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For more about winter wheat, including tools and information on how to produce it, visit wintercereals.ca
Winter Wheat 
When people think of the Prairies, they’re often reminded of fields upon fields of crops blowing in the wind. What they don’t know is that, unfortunately, many of the land-use practices associated with these crops provide little habitat value to waterfowl and wildlife.
Most of the crops on the Prairies involve some form of spring tillage, such as seeding. This results in destruction of most of the waterfowl nests that are laid in spring-seeded fields.
Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) works with landowners to promote the use of winter wheat. Winter wheat is seeded and germinates in the fall, and begins growing again in the spring. This means that waterfowl have attractive and safe habitat to nest in when they return in the spring.
DUC’s research has shown that waterfowl nesting success is much higher in winter wheat crops. In addition, winter wheat offers great financial returns for producers. It’s a win-win situation for both farmers and wildlife.
DUC is working to increase the amount of winter wheat grown on the Prairies. We fund and support research and development of winter wheat varieties at the University of Saskatchewan and Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada (AAFC) Lethbridge.
DUC also maintains a number of partnerships for research, promotion and production of winter wheat. Some of our partners include AAFC, the Canadian Wheat Board, Winter Cereals Canada and the Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission, as well as hundreds of winter wheat producers.
For more about winter wheat, including tools and information on how to produce it, visit wintercereals.ca or contact:
Paul Thoroughgood, P. Ag.
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Phone: (306) 569-0424
E-mail: p_thoroughgood@ducks.ca
