GrainsWest Winter 2021

winter 2021 Grains West 42 Photo:CourtesyofHuskyEnergy In terms of strategic planning, Husky grain buyers post new crop bids early in the year to encourage farmers to seed soft white wheat, she added. On their farm near Red Deer, Kevin Bender and his brother Mike devoted 350 of their 3,500 acres to CWSWS this year. Although they’d grown it in the past, they stopped for a while. But Bender said CWSWS presents a good opportunity in his area as it yields well and fetches an attractive price. He sells a portion of his crop to the local elevator for export as feed. He delivers the rest to the small Permolex ethanol plant in Red Deer. Agronomically speaking, Bender said the varieties he and his brother were growing—Sadash and AC Andrew— presented a few challenges. In the past, they struggled to get these varieties to mature in time for the fall frost and found they were prone to develop leaf diseases. “To realize our top potential, we need a fungicide,” he said. The real benefit is the high yield of CWSWS, he said. But, he added, because the crop does grow taller and produce more straw per acre than other classes, if you’re trying to spread it or work it in, it could be a greater challenge to create a good seedbed for the next crop. Beyond feed and ethanol, CWSWS is also suitable for distillation. Based in Unity, SK, North West Pure Alcohol and Spirits (nwPure), for instance, makes a range of pharmaceutical- and beverage- grade alcohol products. The company also utilizes dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), which is the byproduct of the distillation process, to produce protein supplements for the feed market. CEO Jason Skinner said 95 per cent of feedstock used at the plant is CWSWS. As in ethanol production, its higher starch and lower protein is a favourable trait as it produces a greater alcohol yield. “I guess you could call it the corn of the North,” said Skinner with a laugh. In terms of quality, feed grade is suitable for alcohol production. “I think a lot of farmers find that they get the extra yield and the grade isn’t as important when they’re selling to the alcohol industry,” said Skinner. “So, it gives them more flexibility on their farm.” nwPure has a maximum processing capacity of 24,000 tonnes of CWSWS each year, but it does purchase additional white wheat for sale into other markets. While the company offers forward contracts, most farmers prefer to take the market price at time of delivery, said Skinner. A lightly utilized but promising class, CWSWS presents solid market options, especially for geographically well-positioned farmers who operate within easy delivery reach of ethanol distillation plants. For farmers in need of strategic cropping opportunities, this agronomically co-operative, high- yielding wheat class may be one to consider. The Husky Grain Lloydminster Ethanol Plant purchases 145,000 tonnes of soft white wheat annually, but the facility would accept more if it becomes available at a good price. FEATURE