Only Available in Canada

CDC Ptarmigan is a soft white winter wheat originally released in Canada in 1999. It was developed by the Crop Development Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The wheat was designed with a strong straw and high yield. CDC Ptarmigan is also a high starch crop that offers high tonnes of starch per acre. Because of this wheat's high starch content it would make an ideal candidate for ethanol production.

Winter wheat is a very attractive crop to grow in some northern States, as well as Western Canada. Growing winter wheat has many of advantages such as, an increased return from every acre because of reduced pesticide costs and high yield potential. In addition, there are lower energy requirements as a result of reduced tillage and little pesticide use. Using a wild oat herbicide is usually not needed because winter wheat is a good weed competitor, this will reduce the selection pressure for herbicide resistance. Wheat midge damage from early heading is avoided with winter wheat so there is no need for insecticides. There is also a reduced risk of Fusarium head blight because of the wheat's early development and maturity. Seeding problems such as, late, wet springs can be avoided because of the early seeding of CDC Ptarmigan. This also results in an earlier harvest than spring wheat.