Ontario Grain Farmer April/May 2022

and Canterra to make available early season, short stature oat varieties in Northern Ontario. Oat varieties are placed in advanced trials, sometimes two years ahead of when they become licensable, allowing Phillips to see how they may suit the area. Once breeder seed has been received, Phillips grows it to create foundation seed, then registered seed, and finally enough certified seed so that when the variety is licensed and available to farmers there is enough for planting across a number of acres. Phillips notes that “usually a new variety lasts about two years, after that it can end up as bin run fairly quickly, it is hard for a breeder to continuously improve the genetics without funding.” Much of the seed oats that move out of Phillips’ operation are sold without seed treatment, especially if being moved in bulk, to reduce any seed treatment 26 contamination of harvested grains. If the oats are being treated, totes are more often used. The oat business is critical to the profitability of Northern Ontario farmers. “There are more competitors with new genetics and varieties becoming available from western provinces, however many oats aren’t suitable for Quaker in Ontario,” Phillips explains. “The market for eastern Canada is Quaker Oats.” To create a good supply for Quaker, they aim to promote three approved varieties to reduce the variability of the plant feedstock. However, the supply of seed can be an issue. If there are droughts or other constraints, they sometimes find that Quaker may be more flexible in what is accepted. Many of the oats grown in the New Liskeard area require drying, and then are trucked to the Quaker plant in Peterborough. Sometimes they are delivered via rail, however “it can be costly to use rail for such a short distance,” Phillips points out. What is next in Northern Ontario oat production? Phillips aims to promote plant growth regulators (PGRs). “There is a lot of unpredictability of nitrogen release due to unknown rain events in the north. If a PGR can be applied when a grower is already doing a pass across the field, it may save the oats lodging later in the season, increasing yield and grower success further. The oat breeding program is supported in part by the Government of Canada under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriScience Program, with industry support from the Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance and oat millers across Canada. l continued from page 25

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