FP Genetics is offering western Canadian wheat growers a guarantee to prove that newer CWRS varieties are more profitable than older lines.
Currently, an estimated 80% of wheat acres are seeded with bin-run seed, says FP Genetics, and the company believes this practice means farmers are leaving money on the table by not upgrading their wheat varieties every few years.
In response, the company has developed a program that allows a farmer to upgrade their wheat genetics at no risk to them, says Rod Merryweather, CEO of FP Genetics. “The grower simply has to register with one of our shareholder seedsmen, seed any number of acres of our variety side-by-side with their current variety and use the same agronomic package. If our variety doesn’t net out more on the bottom line, we’ll pay the grower the difference,” he says.
Merryweather said the reason for the unusual challenge is simple — the company is confident the new varieties will outperform older genetics.
“There have been major advances in recent years that have taken yield, disease protection, maturity date and even harvestability to new levels,” he said.
Details on the guarantee are available from FP Genetics seed growers.
FP Genetics is a six-year-old company, based in Regina, Sask., and is partnership owned by more than 150 seed growers across the Prairies who grow and sell certified seed.