S3.E6 – Inside SaskBarley’s Strategic Partnerships

Saskatchewan barley farmers are competing in a global marketplace — and SaskBarley isn’t doing it alone. In this episode of The BarleyBin Podcast, host Mitchell Japp sits down with Executive Director Jill McDonald and Board Chair Cody Glenn to break down the network of strategic partnerships behind SaskBarley’s latest strategic plan. From trade missions to Mexico, China, and Japan with CMBTC to a seat at the federal advocacy table through the Grain Growers of Canada, these partnerships are opening markets, stretching levy dollars, and making sure Saskatchewan’s barley story gets told where it matters most.

If you missed the earlier episodes of the season, catch up on Spotify our YouTube.

Key takeaways:

• Partnerships stretch levy dollars further. Without them, SaskBarley would need a significantly larger team to achieve the same results. Collaboration is how a smaller-crop industry competes on a global stage.
• SaskBarley joined the Grain Growers of Canada ahead of trade disruptions. That proactive move secured direct access to federal government advocacy at exactly the right time — and the payoff is already being felt.
• Saskatchewan farmers are sustainability leaders the world hasn’t met yet. No-till practices that are standard on the Prairies are impressing global buyers. The CMBTC is helping get that story out.
• Farmers belong at the trade table. Buyers in Mexico, China, and Japan don’t just want industry reps — they want to talk to the people actually growing the crop.
• Building new export markets is a 5–10 year game. The work being done through partnerships today is laying the groundwork for markets that don’t yet exist.
• Every partner is accountable to farmers. SaskBarley directors sit on the board of most partner organizations, and all memberships are reviewed annually. If the value isn’t there, they walk.

Follow SaskBarley on social media for more barley news, research, and updates, and browse our barley production resources.