We've Got a Bin Full of Reasons Why You Should Grow Winter Wheat!

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) Behlen Industries LP and Bayer CropScience are pleased to announce the winners of the Bin Full of Reasons conservation challenge. Challenge prizes included three 4,100 bu hopper-mounted grain bins from Behlen Industries. One bin was awarded per province in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. To win one of the three grand prizes, winter wheat growers were encouraged to provide submissions on the importance of winter wheat for conservation on their farm; whether that be conservation of labour, equipment or the environment.

Thank you to our contest partners Behlen Industries LP and Bayer CropScience.

Congratulations to our three winners – please read their stories below.

• Travis Greenbank, Wawota, SK
• Wade Simpson, Boissevain, MB
• Matthew Stanford, Coaldale, AB

Travis Greenbank, SK:

(L-R) Jason Winterhalt, Bayer CropScience, Mark Akins, DUC, Travis Greenbank, Saskatchewan Bin Winner, and Dean Appelt, Behlen Industries LP

Winter wheat is important for conservation on our farm because it gives us a jumpstart on seeding in the spring. We conserve by using less chemical both with wild oat herbicide, but also many years we use less fungicides on winter wheat than spring wheat. We also find that winter wheat is ahead of the wheat midge cycle; therefore, we have never had to spray insecticide on winter wheat. It also conserves combine time as winter wheat is mature before other crops and we also get started harvest sooner. Our seeding equipment is used more efficiently as it is used both in spring and fall. Spreading out the seeding window over more time allows us to get by with a slightly smaller machine for the acres we have. At harvest it is the same. We run a slightly smaller combine than we would if we didn't have winter wheat. When we have winter wheat it seems that we have our work done earlier and have more time to enjoy some time away from the farm such as fishing or other outdoor activities with our family.

Winter wheat keeps our fields cleaner as we are controlling what is growing in the fall, and when there is something planted, the weed pressure is less of a problem. Growing winter wheat also creates a different class of wheat in your marketing plan. There are times when the common hard red spring wheat is not being accepted for delivery, but you can market your winter wheat and that gives you more flexibility with marketing as well as delivery conserving both labour and equipment used for hauling.

Winter wheat also protects the environment in many ways. One way is because it is established earlier in the spring; therefore, during heavy spring rains it is able to retain more water than a spring-seeded crop could. This helps in a few ways as it prevents excessive runoff and prevents drowning the crop out in flatter low areas. By using more water earlier in the spring it also prevents leaching of nitrogen. Winter wheat provides an excellent habitat for not only ducks, but many other birds as well as larger wildlife such as whitetail deer and moose, which we have found to graze the winter wheat well into the winter months.

That is our story of how winter wheat is an effective conservation tool on our farm.

Wade Simpson, MB:

(L-R) Garth Butcher, Winter Cereals Canada, Dean Appelt, Behlen Industries LP, Wade Simpson, Manitoba Bin Winner, and Ken Gross, DUC

Winter wheat is important for conservation on my farm for a variety of reasons. By having the growth of winter wheat on the land in the fall, it eliminates soil and valuable nutrients from drifting and blowing off the fields over winter. That "growth" also has benefits the following spring, conserving valuable moisture and creating a place for ducks and other waterfowl to nest. 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.

Growing winter wheat on my farm has allowed better utilization of the equipment used to seed and harvest and spread out of the workload. By seeding winter wheat in the fall it has allowed more time the following spring to seed other crops in a timely fashion. It also allows an earlier harvest the following fall as it is quite often harvested in early August. 

Winter wheat not only spreads out the workload, but it also adds another crop to my rotation, helping combat weeds such as wild oats by taking advantage of that early spring moisture and getting off to an early start choking out wild oats. By helping combat weeds, winter wheat helps reduce the use of herbicides, which is good for my input costs and the environment at the same time. It’s a win-win for both of us.

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. I plan on continuing to grow winter wheat in the future not only because it's excellent for my bottom line, but it's valuable for our environment.

Matthew Stanford, AB:

(L-R) Autumn Holmes-Saltzman, DUC, Matthew Stanford, Alberta Bin Winner, Courtney Stephenson, Bayer CropScience, Rick Istead, Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission, and Janine Paly, DUC

Today we are always aiming to save and conserve. Every business endeavour is to save time, money and the environment. Our farm is no exception and winter wheat is a critical part of our conservation strategy.

As our business grows, we need to become increasingly efficient with our time and equipment. Fall seeding takes some of the pressure off in the spring, and means that we have a portion of crop harvested and in the bin before our spring-seeded crops are ripe. With a bit of coordination, winter wheat means we can farm more acres with the same equipment investment. Winter wheat also helps us to harvest all of our crops in a timely fashion, preserving yield and quality.

Winter wheat consistently has a profitable bottom line. It out yields our spring wheat by an average of 25 per cent. This is partly through the efficient use of early season moisture. In southern Alberta, where moisture is often limited, winter wheat is growing and using the spring moisture before spring cereals are even planted. Its early maturity and competitive nature mean we also save money on pest control. Typically, winter wheat avoids wheat stem sawfly damage and we do not have to spray to manage wild oats. While wheat midge has not been an issue in our area, for locations further east, where it is a problem, winter wheat generally does not suffer because of its advanced maturity.

With minimal pesticide requirements and higher yield, winter wheat is consistently a winner on our farm, reducing input costs and increasing our net profit.

From an environmental conservation perspective, winter wheat means we can grow more on the same acres. With access to arable land becoming ever more limited and with a growing global population, it will become more and more important to maximize production per acre. Winter wheat is an evident fit. If we can improve production on the existing farm land base, environmentally sensitive areas, including wetlands and uplands, are more likely to remain on the landscape.

With minimal farm traffic in winter wheat fields in the spring, it also contributes to waterfowl and wildlife conservation. By growing winter wheat, we provide a safer, more productive nesting habitat for waterfowl, in particular the Northern Pintail.

Seeing our green winter wheat field amid fields of crop stubble in the early spring is inspiring. And there is nothing quite like finding a nest in that green lushness.

Winter wheat is a conservation success – saving us time, money and protecting our natural capital for our children, the next generation of farmers.