A Bin Full of Reasons to grow winter wheat

Regina, Sask., November 29, 2011 – Ducks Unlimited Canada, Bayer CropScience and Behlen Industries LP have a Bin Full of Reasons why you should grow winter wheat.

Through the Winter Cereals: Sustainability in Action initiative, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and Bayer CropScience are launching the Bin Full of Reasons conservation challenge.

“Bin Full of Reasons asks 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,” says Paul Thoroughgood, Regional Agrologist – Prairies for DUC. “We are thankful for the support from Behlen Industries who will be supplying the three grand prizes for the challenge.”

Challenge prizes include three 4,100 bu hopper-mounted grain bins from Behlen Industries. One bin will be awarded per province in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

To win one of the three grand prizes, the program partners encourage winter wheat growers to send submissions regarding the theme of conservation. Growers are to tell us – in writing, video or voicemail message – their winter wheat conservation story; how winter wheat helps put conservation to work on their farm. Conservation, for the purposes of this contest, can take many forms, including:

• Saving labour
• Spreading out the workload
• Making more efficient use of equipment
• Protecting the environment
• Plus many more

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.

“The earlier harvest window also means that producers have the opportunity to have grain in the bin before weather conditions deteriorate,” says Paul Thiel, Vice President Innovation and Public Affairs at Bayer CropScience. “Generally, the later into fall that harvest takes place, the more likely grain is to be downgraded due to factors such as frost damage. Delayed harvest may also contribute to yield loss. Winter wheat makes harvest easier, allows for better quality grain and gives a Bin Full of Reasons why producers should grow winter wheat.”

Contest winners will be officially announced at the three Prairie Winter Wheat Producer Commissions' meetings scheduled during major agricultural tradeshows in January 2012:

• Crop Production Week – Saskatoon, Sask. (January 9-12, 2012)
• Manitoba Ag Days – Brandon, Man. (January 17-19, 2012)
• FarmTech – Edmonton, Alta. (January 24-26, 2012)

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