Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay visiting the Prairies this week as part of his Growing Canadian Agriculture Tour.

During a stop (Thursday) in Saskatoon, he announced a new 5-year Integrated Crop Agronomy Cluster to be led by the Western Grains Research Foundation. 

MacAulay committed $6.3 million in funding on behalf of the Federal Government for crop-related research

"We’re making sure today (Thursday) that there will be research done on the environment to make sure that crops, rotation is proper to produce seedling that will be resistant to certain insects.  In fact, to find the insects because of climate change that are coming into our area.”

In conjunction with the federal funding, an additional $2.7 million coming from Western Canadian industry groups representing Wheat, Barley, Oats, Canola, and Pulses.

"We are going to export $75 billion dollars worth of Agriculture and Agri-food products by 2025.  You cannot do that by decreasing production, you have to increase production per acre and that is what we’re going to do.  And to make sure that people that do the work, and that’s the farmers and ranchers receive the benefit of this funding.”

The new Integrated Crop Agronomy Cluster will be led by the Western Grains Research Foundation.