuing a PhD in the wheat breeding program at the Crop Development Centre (CDC) at the Un...
USask researcher aims to reduce fertilizer use through plant cross-breeding
By:Brooke Kleiboer
A strong source of protein and fibre, peas are a staple in many diets and are appearing more frequently in products such as plant-based meat substitutes and bakery goods. Universit...
Wheat pathology research a practical way to help producers
By:Nykole King
Mackenzie Hladun is fascinated by the basic principles of how a host can defend itself from disease, whether it comes to animals, humans or plants.
USask student finds home between agriculture research and community
By:Nykole King
Communicating research to the public is one of David MacTaggart’s strengths — and it’s a skill he’s honed during his master’s degree.
Exploring the unknown: Molecular plant pathology a passion for USask student
By:Nykole King
Plant pathology has been a fascinating topic of research for Matthew Wengler since the early years of his undergraduate program.
Three generations at the CDC
By:Colleen Macpherson
The history of the Crop Development Centre (CDC) is a celebration of plant breeding and how new varieties indelibly changed agriculture in Saskatchewan, and around the world. It is...
USask student uses genomics to accelerate pea breeding for heat resistance
By:Nykole King
Shaoming Huang is using advanced sequencing technology to shorten the breeding cycle of field peas.
USask hosts the Prime Minister of Canada
By:UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid tribute to the contributions the University of Saskatchewan (USask) has made to scientific discovery, as he wrapped up his visit to campus on Wed...
USask Emeritus Professor Inducted into SK Ag Hall of Fame
Professor Emeritus Rick Holm and previous director of the Crop Development Centre was officially inducted into the SK Agriculture Hall of Fame on Saturday April 9, 2022.
USask researchers aim to boost uranium, wheat sectors with novel technology
Two University of Saskatchewan (USask) projects have been awarded Natural Sciences and Engineering Council (NSERC) Alliance Grants totaling $885,000 for research aimed at developin...
USask New Flax Breeder put first lines through at PGDC
The University of Saskatchewan’s new flax breeder got to put forward his first flax line this year at the annual meeting of the Prairie Grain Development Committee (PGDC).
CDC Researcher Awarded Pulse Promoter Award
Dr. Bunyamin Tar’an has been recognized by Saskatchewan Pulse Growers for the significant contribution he has made to the development of Saskatchewan's pulse industry.
Resilient Crops Developed through Research and Breeding
By:Shalyn McKenna, Communications Consultant
Saskatchewan experienced a widespread drought in 2021, with significantly lower yields across much of the province. With these challenges, it is important to keep an eye on the wor...
Crop Development Centre launching new look to celebrate a half century of success
By:Nykole King
The Crop Development Centre (CDC) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) is a powerhouse of research that’s propelled Canadian agriculture forward for five decades—and it shows ...
USask chickpea research aims to improve important food source for low- and lower-middle-income countries
SASKATOON – University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers are part of a global team that used DNA to track the genetic evolution and migration of the chickpea, offering insights t...
USask researcher and Paralympian seeks plant-based solution to iron deficiency
By:BROOKE KLEIBOER
A new breed of field peas may lead to the development of an effective ‘food-first’ iron supplement.
New USask research has potential to make fava beans a new favourite from farm to fork
By:USASK RESEARCH PROFILE AND IMPACT
A once popular high-protein legume crop with potential to make farming more environmentally sustainable is poised for reinvigorated popularity, thanks to an international research ...
USask’s CDC celebrates a half century of crop innovation
By:Kathy Fitzpatrick for USask Research Profile and Impact
A scan across the horizon reveals how much Saskatchewan’s agricultural landscape has changed in half a century: millions of acres of ripening lentils, fields of sky blue flax, and ...
New USask research will make bean crops hardier, help improve global food security
Tepary beans—a high protein legume common to the southwest United States and Mexico—may hold the key to adapting bean crops for the increasingly harsh conditions brought on by a ch...
USask scientists help find the key to decoding rye genome
An international team led by the IPK Leibniz Institute in Germany and including University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers has succeeded in completely decoding the genome of ry...
USask agriculture researchers awarded $5.8M to help feed the world, protect the planet
By:USask Research Profile and Impact
Eighteen wide-ranging University of Saskatchewan (USask) crop research projects have been awarded a total of almost $5.8 million through Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund...
Lentils first breakthrough in CDC history of re-shaping Prairie agriculture
By:KATHY FITZPATRICK FOR USASK RESEARCH PROFILE AND IMPACT
It’s hard to imagine what Saskatchewan’s pulse industry would be like today if the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre (CDC) had never been created.
USask’s Crop Development Centre celebrating 50 years
By:Kathy Fitzpatrick
The year 2021 marks a major milestone for the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Crop Development Centre (CDC): 50 years of reshaping western Canadian agriculture.