Winter wheat called ‘risk management crop’ in Canada
Wheat
Canada
Published Oct 15, 2021
Tridge summary
Farmers coming off a tough year in which heat and drought ripped into yields should consider fall-seeded crops as a good hedge against a repeat of such conditions, said the chair of the Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Development Commission. Winter wheat and fall rye acres have taken a steep decline in Saskatchewan over the past decade from a peak of 710,000 acres in 2011 to 172,000 this season.
Original content
John Burns, chair of the commission, is still bullish on the crop and says the benefits shouldn’t be underestimated. The environmental benefits of winter cereals is the biggest positive factor of the crop, said Burns. “Winter wheat is one of the best soil health crops there is,” he said. When it comes to growing flax and canola on a winter-wheat-seeded field rotation, Burns said, “our experience is that those crops do better.” Harvesting wheat in August and September allows for improved moisture retention through ground cover and earlier fertilization of the field, he added. “So, we find very good results growing small seed after winter wheat,” said Burns, with canola being the best stubble to seed the crop into. The off-season nature of winter cereals also helps with disease control, he added. “Winter wheat throws pathogens and other threats to crops off balance because it’s in a different cycle.” This year’s drought struck all crops, however, and was definitely the driest and ...
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