Leif Carlson, the Director of Market Intelligence & Trade Policy with Cereals Canada, says that intelligence from a Ducks Unlimited study has shown that the duck populations across the prairies have been falling. However, as a consumer, there is a way to help save them.

Carlson advises that winter wheat is 24 times more suitable as a nesting material for ducks and other wildlife, as opposed to spring-planted crops. Buying winter wheat products supports the production of the crop.

"This ties back to the farm in terms of when there's demand for winter wheat. It helps support the farmers that grow that winter wheat. When farmers do that, they, in turn, are providing habitat for western Canadian duck populations," says Carlson.

File Photo.Photo Credit: Maverick Media

He says that as consumers, you can be sure you are buying products with this winter wheat when they have an Ecolabel indicating such.

"In the case of habitat-friendly winter wheat, that means that the product that consumers are buying contains a minimum of 30 per cent flour made from winter wheat, which, in turn, helps support the demand for winter wheat and encourages the production that supports duck habitat."

Cereals Canada adds that food processors can quickly become certified to showcase their western Canadian winter wheat use and encourage other Canadian brands to consider adopting a blend of habitat-friendly winter wheat in their products to embrace sustainability, preserve waterfowl habitat and support Canadian producers.

To discover more about the Habitat-Friendly Winter Wheat Ecolabel Program, visit habitatwheat.ca.