Brandon, Man., January 19, 2012 – Ducks Unlimited Canada, Bayer CropScience and Behlen Industries LP announced Wade Simpson as the winner of the Bin Full of Reasons challenge in Manitoba.

“We are happy to award the first of three Behlen Industries 4,100 bu hopper-mounted grain bins to Wade Simpson of Boissevain,” says Ken Gross, Head of Upland Restoration for DUC. “Out of 65 submissions in Manitoba, this entry was selected as the winner by our panel of judges. I know Wade will put the bin to good use on his southwestern Manitoba farm.”

The Bin Full of Reasons challenge asked agricultural producers to provide submissions of how winter wheat is important for conservation on their farm; whether that be conservation of labour, equipment or the environment. The contest received over 200 entrants from across the three Prairie provinces with the most coming from Saskatchewan farmers. The first of the three grain bins from Behlen Industries was awarded to Travis Greenbank from Wawota, Sask. at the Western Canadian Crop Production Show last week and the winner of the third bin will be announced in Edmonton, Alta. on Jan. 23.

The early maturity of winter wheat helps producers reduce stress at harvest. By having a crop that is ripe and ready to combine earlier, the workload is spread out, taking the pressure off of manpower and equipment resources.

When it comes to Simpson’s farm, winter wheat also protects the environment in many ways. “Having the roots of the winter wheat holding the soil together helps reduce the erosion sometimes caused by the springtime melt of the snow, keeping our lakes and rivers cleaner and healthier. I can’t think of any reasons not to grow winter wheat on my farm, it’s one of the best crops to grow for both myself and the environment.”

As an additional environmental benefit, winter wheat also provides excellent nesting cover for ducks in the spring and habitat for other wildlife making winter wheat a tool of sustainability to incorporate in cropping rotations.

“We are thankful for the support from Behlen Industries who is supplying the three grand prizes for the challenge,” says Gross. “I’d also like to thank our long-time winter wheat partner Bayer CropScience. Without our Winter Cereals: Sustainability in Action initiative, contests like this would not be possible.”

The shared vision of Ducks Unlimited Canada and Bayer CropScience for the future of agriculture includes a stewardship model that recognizes the agricultural productivity of farmland while retaining and improving the habitat available to North America’s waterfowl and other wildlife. As a result, Bayer and DUC have joined together to identify, research and promote cropping system changes that benefit the conservation of our natural resources in an economically viable way. The first step in this relationship is the Winter Cereals: Sustainability in Action project.

For further information, please contact: 
Karli Reimer, k_reimer@ducks.ca 
National Communications Specialist – Conservation
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Phone: (204) 467-3279