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Sustainable Wheat Program entering third year

The Nature Conservancy in Michigan has nearly tripled wheat acres enrolled in its Sustainable Option Wheat program.

Ben Wickerham tells Brownfield the pilot partners with Star of the West Milling Company to monitor conservation practices across the Saginaw Bay region.

“Tying our incentives to bushels and add-on premium, so to speak, to the market price that they would get normally, it really is a win, win,” he explains. “It’s supporting sustainable practices and production at the same time.”

The program first enrolled 900 wheat acres in 2021 and is now expanding to 3,200 this fall. Growers receive tiered incentives for implementing practices like integrated pest management, cover crops, nutrient management, and reduced tillage. Wickerham says this year edge of field monitoring efforts are also included.

“Things like buffer strips and drain water management and other things that are going to protect those sensitive edge field areas,” he says.

He says wheat yields have been at or above state averages every year of the program for participating growers.

Wickerham says the University of Michigan will analyze the results of the pilot to study its long-term feasibility, potential to extend to other commodities, and adaptability for end users interested in sustainably produced products.