WINTER WHEAT WEBINAR

Why your Customers should be growing Winter Wheat

Paul Thoroughgood P.Ag

Ducks Unlimited Canada

Show me the Money!

• Winter Wheat is consistently a top performing crop across the Prairies

• Allows improved use of capital

• Provides “insurance” against inclement weather during May

and September

• Facilitation of more timely management of spring seeded crops

• Rotational benefits to other crops

• Expands grain marketing window

• Provides an ecological tool to manage herbicide resistance and pests

• Increases financial sustainability

Show me the Money!

Caring for our Environment

• Winter cereals are the only annual crop shown to provide productive nesting habitat for waterfowl

• Benefits to other ground nesting birds

• Increased productivity per acre

Long Term Adoption

• 2/3 of growers who have tried winter wheat with DUC have made it part of their long term rotation

• Many of these growers have become “repeat customers” in other DUC programs

Planning for Success

Mark Akins P.Ag CCA

Ducks Unlimited Canada

Planning is Key

• Planning is involved in growing all crops

• Winter wheat requires special attention – stubble needed for seeding – planning also makes

seeding at harvest simpler and less stressful

Planning=profitable winter wheat

Plan for Stubble

• Start planning for winter wheat prior to seeding your spring crop

• Choose a crop that provides adequate snow trapping

• Stubble must be available in Aug 15 to Sept 15 seeding window

Plan for Stubble

• Attention to seeding date, crop types and/or variety if crops generally mature late– Weatherman-ager at

www.wintercereals.ca

• Plans may not always come through so have a “plan B” crop in mind

The Weatherman-ager

 Physiological Maturity Date

  05 Aug 10 Aug 15 Aug 20 Aug 25 Aug 30 Aug 04 Sep 09 Sep 14 Sep 19 Sep

01 May 4 17 50 70 87 94 98 100 100 100

05 May 2 13 43 67 83 89 98 100 100 100

10 May 2 9 35 57 74 85 93 96 100 100

15 May 2 6 28 54 69 80 87 93 94 98

20 May 2 2 11 44 63 74 85 89 94 98

25 May 0 2 6 22 50 67 76 85 87 94

30 May 0 0 2 9 30 50 65 81 85 87

04 Jun 0 0 0 2 15 31 48 69 81 87

09 Jun 0 0 0 0 2 11 28 43 59 69

Prince Albert, Saskatchewan (4056240)The table below was generated from Environment Canada weather station data collected from 1945 to 1998.

Crops -  Argentine Canola

Harvesting Stubble Crop

• Winter wheat is most successful when direct seeded into standing stubble

– Cut stubble as high as possible– Spread straw and

chaff evenly over the field

– Avoid excessive traffic in field access points and headlands

Logistics

• Prepare equipment early

• Have seed ready

• Fill the drill

• Plan for getting inputs to the field

• May want to swap seeding and harvest with a trusted neighbor

Seeding Opportunities

• Multi-tasking doesn’t always work

• Take advantage of the weather

• Use GPS and auto-steer to make the most of your day

• The first year is the most challenging

Seeding Musts

Melissa Stanford, Agrologist

Ducks Unlimited Canada

1. Seed Early

Timing:• North – August 15 - 20• Central – August 25 - September 5• South – No later than September 15

• Don’t delay seeding to wait for moisture!– Waiting too long results in 5-10% yield loss per

week delayed

2. Seed Shallow

• Optimal depth = better seedling vigor and winter hardiness

• ½”-1” deep

• Target is 3-4 leaf stage prior to freeze up

3. Seed Into Stubble

• Standing stubble does it all

• The best crops for stubble

• How much stubble is enough?

3. Seed Into Stubble, cont’d

• Adequate Snow Trapping Potential– Pre-seeding 40 or

greater– Post-seeding 20 or

greater

STP = stubble height in cm × # stems/m2

100

4. Seed Heavy

• 1.5-2.5 bushels per acre

• Target plant populations:– Fall: 30 plants/sq.ft.– Spring: 18-23 plants/sq.ft.

Consider 1000 kernel weight and germination

5. Other Considerations

• Manage straw and chaff at harvest

• Apply phosphate with the seed and some starter nitrogen

• Consider a pre- or post-harvest glyphosate application for a clean start

• Be mindful of potential herbicide residue issues

Questions?

Thank you for joining us today.