First Crop of Sustainably Grown Wheat Harvested in the Saginaw Bay Region

Nov 16, 2022

The Nature Conservancy in Michigan (TNC) and Star of the West Milling Co. today announced the harvest, verification and sale of the first 86,000 bushels of wheat grown through a pilot program launched earlier this year. TNC and Star of the West partnered on the program, which runs through 2024.

This year, it took a matter of weeks to fill the roughly 900 acres available for the first year of the program. Next year, the program will expand to more than 2,500 acres.

“We are thrilled at the response to our Sustainable Option Wheat (SOW) program from producers throughout the Saginaw Bay region and that our first harvest is in the books,” said Ben Wickerham, agriculture program director for TNC in Michigan. “This program helps improve soil health and protect water quality by encouraging growers to implement a suite of tried-and-true sustainability practices, which benefits the Saginaw Bay watershed today and for years to come.”

“If the first year of our sustainable wheat program is any indication, next year will be a big year of growth as we expand the program by more than 1,500 acres,” said Lisa Woodke, sustainability director for Star of the West Milling Co. “I want to thank the farmers who took the leap with us in this first year and look forward to welcoming even more growers into the program next year.”

TNC works with Star of the West on farmer enrollments, farm evaluations and verification of in-field practices. Once the recommended sustainability criteria are implemented and verified, participating growers are eligible to receive nature-based bonuses at Star of the West when they sell their wheat.

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Video: Why Port Infrastructure is Key to Growing Canada's Farms and Economy

Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) knows that strong, modern port infrastructure is vital to the success of Canada’s agriculture. When our ports grow, Ontario grain farmers and Canadian farms grow too—and when we grow, Canada grows.

In this video, we highlight the importance of investing in port infrastructure and how these investments are key to growing Ontario agriculture and supporting global trade. The footage showcases the strength of both Ontario’s farming landscapes and vital port operations, including some key visuals from HOPA Ports, which we are grateful to use in this project.

Ontario’s grain farmers rely on efficient, sustainable ports and seaway systems to move grain to markets around the world. Port investments are crucial to increasing market access, driving economic growth, and ensuring food security for all Canadians.

Why Port Infrastructure Matters:

Investing in Ports = Investing in Farms: Modernized ports support the export of Canadian grain, driving growth in agriculture.

Sustainable Growth: Learn how stronger ports reduce environmental impact while boosting economic stability.

Global Trade Opportunities: Improved port and seaway systems help farmers access new global markets for their grain.

Stronger Communities: Investment in ports means more stable jobs and economic growth for rural communities across Ontario and Canada.

We are proud to support the ongoing investment in port infrastructure and to shine a light on its vital role in feeding the world and securing a prosperous future for Canadian agriculture.

Special thanks to HOPA Ports for providing some of the stunning port footage featured in this video.