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Prairie Grains is the official publication of
the Minnesota
Association of
Wheat Growers,
North Dakota Grain Growers Association,
South Dakota Wheat, Inc., and the Minnesota Barley Growers Association.

griculture Secretary Dan Glickman in March officially announced that the

USDA’s Agricultural Research Service is distributing the new funds to university researchers and ARS research facilities. The researchers are part of the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative, a consortium of 20 state universities, supported by more than 40 national wheat- and barley-related organizations and numerous individuals.

The Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, North Dakota Grain Growers Association, Minnesota Barley Growers Association, and South Dakota Wheat Inc. played a major role in urging federal lawmakers to appropriate more funding to scab research.

"Minnesota and the Dakotas, hit hard by this destructive disease, play a major role in this research," Glickman said. "From 1993 to 1998, Red River Valley communities in those states suffered more economic damage from scab-induced crop failures than from the 1997 floods."

Researchers at North Dakota State University at Fargo will receive a total of $833,000, including $221,000 for food safety research and $53,000 for biological control and pesticide development. South Dakota State University in Brookings will receive $160,000. University of Minnesota researchers will receive $338,000, including $137,000 to further expand efforts to develop scab-resistant spring wheat for the area.

The U of M released seed for a new scab-tolerant transitional spring wheat (McVey) to growers for increase this spring. McVey is the third variety developed by ARS and the University of Minnesota that offers limited scab resistance, but it is the first to maintain high yields.