Wheat

As published in 2006, spring wheat, durum wheat and winter wheat are grown on 10 683 900 hectares (26 399 917 acres) in Canada. Wheat is primarily grown in Western Canada with Saskatchewan being the leading wheat producer at 45% of the national production, followed by Alberta at 29% and Manitoba at 15%. Ontario and Quebec grow small amounts of wheat, accounting for 10% and 1% of national production. Total national production stands at 26 289 100 tonnes, with spring wheat accounting for 73% of the production ( Statistics Canada).

On-Going Wheat Strategy

Health Canada (HC) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) Pesticide Risk Reduction Program identified wheat as a priority crop. General wheat production information and issues, along with pest issues are documented in the Crop Profile for Wheat in Canada. A wheat issues document, extracted from the crop profile, was used as a discussion tool in wheat stakeholder meetings and consultations to help identify the top insect, disease and weed issues. General issues of concern and potential solutions to these issues are also discussed at these meetings. AAC's Pest Management Centre prepared both documents in consultation with the wheat industry, the Pesticide Risk Reduction Program's Technical Working Group and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA).

Wheat Stakeholder Meetings and Consultations

Wheat Stakeholder Information Session

A small group of wheat, corn and soybean associations met at the Grain Industry Symposium in Ottawa on December 1, 2005. AAC and the PMRA presented the Pesticide Risk Reduction Program.

Quebec Wheat Stakeholders Priority Setting Meeting

A priority setting meeting was held on March 1, 2006, with wheat stakeholders from Quebec. Members were proposed for a national steering committee.

Ontario Wheat Stakeholders Priority Setting Meeting

A priority setting meeting was held on March 8, 2006, with the with wheat stakeholders from Ontario. Members were proposed for a national steering committee.

Research Funded Under the Pesticide Risk Reduction Program

The Pesticide Risk Reduction Program has funded several research projects addressing strawberry issues.

Projects Funded to Date

• Improving the scope and delivery of weather-based decision models for plant diseases in wheat (Project Code: PRR06-370)
• Biological management of fusarium head blight and mycotoxin contamination in wheat (Project Code: BPI07-110)
• Accelerating the Adoption of Integrated Pest Management and Risk Management Strategies in Wheat and Other Cereals (Project Code: PRR06-870)
• Pesticide free production systems for flax, wheat and oat and improved decision support system for dry pea (Project Code: PRR03-230)
• Development of reduced-risk strategies through coordinated monitoring, forecasting and risk warning systems for insect pests of field crops in Canada (Project Code: PRR07-060)

For further updates, please visit Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.