b'Sara, how do Saskatchewans variety trialsAnne, what role does Manitoba Crop Variety work today? Evaluation Trials (MCVET) play in Manitobas Like in other provinces, the Governmentvariety trials?of Saskatchewan used to directly fundMCVET collects data on an average of 23 the Crop Development Centre to coordi- major/minor crops types over numerous Sara Tetland nate trials. This setup ended in 2002. TheAnne Kirk locations annually. The crop coordina-ProvincialSaskatchewan Variety Performance GroupCerealstors help put together the list of crops Specialist,(SVPG) was formed in 2005 to coordinateSpecialist,to be tested, visit the trial sites to ensure Cereal Crops,wheat, durum, barley, oats and flax trials.Province ofthat the trials are set up properly and that Government ofSVPG currently oversees the regionalManitoba usable data is being collected, and may Saskatchewan Cereals Section Program Lead,variety testing for spring wheat, durum,Coordinator,collect additional ratings on site, such as Saskatchewanbarley, oats, flax, fall rye, triticale andManitobafor height or disease. The crop coordina-Varietyannual forages. Its membership includesCrop Varietytors also compile the data into tables for Performancegovernment, seed growers, producerEvaluationpublication in Seed Manitoba. Group commissions, breeders, seed companiesTrials (MCVET)and research sites. Its funded by the 3Ps:How is it funded?public, private and producer dollars. Funding for the MCVET program is pro-vided by Manitoba Agriculture, profit-shar-How are varieties entered? ing through FBC, sponsorship and in-kind Seed companies make an application fortrials provided by the seed industry. their varieties to be entered, and once entered, they are in the system for fiveWhats changed over the years?years. There are over 20 research stationsOver the years, the crop types that are throughout the province hosting theserepresented have changed a bit as well trials and data is collected on a varietyas the way that data has been presented, of factors, including yield and agronomicfor example the use of mixed models and data.the selection of check varieties to improve data quality. Partnerships with other What happens with the data? organizations also allow for more collabo-Data is analyzed by the crop coordinatorsration and the delivery of useful informa-who are specialists in each of the cropstion. For example, we have partnerships included in the regional variety testing.with the Canadian Malt Barley Technical They create tables for each crop type,Centre, Manitoba Crop Alliance, University which are then presented at a Novemberof Manitoba, and the Manitoba Beef meeting for approval before publication.Producers.The historical data is maintained and avail-able for reference. Data use is regulatedDo you see any big changes coming down the and permission is required to reproduce itpipe?in publications like the SaskSeed Guide toFinances can be a challenge for variety maintain integrity and accuracy. trials. Keeping the trials profit-neutral and valuable for Manitoba growers is our What does the future hold? goal; there is no entry fee for the varieties Collaboration between provinces, suchentering the trials. The MCVET trials are as the recent test with the flax regionalsupported by profit sharing from the Seed trials, could lead to more streamlined andManitoba publication and funding from efficient processes. We keep an eye outcommodity associations and private indus-for opportunities for improvement and totry, as well as in-kind support from some make tweaks to the system. associations. SUPPORTED BY: ENDORSED BY:50GERMINATION.CAMARCH 2023'