Did You Know?
Canada's Farm Show Regina, SK Presented by Bunge
Did You Know – How Wheat, Innovation, and Collaboration Shaped the Canadian Prairies—and Helped Feed the World
Wheat has been part of the human story for thousands of years. The first recorded planting and cultivation of domesticated wheat dates back nearly 11,000 years to what is now modern-day Turkey. That long journey eventually brought wheat to Canada in 1605, when it was first planted in Nova Scotia. As settlement moved west, wheat moved with it—finding a lasting home on the Canadian Prairies.
One of the earliest recorded wheat plantings in Western Canada took place in 1754 near present-day Nipawin, Saskatchewan. From those early beginnings, wheat production expanded rapidly across the Prairies, laying the foundation for what would become one of the world’s great agricultural regions. Today, Canada is one of the top wheat exporters globally, second only to Russia.
That success, however, did not come easily.
Early wheat varieties introduced to Canada struggled in Prairie conditions. Crops matured late, yields were inconsistent, and baking quality often fell short. Short growing seasons and early frosts challenged farmers, making it clear that Prairie agriculture would require new approaches rooted in research and shared knowledge.
This is where the three pillars of Canada’s Farm Show—innovation, collaboration, and education—come into focus.
Innovation played a defining role as new wheat varieties were developed to meet Canadian conditions. In 1842, the introduction of Red Fife improved yield and baking quality, but it still matured too late for in the Prairie climate. Recognizing these limitations, Dr. William Saunders began experimenting with wheat strains from around the world in 1886.
Through collaboration between researchers, experimental farms, and farmers, Saunders evaluated wheat plantings at sites including Indian Head, Saskatchewan; Brandon, Manitoba; Agassiz, British Columbia; and Ottawa, Ontario. These efforts highlighted the importance of testing ideas across regions and sharing results widely.
Education ensured these innovations reached the farm gate. Through research stations and demonstration plantings, farmers learned which varieties performed best in Prairie conditions. Drawing on this work, Saunders developed a new wheat variety—Marquis—by crossing Hard Red Calcutta from India with Red Fife.
The results were transformative. Marquis wheat matured seven to ten days earlier, delivered excellent baking quality, and produced record yields of 41.6 bushels per acre. By 1918, Marquis was grown on more than 20 million acres from southern Nebraska to northern Saskatchewan, accounting for up to 90 percent of all wheat acreage. Its estimated value at the time was $500 million—equivalent to roughly $9 billion today.
The story of wheat on the Canadian Prairies reflects the same values that continue to define Canada’s Farm Show. For more than 40 years, CFS has brought producers, researchers, and ag innovators from around the world together to showcase new technologies, exchange ideas, and support the future of farming.
From early wheat breeding to modern agricultural innovation, Canada’s Farm Show Regina, SK, presented by Bunge celebrates the people, partnerships, and research that built Prairie agriculture—and continue to drive it forward today.
Experience the innovation, collaboration, and education that shape Canadian agriculture. Join us at Canada’s Farm Show March 17-19, 2026, and be part of the ideas and connections growing the future of farming.
