growing winter wheat
planning
Planning for profit is important with all crops. Winter wheat, due to the unique timing of field operations, requires special attention to maximize opportunity to produce profitable results. Experienced winter wheat growers plan ahead to consistently achieve successful results from their crop.
more about planningvariety selection
Winter wheat varieties are available with good adaptation to all production areas in Western Canada. When selecting a variety that is best suited for your farming operation, important traits to consider include: winter hardiness, disease resistance, yield potential, market opportunities, and lodging resistance.
more about variety selectionseeding
There are many critical factors that set the stage for a successful winter wheat crop, making seeding a critical time. Follow the guidelines in General Seeding to get your winter wheat off to a good start. It is also possible to consider seeding into chemfallow if you have a year with excessive moisture and think seeding in the spring might be a challenge. See Seeding Into Chemfallow for more details.
more about seedingfertility
In the southern Prairies of Western Canada, winter wheat has traditionally been grown using only conventional tillage on summer fallow land. This has proven to be ample preparation in the past for providing moisture and nutrients to achieve economic yields. However, with the growing concerns of declining soil qualities, farmers are reducing to zero tillage and employing continuous cropping systems. So what does winter wheat require regarding fertilization?
more about fertilitypest management
Due to the nature of winter wheat and the overwintering dormancy stage that would kill off many diseases and weeds, winter wheat isn't prone to much disease or weed interference. But there are a few specific things to look out for to try and manage in the early stages.
more about pest managementspring assessment
After a long dormant winter, it is important to assess your winter wheat crop in the spring when the snow has melted, the weather has become warmer, and your crop will begin to grow again. There are many things to look at when assessing your winter wheat in the spring.
more about spring assessment