Funding from the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission, Alberta Barley, Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association and the Western Grains Research Foundation will help improve barley varieties into the future.

Two-point-four million dollars will be directed to the U of S Crop Development Centre over the next five years.

Brent Johnson, Vice Chair of the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission says the CDC has released more than 70 malt, feed and food barley varieties since 1971.

"Right now, one of the top used malt varieties is CDC Copeland," "It's been around for a few years but they have some new varieties coming out. We continue to see good yielding factors coming out."

The managing director for the CDC says the funding provides stability to the program for maintaining long term qualified technical staff,  as well as resources for marker development and use in the breeding program.