Using Small Grain Cover Crop Alternatives to Diversify Crop Rotations

View the project final report

• 1997 annual report

Commodities

• Agronomic: barley, corn, oats, rye, soybeans, wheat

Practices

• Crop Production: cover crops
• Education and Training: demonstration, extension, farmer to farmer, on-farm/ranch research
• Farm Business Management: whole farm planning, budgets/cost and returns, agricultural finance
• Production Systems: general crop production
• Soil Management: green manures

Our goal of this project was to increase the sustainability of Midwestern farming systems through diversification of the predominant corn-soybean rotation. Our strategy has been to re-introduce the use of small grain and cover crops following soybeans and preceding corn. We aimed to maintain production while reducing agrochemical inputs leading to increased environmental benefits for society at large and economic benefits for farmers. The specific objectives of this project were to:

1. Provide educational, technical and networking support to farmers interested in integrating small grain-cover crop combinations into their crop rotations
2. Broaden the range of market opportunities and uses for small grains in the Upper Midwest
3. Evaluate and communicate the results and experiences of producers and buyers directly involved with this project to a wider audience of growers and other agriculture professionals.

Objective 1. To meet our first objective, we built a unique outreach team of producers, university agronomists, extension agents, non-governmental organizations and the food-processing industry. To support farmers technically, a detailed handbook on small grain production was prepared and updated annually. Team personnel aided growers with record keeping and production advice. Complementing this manual was the fortnightly Small Grain Update Newsletter that was published between April and October each year.

Production and economic data was collected and analyzed from 30 upper Midwest farms that had integrated small grains into their corn/soybean rotations. Agronomically, farmers were generally pleased with small grain yields and cover crop establishment. Corn yields following small grain and cover crop were comparable to the 2-crop rotation but with 63% less synthetic N. Many growers assessed their soil health and tilth as improved following the small grain and plow down green manure. In addition to better yields, participants in the Small Grains Initiative got better prices. They received, on average, 24% more in 1997, 35.2% more in 1998 and 12.8% more in 1999. Actual total income (not including cost of land or management) was $102.19/a for oats, $146.67/a for wheat and $193.23/a for barley and quite similar to that of corn ($191.51/a). With the small grains, nearly half the income came from the sale of straw.

Objective 2. Our second objective was met through efforts of the team to provide market contracts for production of high-quality food-grade grain for food-industry processors and grain handlers. Several marketing strategies have been developed for placing the small grains and beans from this 3-crop rotation in food markets, yielding a higher price (green labeling, soy sauce production, bread wheat). The team facilitated the formation of local cooperatives among small grain producers to provide the large quantities required by processors, e.g. Itochu (soybeans) and Quaker (oats).

Objective 3. To meet our third objective, results and experiences were disseminated via newsletters, field days, and conference presentations. Results were included in field days and grower meetings (23), conference presentations (12), and newsletters/updates (16) with mailing list of 600 people. Three winter meetings 1998, 1999 and 2000 facilitated direct interaction among the team members and among other producers while providing an opportunity to increase public interest in the diversification of crop rotations and subsequent economic and environmental benefits.

Introduction:

Wisconsin ranked #2 in the U.S.A. in wheat production in the mid-to late 1800’s(1). Since then, there has been a steady decline in total acreage planted to wheat and other small grains. From 1964 to 1998 the area in small grains dropped by more than 70%.(2) On dairy farms, increased usage of corn silage and direct seeded alfalfa, alternative bedding options, and increased reliance on purchased feeds have lessened interest in small grains. Recently, because of government programs and low prices for small grains, small grains have nearly disappeared from farmers’ cropping rotations. For the past few years however, researchers have tried to reintroduce small grains into cropping rotations to increase diversity and improve sustainability.

Our goal has been to increase the sustainability of regional farming systems, through the introduction of small grain and cover crops to the corn-soybean rotation. Our project addresses, in particular, three of the Program Goals of the North Central Regional SARE which all enhance farming sustainability: (1) enhancing the environmental quality of intensive row crop rotations by including a small grain and cover crop; (2) enhancing the economic viability of individual farm operations by focusing on food- grade grain production; and (3) increasing crop and enterprise diversity on the farm with the inclusion of a third cropping phase for cash grain producers, or small grain feed for dairymen.

Specifically, we have three objectives of the Small Grains Initiative:

1. Provide educational, technical and networking support to farmers interested in integrating small grain-cover crop combinations into their crop rotations
2. Broaden the range of market opportunities and uses for small grains in the Upper Midwest
3. Evaluate and communicate the results and experiences of producers and buyers directly involved with this project to a wider audience.