Expanding Commercial Drought-Tolerant Seed Production

View the project final report

Commodities

• Agronomic: barley, wheat
• Vegetables: other

Practices

• Crop Production: drought tolerance, seed saving, varieties and cultivars

Southern Oregon is known as a world class seed growing region, and is currently facing ‘catastrophic’ ‘historic’ drought. Many farmers have little to no irrigation water, farmers are moving, and farms are going out of business. In order to strengthen the viability, economic resilience, and climate adaptability for farmers during this difficult time, it is imperative that we learn from our peers about seed production during times of drought. 

This project is significant because it supported regional farmers to learn from previous research, and other farmers, about non-irrigated farming, local adaptation of heritage grains,  and strategies for bed preparation for seed production. Case studies resulting from the grant will provide farmers in the future with valuable information about seed production in drought.  Many Farmers have expressed a desire to add heritage grains to their operations, and they want to learn from other farmers who have tried growing them in Oregon’s drought conditions.  Our project brought together diverse farmers to learn, observe, and share their experiences producing grains and specialty seed crops during drought.

This project supports regional farmers in southern Oregon to expand commercial seed production in their crop rotations and during times of drought. Farmers continue to learn and trial non-irrigated farming, local adaptation of heritage grains, and strategies for bed preparation for maximum yield and biomass production. Our research trial incorporated case studies of different scales, and farming practices growing the same 4 grains (Tibetan Purple Barley, Ukrainian Wheat, Banatka Wheat, Rouge de Bordeaux Wheat) in order to determine largest yield, most amount of biomass, and which is best suited to include in seed production - especially in dry conditions

The benefits of heritage grains are they:

• grow more biomass than modern varieties, capturing more carbon and giving more organic matter back to the soil.
• grow over the winter, sending down deep roots in preparation to flower in the spring, requiring little, if any, irrigation.
• are naturally drought-tolerant and climate-resilient, adapt to low- or no-till agriculture, and need minimal fertility.
• are richer in flavor, higher in nutrition, antioxidants and protein, and are more digestible than modern grains.

Results: 

Each of the heritage grains trailed (Tibetan Purple Barley, Ukrainian Wheat, Banatka Wheat, Rouge de Bordeaux Wheat) germinated, grew to harvest, and produced, grain, and ample biomass. However, the Banatka wheat grew the tallest (5+ft tall) and the plants grew up to 20 tillers each.  This meant that the plants were tall, providing more yield, but also the number of tillers added to the substantial biomass from harvesting the Banatka Wheat. It was by far the best producer of yield with the largest amount of biomass.

Results from this project have been shared across Oregon through community partner networks, (such as Southern Oregon Seed Growers Association), the Organic Seed Growers Conference, Rogue Food Solutions Summit, and have been included in field day /outreach events. Our goal was to have farmers learn from each other about how to (and which heritage grains) to integrate into their current cropping plans despite differing bed preparation strategies.

Both the research and outreach portions of this WSARE trial had successful outcomes.  All of the participating farmers will be increasing their heritage grain production as a direct result of this project. Each farmer said that this experience helped them to develop the confidence, knowledge, and understanding to grow heritage grains, and that they want to expand their efforts. Also, as regional farmers have more interest in growing heritage grains as a drought- tolerant, low input crop, bakeries have also taken more interest in creating products from heritage grain flour.  This new market is growing and the region is not able to meet the demand for heritage grains, and the value-added products made from them.

Research Objectives:

Objective 1: Measure differences in yield and lodging of four different grain crops

Objective 2: Measure differences in biomass of four different grain crops

Objective 3: Measure the difference between beds with no-till preparation, mulching and beds prepared with tillage over two growing seasons

Education Objectives:

Objective 1: Develop case studies, record observations, and share results from 3 diverse farms in southerns Oregon using different bed preparation techniques to grow heritage grains with no irrigation.

Objective 2: Establish educational field tours of case study farms, and small-scale seed producers in drought conditions. Farmers will highlight growing seeds in times of drought using drip tape, choosing drought tolerant varieties and using practices that increase the water holding capacity of soils. 

Objective 3: Present findings at Southern Oregon Seed Growers Association Annual meeting, and at the Organic Seed Growers Conference in February 2024.

Objective 4: Host an online workshop to present research findings and case studies in partnership with the Southern Oregon Seed Growers Association and Oregon State University Extension Small Farms program.

Objective 5: Disseminate presentation and information via nonprofit agricultural networks, including the Cultivate Oregon, Southern Oregon Seed Growers Association, Oregon Climate (OrCAN) and Agriculture Network, Organic Seed Alliance and Oregon State University Extension Service.