Ducks Unlimited and Bayer CropScience announced a $20 million partnership to increase winter wheat production in North America in order to benefit waterfowl production.

The five-year commitment known as "Winter Cereals: Sustainability in Action," will enable Bayer to research and develop new varieties of winter wheat adapted to prairie conditions, while at the same time conduct environmental and waterfowl habitat research, according to Bayer officials.

DU Canada research has shown that winter wheat provides 24 times the amount of dense nesting cover for waterfowl than does spring wheat.

Winter wheat can provide 10 percent to 30 percent higher yields than spring wheat, Bayer said, while spreading the field workload, thereby reducing potential production risks.

The initiative will be presented at the KMOT Ag Expo in Minot on Jan. 28-30.

- Brian Gehring