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SASKATOON (January 10, 2022) More farmers now have the opportunity to purchase the first and only disease-resistant camelina seed variety thanks to a new partnership between Blair’s Crop Solutions (2020) Inc. and Smart Earth Camelina Corporation (SEC).
Blair’s has been in business for 73 years, providing leading-edge solutions for its customers. The company operates full service ag retail locations in Lanigan, Nokomis, McLean, Liberty, Watrous and Rosthern.
“We see this new working relationship with Smart Earth Camelina as a great fit in our current product and solutions offerings for our customers,” says Kevin Blair, Blair’s chief executive officer.
Jack Grushcow, SEC president and CEO, agrees. "The development of our herbicide resistant newgoldTM camelina variety, together with our retail partners including Blairs, signals that after more than a decade of development, camelina is in the mainstream of oilseed crops available to growers in Western Canada."
Blair’s will carry SEC’s latest camelina variety—newgoldTM SES1154HR—a thifensulfuron-methyl resistant seed. Because newgoldTM is resistant to flea beetles, blackleg and blackspot, growers will save money on input costs as seed treatments with insecticide and fungicides are not necessary. In areas where hard-to-control weeds such as cleavers and chickweed are problematic, the new herbicide resistant camelina variety is also viable option as it is resistant to modes of action to control Group 13 weeds.
SEC has been operating in Saskatoon, Sask., since 2005. Camelina crops can be grown on marginal lands with significantly lower inputs than other oilseeds, such as canola, while providing competitive yields.
Focused on building strong relationships with customers, Blair’s has six retail locations in central Saskatchewan. The new relationship with SEC will allow Blair’s to better serve its customers with another seed product option.
Blair’s will be involved from start to finish in the camelina crop production process with growers, from signing production contracts to logistically handling the newgoldTM SES1154HR Camelina seed into Blair’s retail locations. They will also work with farmers to monitor the crop’s progress by joining growers on field walks of contracted camelina crops during the growing season.
As an added value to growers, Blair’s will handle herbicide sales for newgoldTM SES1154HR, which include FMC’s Pinnacle® SG Toss-n-Go® and Command® 360 ME, as well as herbicides with the ingredient Quizalofop.
“FMC is excited to be involved in the launch of this new oilseed crop. We appreciate and support the Partnership with Smart Earth Camelina and Blair’s and we are happy to be the supplier of Pinnacle® SG Toss-n-Go® for the weed control option to the growers,” says Mike Gerhardt, FMC’s Canadian business development manager.
Growers can contact their local Blair’s retail location for more information about newgoldTM camelina seed.
About Blair’s Crop Solutions (2020) Inc.
Blair’s Crop Solutions (2020) Inc. is a joint venture between Blair’s Family of Companies and Federated Co-operatives Limited. A family company spanning four generations, Blair’s purpose has always remained the same—supporting family-farm profitability, offering reliable supplies and support, and delivering expertise to help customers make decisions.
About Smart Earth Camelina
Smart Earth Camelina Corp. is dedicated to developing the best camelina varieties available while working with growers to provide excellent production practices. Smart Earth Camelina is a leading global camelina enterprise and maintains a continuous plant-breeding program that is unmatched in scale and scope. Its plant-breeding activities provide a significant pipeline of trait development to ensure maximum yield and profitability for camelina growers for now and years to come.
For further information, contact:
Kevin Blair
Chief Executive Officer
Blair’s Crop Solutions (2020) Inc.
kevin@blairs.ag 306-365-7922
Jack Grushcow
President & Chief Executive Officer
Smart Earth Camelina Corp.
604-224-5700
Virginia Harvey
AdFarm PR
virginia.harvey@adfarm.com
403-410-7622
