Ducks Unlimited Canada is pushing for farmers to keep their tillage equipment out of their fields if they plan on seeding winter wheat.
Tilling can increase the risk of winter kill when seeding winter wheat since the crop works best when stubble is saved to trap snow during winter.
“It’s good for the farmer in terms of having a crop in the ground, using that excess moisture,” said Janine Paly, a winter wheat agronomist.
Paly said last year’s demand for winter wheat dropped, but the year before, there was a record high with 320,000 acres of the crop seeded in Alberta.
The majority of winter wheat growers are in the southern portion of the province.
“It’s good for the farmer in terms of having a crop in the ground, using that excess moisture,” she said.
“Another benefit is it’s good for wildlife habitat.”
Irricana farmer Doug Wray thinks winter wheat is a good idea and doesn’t see a downside to planting the crop.
“Winter wheat protects the soil and holds more moisture,” he said.
However, Wray said many Albertans don’t have the ability to successfully yield winter wheat because of when it is planted.
“You have to be able to seed it in the fall and it has to fit your workload. It’s about getting varieties that will yield enough to work.”
Paly recommends that if farmers are planning on seeding winter wheat to use narrow openers when seeding for minimal soil disturbance and use the same tire tracks to detract from knocking down adjacent stubble.
