New Buckwheat Varieties for Greater Sustainability

2013 Annual Report for FNC13-924

Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2013: $18,881.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2013
Region: North Central
State: North Dakota
Project Coordinator:
Anne Ongstad
Whitman Ranch

New Buckwheat Varieties for Greater Sustainability

Summary

Buckwheat seed increases 2013

                             New Buckwheat Varieties for Greater Sustainability, FNC13-924
                           Anne Ongstad, Rick Mittleider,Wayne Mittleider, and collaborators

                                               

BUCKWHEAT SEED INCREASES FOR 2013

It has come to our attention that the Ukrainian buckwheat varieties that we are growing might actually be from Russia. Varieties with the names Devyatka and Dikul were released by the All-Russia Research Institute of Grain Legumes and Groat Crops in Orel (http://www.vniizbk.ru/en/achievements/varieties/16-buckwheat.html). NPSAS FBC Co-coordinators are attempting to contact the breeder, Dr. Aleksei Fesenko. Washington: Kevin Murphy reported that the two new varieties looked good and that small amounts of good seed were harvested. After another year of seed increase he expects there would be enough seed to plant an acre or two. North Dakota: Steve Zwinger reported the following for our two isolations.
          

 

Objectives/Performance Targets

Devyatka variety of buckwheat with picture

DEVYATKA

This variety was planted at Anne Ongstad’s Whitman Ranch near Robinson, ND on June 12, 2013. The increase was planted with a Hege plot drill with 7” row spacing. Previous crop was sunflower. Tillage prior to planting was done with a moldboard plow and packer with the plot drill simulating a pony drill, a preplant tillage method commonly used on this farm. Total area sown was 15’ x 100’. Amount of seed sown was 600 gms. The crop was swathed in August 27 with a Jeri mower. The crop was harvested with a Hege plot combine on September 3. 55 pounds of seed were harvested from this increase. The seed lot has not been cleaned yet; although very little loss is expected form the cleaning of the seed lot. Conditions were excellent for a buckwheat crop at this location with a harvest of high quality seed. Weeds were not a problem.

Here is a photo of the seed increase of Devyatka at the Whitman Ranch:

Accomplishments/Milestones

Dikal variety of buckwheat

DIKUL

This variety was planted at Rick Mittleider’s farm near Tappan, ND on June 12, 3013. The increase was planted with a Hege plot drill with 7” row spacing. Previous crop was a green manure sweet clover crop that was disked prior to planting. Total area sown was 10’ x 250’. Amount of seed sown was 1100 gms. The crop was cut, bagged, and transported back to the research center on September 3, 2013. The plants were air dried on tarps and thrashed at a later date. The plants were thrown into a stationary Hege plot combine. Approximately 1500 gms of low quality seed were harvested. Seed has not been cleaned, although cleanout is expected to be high. This site experience many events that resulted in poor performance. This includes severe drought, hail and grasshopper damage.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Buckwheat Outreach Project – 2013 with 4 pictures

BUCKWHEAT OUTREACH PROJECT – 2013

Our buckwheat project featured prominently at the NPSAS/NDSU Organic Agriculture Field Day at Carrington, ND on 17 July. Frank Kutka reports that we had over 41 people in attendance. He took photos and shot some video.

Picture 1:  Organic Buckwheat Seed Increase in Carrington, ND, 2013.
Picture 2:  Steve Zwinger introducing his buckwheat work.
Picture 3:  Anne Ongstad shares photos of her seed increase with the tour group.
Picture 4:  Rick Mittleider explains the importance of buckwheat to organic agriculture

We also discussed the buckwheat project at the NPSAS Winter Conference in Aberdeen, SD during the Farm Breeding Club Member Update Workshop. A video of this presentation is available online through NCR-SARE’s YouTube channel at: https://youtu.be/rLTslFkToTk?list=PLQLK9r1ZBhhFIETmMLo1dZBEVYZWXBIM1. NPSAS member Steve Eid expressed interest in helping increase the seeds once the supply is sufficiently large to include additional farmers. We are also planning on a major field day event for the summer of 2014 to highlight buckwheat and these new varieties. Data from the replicated trials should be ready by fall for discussion at our fall FBC meeting.

Collaborators:

Rick Mittleider

co-member
4190 40th Ave SE
Tappen, ND 58487
Office Phone: 7013274436
Wayne Mittleider

co-member
4043 43rd ST SE
Tappen, ND 58487
Office Phone: 7013278157