b'PLANT BREEDER PROFILEOn Your OwnAfter a decade spent in the lab and field, independent plant breeder Jim Dyck is finally seeing the fruits of his labour with his oats in fields across the Prairies.JIM DYCKS INTEREST in plant breeding started decades ago at the University of Manitoba. The university student had grown up on an acreage just outside of Winnipeg, Man., and didnt exactly know what he wanted to study, so he signed up for an agriculture degree.There was a plant breeder, her name was Dr. Anna Storgaard, who was teaching plant breeding courses, Dyck says in a phone interview. It was sort of inspiring, just the way that plant breeding could shape a crop and provide value for humanity.He followed his degree up with a stint working at a research company and then moved on to United Grain Growers (UGG), which later became Agricore United and then Viterra. He worked there as an agronomist and moved to Saskatoon, Sask. During his time with UGG and Agricore United he did some plant breeding work and obtained a masters degree from the University of Saskatchewan.I had the chance over the years to do a little breeding in canola and flax and wheat, barleyjust through dabbling with certain people who I was working with, Dyck explains. It became a fascination that I didnt even realize was building.In 2008, Dyck realized his heart was with plant breeding and he decided, along with his wife Laura-Lee and four childrenLauren, Elena, Graeme and Colinto start their own oat breeding operation called Oat Advantage.The Family BusinessStarting a private plant breeding operation isnt easy. ProfitsPlant breeder Jim Dyck of Oat Advantage and his wife, Laura-Lee, standing in a dont happen until after crop varieties are released, which takesneighbours field of their oat variety ORe3542M. PHOTO: JIM DYCKat least a decade to happen. For Dyck, he was lucky to have industry support. SeCan wasdecline in 2008 and he thought there was still a lot that could quick to throw their backing behind him and provide funding.be done with the cereal crop. Over the decade, Dyck focused Grower groups throughout Western Canada also wrote somehis breeding efforts on grain quality and bringing more value to cheques, while milling and grain companies such as Richardsonoats, while also increasing yields. International and General Mills, provided some financialWhile Dyck was working away in his fields, oats were starting backing. to make headlines worldwide driving up demand for them. The His family also stepped up to the plate. When Dyck startedcereal crop had caught the attention of the health food sector, Oat Advantage, he knew he wanted to keep it a small familywith oat milk becoming a popular dairy substitute. International operation. His wife and kids all helped to run the plots andcoffee chain giant Starbucks even added oat milk to its menu.assist in plant breeding. He also worked with researchers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the University ofVariety ReleaseSaskatchewan. Dycks first two varieties ORe3541M and ORe3542M hit the He has learned to continue to be friends and to make friends.market through SeCan in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba To just work together on oats as much as possible even whilein the 2019-20 crop year. In the first year around 100,000 acres youre competing, Dyck explains. You can sort of be a friendlyof the two varieties were planted with acreage increasing for the competitor. 2020 growing season.Dyck decided to focus on oats as he had enjoyed workingThe farmers like the standability, the earliness and the yield with the crop at previous jobs. Globally oat research was on thehas been surprising considering how early they are, Todd Hyra, 20seed.ab.ca'