The Federal Government is helping a Huron County research facility continue with pulse industry innovations.
MP for Huron-Bruce Ben Lobb was on hand at the Huron Research Station near Centralia on Monday to announce 772 thousand dollars in funding for Pulse Canada to develop a herbicide that will dry crops faster for easier harvesting.
Lead Researcher Chris Gillard says they’ll look at desiccants — which are used by growers to even up crop maturity just prior to harvest.
Gillard says they want to come up with something that will provide excellent weed control but is also environmentally friendly.
He says this isn’t just a local initiative, as research continues in Manitoba and Alberta.
Gillard says they’re looking for a solution that works in all bean-producing areas of the country.
He says they’ll be looking at new chemistries that are more environmentally sound and will work in cold, wet, warm or dry years.
Gillard says they want to protect the consumer and our export markets as well, because about 85 per cent of the crop is exported to other countries and is very sensitive to crop quality.