WINTER WHEAT WEBINAR

1. WINTER WHEAT WEBINAR

2. Why your Customers should be growing Winter Wheat Paul Thoroughgood P.Ag Ducks Unlimited Canada

3. 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

4. Show me the Money! • 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

5. 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

6. 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

9. Planning for Success Mark Akins P.Ag CCA Ducks Unlimited Canada

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. The Weatherman-ager Prince Albert, Saskatchewan (4056240) The table below was generated from Environment Canada weather station data collected from 1945 to 1998. Crops -Argentine Canola

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Seeding Musts Melissa Stanford, Agrologist Ducks Unlimited Canada

18. 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

19. 2. Seed Shallow • Optimal depth = better seedling vigor and winter hardiness • ½”-1” deep • Target is 3-4 leaf stage prior to freeze up

20. 3. Seed Into Stubble • Standing stubble does it all • The best crops for stubble • How much stubble is enough?

21. 3. Seed Into Stubble, cont’d STP = stubble height in cm × # stems/m2 100 • Adequate Snow Trapping Potential • Pre-seeding 40 or greater • Post-seeding 20 or greater

22. 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

23. 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

24. Questions? Thank you for joining us today.