January 13, 2026 (Saskatoon, Sask.) – Today, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) announced funding for a new research program through the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s Strategic Research Initiative (SRI) under the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership (Sustainable CAP). SPG’s $175,000 investment was leveraged to fund over $3.2 million in pulse crop research.

This five-year, multi-disciplinary program with 29 collaborators and co-investigators from the University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina, University of Manitoba, University of British Columbia, Dalhousie University, Ducks Unlimited, Redberry Biosphere Region, Bridge to Land-Water-Sky/Kinnikinnick Consulting Inc., the National Research Council of Canada – Saskatoon, and Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), will be led by Dr. Shaun Sharpe, Research Scientist at AAFC.

This research will address the following objectives:

  • Evaluate the impact of crop rotation and lifecycle diversity on kochia management in long-term field trials.
  • Investigate Group 1 herbicide interactions and their effectiveness on susceptible and resistant wild oat populations to preserve these critical tools.
  • Examine surface wax characteristics of kochia and wild oat that may limit herbicide uptake and identify opportunities for RNA interference (RNAi) technology development.
  • Develop novel RNAi-based weed control options for wild oat and explore new broad-spectrum herbicide solutions.
  • Create tissue testing methods to rapidly detect triallate-resistant wild oat and auxinic herbicide-resistant kochia.

This comprehensive program aims to develop long-term, integrated management strategies for herbicide-resistant kochia and wild oat, two of the most problematic weeds threatening crop production across the Prairies.

“Herbicide-resistant weeds pose a critical threat to the sustainability and profitability of pulse production in Saskatchewan, and kochia management consistently ranks as a top concern we hear from growers,” said SPG Board Chair Winston van Staveren. “Pulses, particularly lentils, are poor competitors against kochia, making effective weed control essential for successful production. This multi-institutional research program represents a significant step forward in developing practical solutions that will help pulse growers effectively manage these challenging weeds while preserving the herbicide tools we depend on.”

“The scale and scope of this program reflects the urgency of addressing herbicide resistance,” says Sherrilyn Phelps, SPG Research & Development Director. “With 29 collaborators bringing diverse expertise to this challenge, they are taking a comprehensive approach that goes beyond traditional weed management to explore innovative solutions, including molecular technologies and resistance detection tools that will benefit growers for years to come.”

Other co-funders of the SRI program include the Alberta Grains, Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR), Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission, Saskatchewan Oilseeds Development Commission, and Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission. The SRI provides targeted funding to advance industry priorities. Projects are expected to go beyond the scope and scale of work typically undertaken within the Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) to address complex challenges facing the industry.

Accountable to and funded by growers, SPG’s strategic direction is guided by a nine-member, grower-elected Board of Directors. SPG’s mission is to provide leadership for profitable growth for Saskatchewan pulses.

For more information, please contact:     

Amanda Carlson
Communications Manager
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers
Phone: 306-668-0116
Email: acarlson@saskpulse.com

Amber Johnson
Director of Marketing and Communications
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers
Phone: 306-668-3668
Email: ajohnson@saskpulse.com