What SaskBarley does

SaskBarley, formally the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission, is a statutory, producer-led non-profit established in 2013 under Saskatchewan legislation to increase the production and value of barley for Saskatchewan farmers. The organization is governed by a producer-elected Board of Directors from across the province and operates with a small core staff of approximately five employees headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Its mandate is delivered through four functional pillars: research investment, market development, extension, and producer advocacy. Over 60% of its annual budget is allocated to research, with cumulative research commitments exceeding CAD $11 million since inception across 61 active projects at the end of 2024.

The organization's product surface is anchored by the BarleyBin brand, which bundles multiple extension and knowledge-transfer channels: the BarleyBin Field Lab on-farm research program (launched 2023, 14 trials in 2026); the BarleyBin Magazine; the BarleyBin Podcast; a monthly e-newsletter distributed via Constant Contact; and a production resource hub covering seeding, pest management, and harvest guidance. Strategic partnerships span national research bodies (AAFC, CMBTC, BMBRI), provincial peers (Alberta Grains, Manitoba Crop Alliance, SaskCrops coalition), industry associations (Cereals Canada, Grain Growers of Canada), and end-market counterparties (Labatt Brewing Company for graduate scholarships). The Field Lab program specifically bridges small-plot station research and real-world farm conditions through producer-participatory field-scale trials across Saskatchewan.

SaskBarley does not sell products or charge for services. Its revenue model is a mandatory producer check-off (levy) collected on barley sold by Saskatchewan farmers, with funding supplemented by co-investment from the Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund, Western Grains Research Foundation, and partner commissions. It does not publish revenue figures, and there are no external shareholders, venture investors, or parent entities. The organization operates as a government-recognized agricultural commodity commission whose customer base is, by definition, the entire Saskatchewan barley producer population that funds it through statutory levies.

Name

SaskBarley

Legal name

The Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission

Website

https://saskbarley.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SaskBarley (the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission) is a producer-funded statutory commission established in 2013 that invests check-off levies into barley research, market development, and extension services for Saskatchewan barley farmers through its BarleyBin platform and Field Lab program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Crop Development Commission Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Barley Farming (AFAGAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Crop Scouting & Field Monitoring Services (AFACABAD)

Keywords

• Barley research funding
• Crop development commission
• Agricultural extension services
• Producer levy funding
• Market development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Saskatoon

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Producer Levy/Check-off: SaskBarley is funded through mandatory producer levies (check-offs) on barley sold by Saskatchewan farmers. This forms the core operational funding for research, market development, and extension activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SaskBarley is a producer-funded commission that invests check-off levies collected from Saskatchewan barley farmers into barley research, market development, and extension services. Its core offerings include the BarleyBin Field Lab on-farm research program, BarleyBin Magazine, BarleyBin Podcast, BarleyBin e-Newsletter, and online barley production resources designed to support Saskatchewan barley producers with agronomic information, market intelligence, and innovation adoption.

Product overview

SaskBarley operates as The Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission, a producer-led organization focused on research, market development, and extension services for Saskatchewan barley farmers. The organization delivers its mission through multiple channels: the BarleyBin Field Lab on-farm research program (launched 2023) that conducts 14+ trials annually across Saskatchewan; the BarleyBin Magazine publication; the BarleyBin Podcast media content series; and the monthly BarleyBin e-Newsletter. Combined with the Barley Production Resources hub and collaborative research projects, these offerings form an integrated extension and knowledge-transfer ecosystem designed to increase barley profitability and competitiveness for Saskatchewan producers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BarleyBin: Extension portal providing barley production resources, market reports, e-newsletter, podcast, and magazine for Saskatchewan barley producers.
• BarleyBin Field Lab

Products and services

• BarleyBin Field Lab An on-farm research program that conducts field-scale, regional agronomic research under Saskatchewan growing conditions, generating data and findings that are disseminated to Saskatchewan barley producers to support improved production practices and innovation adoption.
• BarleyBin Magazine A producer-facing magazine delivering research findings, agronomic insights, market intelligence, and production guidance to Saskatchewan barley producers.
• BarleyBin Podcast An audio podcast series delivering agronomic research summaries, market updates, producer interviews, and industry news to Saskatchewan barley producers.
• BarleyBin e-Newsletter An email newsletter delivering timely research updates, market developments, event information, and agronomic guidance to Saskatchewan barley producers.
• Online Barley Production Resources An online resource library providing agronomic guidance, production best practices, and technical information to Saskatchewan barley producers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14 on-farm trials across Saskatchewan in 2026
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core, major and regional.

• LabattminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 June 2026Extended partnership for second year to offer graduate scholarships supporting barley research in Canada.
• Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute (BMBRI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 May 2026SaskBarley invested $64,643 in applied barley research over the next year through BMBRI, supporting projects focused on improving malt quality, agronomic performance, and crop resilience.
• Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMBTC is a national, non-profit organization conducting applied malting and brewing research. SaskBarley collaborates with CMBTC on variety evaluation, malting quality research, and market development initiatives. CMBTC publishes the annual Recommended Malting Barley Varieties List which informs producer variety selection decisions.
• Grain Growers of CanadacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSaskBarley became a member of Grain Growers of Canada in 2025. GGC is the national voice for Canada's grain farmers, representing over 70,000 producers through 14 national, provincial and regional grower groups. SaskBarley participates in GGC advocacy efforts on federal policies affecting barley producers.
• SaskCropscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of Saskatchewan crop commissions (SaskBarley, SaskOilseeds, Sask Oats, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, and Sask Wheat) working together on shared issues, exchanging ideas, and collaborating on common initiatives. SaskCrops advocates for science-based policy to create an efficient, predictable, and sustainable business environment for Saskatchewan farmers.
• Cereals CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational cereals organization that works to advance the cereals value chain. SaskBarley is a member and collaborates on market development, research coordination, and industry advocacy initiatives.
• Canadian Barley Research CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition coordinating barley research across Canada. In May 2026, the coalition co-developed a shared vision for the optimal future of Western Canadian wheat and barley plant breeding with stakeholders in Winnipeg, MB.
• Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute (BMBRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaskBarley invests in applied barley research through BMBRI, with $64,643 committed in 2026 for projects focused on improving malt quality, agronomic performance, and crop resilience.
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal department responsible for agriculture research and policy. SaskBarley works with AAFC on research projects and has engaged regarding AAFC research staff reductions and station closures affecting crop research capacity.
• Saskatchewan Ministry of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial agriculture ministry. SaskBarley collaborates through the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) program, co-funding research projects with the ministry and participating in joint policy discussions.
• Agri-ARM (Agriculture Applied Research Management)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 8 applied research associations across Saskatchewan conducting field-scale research. SaskBarley funds trials at Agri-ARM sites and showcases results through field days, with trials distributed across west-central, northern, north-eastern, east-central, and south-eastern Saskatchewan.
• Alberta GrainsregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlberta barley and wheat commission. Collaborates with SaskBarley on joint research funding initiatives and research priorities for Western Canadian barley production.
• Alberta GrainsregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with SaskBarley on research projects including investigations into root lodging and greenhouse gas emissions in barley.
• Manitoba Crop AllianceregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerManitoba crop organization collaborating with SaskBarley on joint research funding and Western Canadian barley research initiatives.
• Manitoba Crop AllianceregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funding barley research projects with SaskBarley, including root lodging and greenhouse gas emissions investigations.
• LabattminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLabatt Brewing Company. SaskBarley has partnered with Labatt for graduate scholarships supporting barley research in Canada. Partnership extended for a second year in 2026.
• Farm & Food Care SaskatchewanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization connecting Saskatchewan farmers with consumers. SaskBarley collaborates on agricultural education and outreach initiatives.
• Agriculture in the Classroom SK (AITC SK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational organization teaching students about agriculture. SaskBarley supports AITC SK programs to build awareness of barley production among Saskatchewan youth.
• Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association (SaskSoil)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit, producer-based organization promoting conservation production systems. SaskBarley supported the Prairie Soil Carbon Balance Project monitoring soil organic carbon change from 1996 to 2018.
• Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association (SaskSoil)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaskBarley supported SaskSoil's carbon sequestration research, facilitating the Prairie Soil Carbon Balance Project.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/saskbarley
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@saskbarley
• Facebookfacebook.com/SaskBarley
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saskbarley

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SaskBarley