Winter wheat acreage is at high levels across the Prairies and producers are enjoying success - including major yield improvements - with new varieties developed with producer funding through Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF.)

The 2003-2004 crop year saw near-record winter wheat production in the Prairie provinces, with approximately 700,000 seeded acres. Producers have become far more knowledgeable on effective production techniques and have far superior varieties to grow - two factors that have dramatically improved winter wheat success across the region, says Bob Linnell, Executive Manager of Winter Cereals Canada.

"Winter wheat has really been a good success story the past several years and we're seeing more interest than ever in producing the crop," says Linnell.

An acreage boom in the eastern Prairie has been driven in part by the crop's ability to typically avoid the window of infestation for Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) and wheat midge, respectively the top disease and insect concerns of wheat in the region, explains Linnell. With more farmers growing the crop, and having success with improved production strategies and varieties, winter wheat has opened a lot of eyes to the great potential of the crop.

"Avoiding the major pest and disease concerns is a main reason for the rise in adoption - it's what has gotten winter wheat inside the door for many new producers," he says. "But as those producers have success, the other benefits are becoming clear as well, and that's good news for the future of the crop."

More of Linnell's views on the potential of winter wheat are available in the January edition of Western Grains Research Magazine, now on the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) Web site, www.westerngrains.com. Western Canadian wheat and barley growers are major investors in breeding research through the Wheat and Barley Check-off Funds, administered by WGRF. The Research Magazine offers "Ideas and issues for farmer research investors."

Front and centre among winter wheat benefits are the improvements growers are seeing in new varieties, many of which have been developed with support from farmers through the Wheat Check-off Fund, administered by WGRF.

Yield in particular has improved dramatically, says Linnell, a long-time winter wheat producer near Weyburn, who has typically grown varieties from Dr. Brian Fowler's breeding program at the University of Saskatchewan's Crop Development Centre.

"My first experience growing winter wheat was Norstar, which had no stem or leaf rust resistance and a lodging problem because of weak straw. When Brian came out with the varieties CDC Kestrel and CDC Claire, we saw a lot better package and a 20 to 25 percent yield advantage. Now, with the newer series of varieties such as CDC Falcon, CDC Harrier, and CDC Raptor, we're seeing another 25 to 30 percent yield advantage above CDC Kestrel and CDC Claire."

In fact, today's top winter wheat varieties offer significantly higher yields than comparable spring wheat varieties, says Linnell. "Under good conditions for both crops, winter wheat can out yield spring wheat by an average of 30 to 40 percent."

The yield advantage is just one of many now well-known winter benefits. The crop also fits well with conservation farming systems that reduce erosion, offers more efficient water utilization than spring seeded crops, typically requires less inputs and energy, avoids seeding problems on late, wet springs and has an earlier harvest than spring wheat. Winter wheat production is also less disturbing to wildlife, particularly waterfowl and upland game birds.

Among the variety development highlights, Fowler at Saskatoon has increased yield potential and improved winter survival characteristics, Dr. Rob Graf at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lethbridge has improved yield and protein content - particularly for irrigated production in southern Alberta - and Dr. Anita Brule Babel at the University of Manitoba has improved resistance to leaf and stem rust resistance. Each of these programs have been supported by WGRF.