Winter wheat planning

Jeremy Boychyn, M.Sc P.Ag, Agronomy Research Extension Specialist | Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions

If there ever was a hard-working but overlooked middle child of cereals it would be winter wheat.

For a crop that; yields higher than spring wheat across western Canada1 by capturing more sunlight and available moisture2 has more weed competitive ability3, reduces soil erosion4, substantially avoids Fusarium head blight (FHB) infection5, dodges summer heat during flowering and grain fill, improves rotation diversity, and presents multiple soil health benefits, winter wheat receives the short end of the stick. Winter wheat received about 1.5 per cent of total Alberta wheat acres (not including durum) in both 2018 and 2019 crop years.

One of the biggest challenges of winter wheat production is proper planning. Due to its season not aligning with spring-seeded crops, the intention of winter wheat seeding can easily slip as the season progresses. With that said, producers in various parts of North America smoothly and successfully implement winter cereals in their rotation every year.

If you are reading this now at the end of June or the beginning of July, you might think to yourself “It seems early to be thinking about winter wheat!”. Take that thought and throw it in the slough, now is the perfect time to plan for winter wheat seeding. In fact, a calendar reminder each year at this time goes a long way to make winter wheat seeding a reality for your crop rotation.

Here are some of the considerations one should take when planning for winter wheat. Create a checklist and work through them over the next few weeks.

  • Variety selection and marketing
  • Field selection
  • Fertility planning
  • Logistical considerations

Variety selection and marketing will go hand-in-hand

Some varieties are more suited for different end uses. For example, Pintail is better for the feed or ethanol market while AAC Wildfire is attuned for milling. Talk to your seed supplier and ask what varieties work well in your area. From there, determine which market you can sell into. Your local grain elevator, feedlot or seed supplier can provide information on market demand. From this information, you can select the most appropriate variety for production.

It should be noted that variety selection on the prairies has improved

over the years due to comprehensive work by Dr. Rob Graf at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre in Lethbridge. His work has led

to the availability of higher-yielding and increased winter-hardy varieties compared to past varieties. Talk to your seed supplier or refer to the Alberta Seed Guide for more information. Regional variety trial information is available in the Alberta Seed Guide or at www.seed.ab.ca.

“One of the biggest challenges of winter wheat production is proper planning.”

Field selection is vital

Selecting a field that can be seeded between September 1 to 15 and provides adequate stubble to capture snow is important. September 1 to 15 is ideal winter wheat seeding timing across the Prairies. The exception to this is the Peace region of Alberta. Peace region growers should aim for seeding between August 25 to 31. Stubble allows for snow capture which is important for the crop’s winter survival. In some areas of Alberta, this could be canola stubble while in other areas, pea or barley silage stubble can be a viable option (Irvine et al 2013).

Fertility planning

Pre-book soil sampling and determine where you may be purchasing fertilizer from. With winter wheat, split nitrogen(N) application is the name of the game. This allows the distribution of costs between fall and spring. It also allows mitigation of excess N loss in the fall and early spring. Typically, applying a portion of N (20 to 30 per cent of total) upfront helps promote strong growth in the fall and increases winter survival. This is followed by a spring application to provide the remainder of N required to reach crop yield expectations. A stabilized N product is recommended in situations that require 100 per cent of N to be applied at the time of seeding.

Logistical considerations

Consider where and when equipment will be needed. This includes the tender truck or any equipment needed to pick up seed and fertilizer if it won’t be stored on-farm beforehand. A common concern is the perceived lack of time to seed winter wheat in the fall. However, experienced winter wheat growers have demonstrated that there is ample time to seed winter wheat. Many take advantage of combine shutdowns or damp conditions to get their acres in.

As mentioned, planning for the fall-seeded crop is the hardest part. Tackling the factors listed above will allow for a smooth winter wheat seeding process and increase the chances of success.

For more information on planning and managing winter wheat in Alberta, check out growwinterwheat.ca.

1 Larsen, R. J., et al. “Extending the growing season: winter cereals in western Canada.” Canadian Journal of Plant Science 98.2 (2018): 267-277.

2 Entz, M. H., and D. B. Fowler. “Agronomic performance of winter versus spring wheat.” Agronomy Journal 83.3 (1991): 527-532.

3 Beres, Brian L., et al. “Weed-competitive ability of spring and winter cereals in the Northern Great Plains.” Weed Technology 24.2 (2010): 108-116.

4 Delgado, J. A., et al. “Use of winter cover crops to conserve soil and water quality in the San Luis Valley of South Central Colorado.” Soil quality and soil erosion. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL (1999): 125-142.

5 Kriss, A. B., P. A. Paul, and L. V. Madden. “Relationship between yearly fluctuations in Fusarium head blight intensity and environmental variables: a window-pane analysis.” Phytopathology 100.8 (2010): 784-797.