ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 9 Always read and follow label instructions. Member of CropLife Canada. FMC, the FMC logo and Authority are trademarks of FMC Corporation or an affiliate. ©2026 FMC Corporation. All rights reserved. 23347 - 12/25 WEED PREVENTION FROM THE GROUND UP In the battle against tough weeds, soybean growers can let their soil do the fighting. Authority® Supreme herbicide, applied pre-plant or pre-emergence, creates a powerful soil-based defence that weeds can’t get past. The effective Group 14 and Group 15 combination delivers broadleaf and grassy weed control that keeps soybeans clean through the critical weed-free period. 23347 Authority brands print ad_ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER_HalfPage.indd 1 2025-12-23 4:09 PM turns ammonium into nitrous oxide. In other words, in the future, growers could leverage wheat genetics to retain more plantavailable nitrogen in the root zone, while at the same time, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the field itself. “We’re still in the early stages of exploring this nitrogen use efficiency germplasm, but this valuable research will provide growers with new tools to manage environmental changes,” says Burt. GROWING OPPORTUNITIES Improving the yield and quality of new HRW varieties is another key factor of this research project. There’s plenty of potential for HRW in Eastern Canada, including growing demand for spring- and winter hard red wheat from millers, not to mention the benefits that wheat can offer growers when incorporated into a crop rotation. Today, millers and flour processors in Eastern Canada rely on local wheat, yet demand for HRW is already more than double what’s currently being produced. “There’s an incredible amount of potential in Ontario for hard red wheat, especially for millers and bakers who are looking for locally sourced ingredients,” McElroy says. “This project is also looking to expand the growing regions for these wheat classes that will open new market development and agronomic opportunities for growers.” With its naturally high protein content, HRW often earns higher premiums, making it an attractive choice for Ontario growers. This research aims to enhance that appeal by boosting yield potential and strengthening disease-resistance and environmental resiliency traits. The HRW project, which launched in 2025 and is slated to finish in March 2028, has completed its first growing season, marking an important step toward delivering future-ready results. With new varieties often taking 10 or more years to reach commercialization, the team must be future focused. “We take a long view on the changing dynamics and needs of wheat growers,” Burt says. “The success of this project will reflect our pre-breeding focus, along with the cross-provincial tests that will provide dependable data for growers making variety decisions 10 to 20 years down the road.” This HRW project is funded through the AgriScience Program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), with industry support provided by Grain Farmers of Ontario, SeCan, Producteurs de grains du Québec and the Atlantic Grains Council. •
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