Alberta

More producers realize benefits of winter wheat

Edmonton, Alta., June 16, 2006—There’s no doubt that the number of producers growing winter wheat has been steadily increasing over the past ten years. In fact, seeded winter wheat acres across the Canadian Prairies are at their highest point since the mid 1980s.

This steady progression has not gone unnoticed by Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), an organization that has been promoting the benefits of winter wheat to both waterfowl and the producer since 1991. “We’ve noticed an increase in the number of producers seeking out information on what they need to do if they are thinking of growing winter wheat,” says Dale Soetaert, DUC conservation specialist.

This is good news for northern pintail ducks because research has shown that winter wheat is an effective habitat for this species of nesting waterfowl. “Because land seeded into winter wheat is not tilled in the spring, it allows pintails to nest relatively undisturbed, which dramatically increases brood success,” says Soetaert.

So, why the increase in winter wheat? Simple. Producers are recognizing the many benefits associated with growing winter wheat.

Higher Yields

Yields for winter wheat can be 15 to 30 per cent higher than spring-seeded wheat, and newly developed varieties offer higher grain quality.

Reduced Workload

Seeding winter wheat provides the opportunity to spread the workload reducing the amount of seeding and harvesting required during the typical critical windows.

Less Inputs

Winter cereals out-compete spring germinating wild oats, reducing herbicide use most years.

Flexibility

Winter cereals offer tremendous flexibility in end-use and marketing opportunities including milling, feed grain, ethanol production and distilling, as well as earlier availability than spring wheat.

Disease Avoidance

By maturing earlier, winter cereals escape diseases such as Fusarium Head Blight.

Drought Risk Management

Taking advantage of snow melt moisture and having a significantly advanced plant in early spring all contribute to high water use efficiency.

Agriculture Friendly Wildlife Habitat

Fall seeded crops mean that landowners are not on their fields in the spring, allowing waterfowl to successfully nest in the stubble and move on.

Winter wheat is seeded in the fall - typically in association with a zero-till, continuous cropping, production system. After initial crop emergence in the fall, the crop becomes dormant during the winter, protected by stubble from the field’s previous crop that traps winter snow cover. Growing again in the spring, winter wheat takes advantage of early moisture from the snow melt.

Over 120,000 acres of winter wheat were seeded last fall in Alberta. Acres were down slightly the last two years as a result of wet and late falls, leaving land unavailable for winter wheat seeding by September 15th. Since 1938, DUC has conserved, restored and managed wetlands and their associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people.

For more information:

Dale Soetaert, Conservation Programs Specialist
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Tel: (780) 489-2002
Email: d_soetaert@ducks.ca

Melissa Schurmann
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Tel : (403) 327-1533
Email: m_schurmann@ducks.ca