New CDC Oat and Barley Varieties Gain Momentum With Prairie Growers

For more than two decades, Aaron Beattie has been a driving force behind some of Western Canada’s most prominent oat and barley varieties. Based at the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre (CDC), Beattie continues to shape the future of Prairie cereals — work that increasingly impacts growers in Alberta.

Beattie’s latest oat material, showcased earlier this year at the meetings of the Prairie Grain Development Committee in Winnipeg, continues to deliver standout performance.

“OT3125 did perform really well again this summer. So it is still up there — over 10% higher than Camden,” he says.

While the variety does not yet have a commercial name, Beattie expects significant discussion around it next year as it moves further into promotion and industry awareness.

Momentum in the Market
Beyond pipeline material, several CDC varieties are gaining traction with Prairie growers.

“CDC Anson really took a big jump this year, from no acres to about 10% of the oat acres all in one year. That’s a pretty big jump,” Beattie notes. “From what I’ve heard, there’s been mostly positive feedback.”

Another standout is CDC Byers, a strong follow-up to CDC Anson that Beattie already finished working on years ago but is now entering broader discussion.