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SDSU First Research Partner in Winter Wheat Expansion Initiative

South Dakota State University has become the first research partner in an initiative by Ducks Unlimited and Bayer CropScience to expand the acceptance of winter wheat in the Prairie Pothole region.

The region is dotted with wetlands and stretches roughly from northeastern Montana to central Iowa. It is prime breeding country for migratory waterfowl. Winter wheat is seeded in the fall and minimizes field disturbance in the spring when ducks are nesting.

Blake Vander Vorst - Senior Agronomist with Ducks Unlimited in Bismarck, North Dakota - says under the new partnership - plant breeding teams at SDSU will guide the research and development of better winter wheat.

SDSU is getting about $732,000 over four years for the project. Ducks Unlimited and Bayer CropScience are also helping re-start a winter wheat breeding program at North Dakota State University.