Winter wheat promotes land stewardship.

By Jennifer Barber

Long term, successful farming isn’t feasible if you don’t take care of the land. Most farmers know this and as a result make a conscious effort to improve their stewardship practices. And one way to do this is to grow winter wheat.

However, a recent study by Ipsos Reid showed that while growers appreciate the resource management benefits of winter wheat, only five per cent mentioned the environmental benefits as a reason they grow the crop. Most said they are aware of the benefits to the soil, with fewer knowing about the benefits to waterfowl.

"The way farmers run their business in general is more environmentally focused than in the past," says Paul Thiel, vice-president, Innovation and Public Affairs with Bayer CropScience. "No-till farming and water conservation are part of the business of farming on the prairies these days. Bayer CropScience has partnered with Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) under the banner of sustainability to make sure farmers are aware of all of the benefits of winter wheat."

Winter wheat is a duck-friendly crop. Many ducks nest on upland pasture or cropland, up to a mile away from a wetland. Ducks often choose winter wheat over other nesting options. The density of hatched nests in winter wheat is 24 times greater than in spring seeded wheat, as seeding equipment doesn’t disturb the nests.

"Winter wheat is also a way for farmers to diversify against the uncertainty of moisture," says Paul Thoroughgood, regional agrologist with DUC. "A dry spring can be good for seeding spring varieties, but it’s difficult to successfully seed in a wet spring, whereas winter wheat needs that spring moisture. It’s a way to mitigate risk since weather patterns change every year."

In addition, today’s winter wheat varieties for the prairies often outyield spring wheat by up to 30 per cent. Winter wheat reduces weed pressure because of its early germination and canopy formation, which maximizes input efficiency. The crop also has reduced risk of grade loss compared to spring wheat, due to earlier maturity.

"Winter wheat is profitable and produces environmental benefits, which is a winning situation for growers," says Thiel. "We want to demonstrate clearly that modern agriculture can support biodiversity. Farmers do not harm the land; they support its growth."

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