Including winter wheat as part of the crop rotation is trending upwards on farms across Western Canada.

Seeding may be the last thing you want to think about while you are wrapping up harvest this Fall, however, the Western Winter Wheat Initiative believes there is a huge benefit to doing so.

Janine Paly, a Western Winter Wheat Agronomist with Ducks Unlimited, says one of the biggest advantages is the yield of the crop.

“It can provide a higher yield potential over spring wheat,” said Paly, “Anywhere we looked in Alberta we are finding a 10 to 15 per cent higher yield than a spring wheat variety.”

Paly says it is also a good way to spread out your workload.

“I hear quite a bit that seeding in the Fall time can be a barrier, bringing out the seeding equipment, but in reality, by seeding in the fall time you get that benefit of the fact you don’t have to seed that field in the spring time.”

Paly says it can also help you avoid other problems.

“Winter wheat often flowers early enough to avoid Fusarium head blight damage in Saskatchewan and Alberta.  If producers are concerned about FHB there is the variety Emerson which is resistance to the disease.”

Paly says the number of acres planted in Winter Wheat dipped slightly in Alberta last year after plateauing, but they expect that number to grow once again this year.