Growing Winter Wheat - Research

The combined vision of the Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission (AWWPC) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) to create and maintain a healthy and sustainable future for agriculture and waterfowl habitats has provided both organizations the opportunity to support numerous winter wheat research projects over the years. These projects range from plant breeding to biological research to agronomic improvements.

 

Research and Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission

The Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission supports research projects that drive innovation and identify best management practices for improved crop production. Your check-off dollars help support plant breeding and agronomic research projects aimed at identifying new, improved winter wheat varieties with multiple end uses and production practices that maximize grower profitability. The following is a list of some research projects that the AWWPC board has contributed to financially.

• Regional variety trial program (Dr. Rob Graf, AAFC, Lethbridge, AB)
• The affect of nitrogen rates on winter wheat production (Dr. Ross McKenzie, AARD, Lethbridge, AB)
• Fertility management stratigies for milling and general purpose wnter wheat production in the Canadian Prairies (Dr. Brian Beres, AAFC, Lethbridge, AB)
• Control of downy brome in fall-seeded cereals (Mr.Chris Neeser, AARD, Brooks, AB)
• Winter Wheat Breeding at the AAFC Lethbridge Research Centre
• Ancestry of Winter Wheat Cultivars Grown in Western Canada

 

Research and Ducks Unlimited

DUC knows that to increase winter wheat acreage an investment in variety development is key. DUC supports variety development through breeding programs at the University of Saskatchewan and Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada (AAFC) Lethbridge.  This investment has helped to improve genetics, allowing access to improved varieties for western Canadian producers.  Over the years this investment has surpassed one million dollars.

DUC is involved with a number of partnerships focused on research and promotion of winter wheat. Some of our partners include Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian Wheat Board, Viterra, James Richardson International, the University of Saskatchewan, Winter Cereals Canada, the Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission, Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Development Commission and Winter Cereals Manitoba Inc.

DUC also works directly with producers to increase their profitability, and supports winter wheat production by providing agronomic advice and offering incentives to grow the crop in select landscapes.

Breeding Program Updates

Dr. Robert Graf has been responsible for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s winter wheat breeding program in Lethbridge, and has contributed several varieties of spring and winter wheat.

Dr. Brian Fowler manages the winter wheat and rye breeding program at the College of Agriculture and Bio-resources within the University of Saskatchewan. His efforts have given the Canadian producer several varieties of winter cereals to choose from.

 

Agronomic Research Updates

Developing Innovative Agri-Products (DIAP)

In July 2010, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) announced $1.284 million through the Developing Innovative Agri-Products (DIAP) program to Ducks Unlimited Canada, Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission, Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Development Comission, and Winter Cereals Manitoba Inc to increase witner wheat acres across the Prairie Prvinces. This funding is part of the Federal Government's Growing Forward Initiative.

The DIAP project's Principal Investigator is Brian Beres, AAFC Biologist, Integrated Crop Management Systems, Lethbridge Research Centre; however, there are many other AAFC researchers from across the Canadian Prairies that are involved in the project. There is a set of nine multidisciplinary studies that researchers will use to evaluate a number of integrated crop management strategies ranging from nutrient management, weed, disease and insect issues, to stubble, crop residue and crop rotation manegement, all with a global objective to improve winter wheat stand establishement and plant health. The studies are:

Study 1 – ‘Determine the influence of seed-applied fungicides and insecticides on fall stand establishment and overwinter survival of winter wheat.’

Study 2 – ‘Improving the success of planting winter wheat into barley grain stubble.’

Study 3 – ‘Managing nitrogen when planting winter wheat into barley grain stubble.’

Study 4 – ‘Crop growth enhancement by residue management.’

Study 5 – ‘Interaction of seed treatments and fall-applied foliar fungicides on winter hardiness and plant health of winter wheat

Study 6 – ‘Integration of microbial control strategies to manage the cereal leaf beetle in winter wheat’ –

Study 7 – ‘Development of algorithms using optical sensors to create yield potential models for integrated nutrient management.

Study 8 – ‘Optimizing seed quality and net returns through enhanced N management strategies for milling and general purpose winter wheat production in the Canadian Prairies

Study 9 – ‘The interaction of herbicide selection and timing of application on suppression of Japanese and downy brome in winter wheat.’

Update on the DIAP Project

Summary document from Year 1 of the DIAP winter wheat agromonic project