about western winter wheat initiative

The Western Winter Wheat Initiative is a collaboration between Bayer, Ducks Unlimited Canada and Richardson International Ltd. The purpose of this initiative is to demonstrate how winter wheat is a highly productive crop option for western Canadian farmers. Each year, new varieties with greater yield advantage, disease tolerance and other important traits are introduced to the market making winter wheat an excellent agronomic fit in crop rotations.

Advantages of Growing Winter Wheat

Winter wheat is often overlooked by many farmers because of the extra time it can take, the risk due to winter weather, and various other factors, many of which are misconceptions. But there are many reasons why including a winter wheat crop in a rotation can be beneficial.

The Top Reasons
  • High yield potential means increased returns per acre as compared to other cereal crops
  • Avoids seeding problems on late, wet springs; earlier harvest than spring wheat
  • Increased timelines and profitability of the entire rotation
  • Increases the effectiveness efficiency of crop protection products
  • Helps manage herbicide resistance
  • Uses early spring moisture in dry areas more efficiently than spring cereals
  • Provides soil cover during the fall and winter, reducing the potential for soil loss due to water and wind
  • Spring moisture is not lost from seeding operation
  • Yields range between 15 to 40 per cent higher than Canadian Western Red Spring wheat
  • Matures earlier than spring cereals, spreading out harvest operations and reducing the potential for grade losses due to early frost
  • Provides an ecological tool to help manage common annual pests in wheat such as most grassy weeds, orange blossom wheat midge, and wheat stem sawfly
  • Less disturbance to wildlife, especially waterfowl and upland game birds

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