GrainsWest Spring 2021

Winter 2021 Grains West 22 This is reflected in a 2019 study published by Beres and his United States Department of Agriculture counterpart Jerry Hatfield. It outlines the necessity of increased global wheat production. “Estimates show that production must increase by one billion metric tonnes to meet this demand,” the report states. “One method to meet future demand is to increase wheat yields by reducing the gap between actual and potential yields. Yield gap closure will require that local producers adopt practices that increase their climate resilience in wheat production systems.” Research, for example, has determined dryland wheat production across the Prairies has the potential to produce a 70 bu/ac yield average, yet the actual average is closer to 54 bu/ac. A 16 bu/ac yield gap exists and this is where the work begins. INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIES Under the auspices of the AAFC, Beres is a participant in the Global Yield Gap and Water Productivity Atlas project ( yieldgap.org ) , an ongoing international initiative based at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. This work will determine the yield gap for 13 major crops across 73 countries, including Canada. It will also help to establish and promote practices that will close the gap. “I really don’t know what the wheat yield potential is for Canada,” admitted Beres. The nation’s geographic location high in the northern hemisphere is a major limiting factor, he added. “We have a short growing season and it limits our yield potential.” Beres hopes modelling to determine the wheat yield gap and, ultimately, yield potential, will be complete for the northern U.S. Plains and Canada by the end of 2021. While being in the northern hemisphere may limit wheat yield potential, he said an upside to climate change is modelling that indicates the Canadian Prairies may benefit from increased yields brought on by warmer temperatures. Beres is also the Canadian principal lead of the Wheat Initiative, another ongoing global project of the G20 agricultural ministries. Created in 2011, it supports diverse wheat research projects. The initiative ties in nicely with the Global Yield Gap Atlas (GYGA). “Once we establish what the yield gaps are, we can survey growers about their agronomic and management practices to better understand what they are doing and what needs to improve to close the yield gap,” said Beres. Certain factors that contribute to yield are beyond a farmer’s control, he said. For example, quality of soil and its ability to retain nutrients and make them available to plants is a major factor, as is the amount of available water and sunlight. The size of the yield gap that defines yield potential obviously depends on where crops are grown, said Beres. He cited winter wheat as a good example. “If you’re growing winter wheat in France a yield of 5.8 tonnes per hectare [86 bu/ ac] may be disappointing, but if you are growing that in Canada it might be a pretty good yield. So, it depends where you are.” Beres believes a combination of improved plant genetics and proper agronomic practices will help raise the bar on yield. He said genetic improvements in plant structure such as increased root development could help improve nutrient-use efficiency. “Right now, it takes about two pounds of nitrogen to produce one pound of wheat,” he said. “If we can develop a larger root mass better able to scavenge around and find more nitrogen, increasing nutrient-use efficiency from 50 per cent to perhaps 75 per cent, there is potential to increase yield. And by increasing nutrient-use efficiency it can also help reduce environmental risks and concerns.” With input from David Weith of Bayer (right) and additional advisors, Allan Watson has produced two world record wheat crops since 2017. FEATURE