Sep 25, 2025

USask researcher honored with top pulse crop award

University of Saskatchewan (USask) researcher Dr. Tom Warkentin (PhD) has been awarded the Canadian Pulse and Special Crops Trade Association (CPSC) Industry Appreciation Award for his significant contribution to Canada’s pulse and special crops industry.

Sep 23, 2025

CBRC commits $1.8 million to CDC barley breeding activities

The Canadian Barley Research Coalition (CBRC) announced today it will provide $1.8 million in funding over three years to the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Crop Development Centre (CDC), to extend the core breeding agreement and support the development of varieties with improved agronomics, disease resistance and end-use quality.

Aug 7, 2025

USask Professor awarded Agronomy Fellowship

A researcher from the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre has been awarded a Fellowship in the Canadian Society of Agronomy for his service to the agriculture industry in Canada.

Apr 22, 2025

USask Professor awarded Distinguished Agrologist Award

A researcher from the Crop Development Centre have been awarded the Distinguished Agrologist award for his outstanding service and worthy contributions to agriculture, bioresources, food and the environment.

Apr 1, 2025

Pulse Check: Innovative Research Tackles Root Rot and Boosts Protein in Canadian Crops

In the heart of Canada’s agricultural research efforts, two significant projects are making strides toward solving critical challenges in modern farming. From combating destructive root rot in pulse crops to addressing the sustainability of crop rotations, researchers are exploring innovative solutions to ensure longevity in our agricultural future.

Feb 24, 2025

New USask crop research chair receives Sask Wheat support

The Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask Wheat) has committed $6.5 million to support the establishment of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission Applied Genomics and Pre-breeding Chair at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).

Jan 17, 2025

It starts with a seed

Crop Development Centre brings choice and value to western Canadian producers.

Dec 9, 2024

CDC Austenson has Earned the Seed of the Year Award

CDC Austenson isn’t just a barley — it’s a legacy. Crowned Seed of the Year for 2025, this feed barley has become a cornerstone of Canadian agriculture, celebrated for its remarkable yield, straw strength and adaptability.

May 6, 2024

USask Professor selected as one of seven 2024 Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture

Dr. Sabine Banniza (PhD), professor at the Crop Development Centre at the University of Saskatchewan and strategic research chair in pulse crop pathology, has spent over twenty years specializing in research on diseases in pulse crops. With a long-time passion for safe and sustainable food production, she’s made significant contributions to Canada’s status as the principal exporter of pulses.

May 2, 2024

Asian Heritage Month: Forage breeder a research leader at USask

Growing up on the Mongolian Plateau, Dr. Bill Biligetu (PhD) has seen first-hand the effect climate change can have on grasslands. As the Ministry of Agriculture Strategic Research Program (SRP) Chair in Forage Crop Breeding at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), Biligetu is breeding resilient forage varieties adapted for stressful environments.

Jan 22, 2024

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) researchers and colleagues at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the National Research Council (NRC) led by Dr. Sabine Banniza (PhD) of USask’s Crop Development Centre (CDC) is comprehensively searching for ways to beat it.

Jan 16, 2024

More than $10 million awarded to USask crop research projects

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 Saskatchewan and more than $2.5 million in co-funding from industry partners.

Dec 4, 2023

A life in wheat

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.

Aug 10, 2023

Eye in the sky speeds forage research on saline soils

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 student waxed enthusiastic about the value of an eye in the sky for research and producers.

Jun 12, 2023

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 industry.

Apr 5, 2023

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 shorter and expresses long black-coloured awns from the spike.

Jan 16, 2023

USask awarded $14 million to support innovative crop research

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 the Crop Development Centre (CDC) for the next five years.

Dec 14, 2022

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 (Saskatchewan) on December 14, 2022, marking the celebrations of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th anniversary on the throne and honoring an individual’s significant contribution and achievement to Canada.

Nov 17, 2022

USask researcher aims to reduce fertilizer use through plant cross-breeding

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. University of Saskatchewan (USask) PhD student Loveleen Dhillon has dedicated her doctoral research to investigating how to improve nitrogen fixation to optimize pea crop yields in Canada.

Aug 16, 2022

Three generations at the CDC

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 also the story of individuals connected through teaching, learning and mentorship. The experience of Dr. Bob Baker, Dr. Pierre Hucl and Dr. Curtis Pozniak is but one example of the best students and mentors creating the best next generation, not unlike plant breeding itself.

May 26, 2022

USask hosts the Prime Minister of Canada

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 Wednesday.

Apr 6, 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 developing novel technologies to improve productivity and profitability in the key agriculture and uranium sectors.

Feb 3, 2022

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.

Jan 4, 2022

Resilient Crops Developed through Research and Breeding

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 work researchers are conducting to develop crop varieties that can better tolerate adverse weather conditions to maintain yield and quality.

Oct 15, 2021

USask’s CDC celebrates a half century of crop innovation

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 stubble poking through snowy expanses, ready to receive springtime’s direct-seeded crop.

Mar 18, 2021

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 rye, despite its large size and complexity.