Wheat Pete on Wheat Breeding and Canadian Agriculture
“We have always done it this way.” For Wheat Pete, these are the most dangerous words in agriculture.
Peter Johnson, better known as Wheat Pete, has spent 41 years fighting to get wheat the recognition it deserves. In On The Brink, Season 3, Episode 2, What Got Us Here Won’t Get Us There, Pete makes the case for moving Canadian agriculture forward through better plant breeding, shared knowledge, and a willingness to try new things.
Why Wheat Pete keeps fighting for wheat
Pete describes wheat as the underdog in a crop lineup dominated by “king corn” and “queen soybeans.” Championing that underdog is how he became Wheat Pete. After more than four decades, he still sees enormous potential for the crop.
Realizing that potential starts with understanding what makes a variety perform. Pete wants breeders to uncover the connections between yield and fusarium resistance, then bring those traits together in new varieties. In his view, those qualities are essential for wheat to compete in today’s world.
He also points to work using the sunflower gene HB4 in wheat to improve drought tolerance. Pete is clear that there is still more to learn about how it works, but he sees the possibility of substantial gains if that potential can be realized.
The opportunity is there. The challenge, he argues, is putting the available tools together and being willing to change how the industry uses them.
How Great Lakes YEN helps growers understand yield
Better genetics are only part of the equation. To explain why, Pete turns to the racetrack. Put drivers in identical cars, with the same fuel and tires, and they still will not all cross the finish line together. The person behind the wheel makes a difference.
He sees a similar pattern in agriculture. Growers working in the same area, with similar soils and the same varieties, can still achieve different results. Access to the same tools does not guarantee the same outcome.
That is where initiatives like the Great Lakes Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) come in. By bringing growers together to share information and compare results, the network helps farmers better understand what drives yield and where they can still improve.
For Pete, those differences are a reason to keep learning. Comparing results creates an opportunity to examine what happened in the field, ask questions, and test a different approach. Progress depends on both the traits breeders develop and the decisions growers make.
Keeping Canadian agriculture moving forward
As Canada sits On The Brink, Pete’s message to the industry is simple: the work you do matters. Keep innovating. Keep testing. Keep getting out of your comfort zone.
He gives Canadian farmers credit for already doing that work. Their willingness to trial, test, and step beyond familiar practices is something he celebrates. Whether it means participating in YEN, running trial plots, or trying a new variety, that curiosity helps create room for improvement.
Pete’s invitation also extends to the next generation. For young people watching and considering their future, his advice is direct: “for goodness sakes, join agriculture.”
Canadian agriculture takes its biggest leaps forward when we’re willing to try new things. What got us here won’t get us there.
Watch On The Brink, Season 3, Episode 2, with Wheat Pete.
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On the Brink is a cross-country storytelling project about plant breeding in Canada. The goal is to spark an open, multi-perspective, ongoing conversation about what’s possible, what’s at stake, and how to seize opportunities ahead. On the Brink releases new episodes every Wednesday. Watch Episode 6 featuring Andrew Campbell and subscribe to have future episodes delivered directly to your inbox.
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