Evaluating Gluten Free Grains to Diversify Farms in the Northeast

Commodities

• Agronomic: buckwheat, millet

Practices

• Crop Production: crop improvement and selection, food product quality/safety

1. Diversifying cropping systems is a major strategy for improving farm viability across the northeastern United States. Grain production has historically been dominated by corn and small grains for livestock feed. Though these crops are economically important for the dairy industry in our region, food markets also present opportunities for farmers to diversify income streams and increase production regionally.

   As growers and entrepreneurs in the Northeast have slowly begun to adopt cereal grains and build out infrastructure to reestablish a local grain market, opportunities continue to arise for further diversification of cropping systems to include gluten-free grains. Buckwheat and millet are two promising grain crops for Northeast producers. These ancient and gluten free grains can be well suited for Northeast growing conditions due to their shorter growing seasons and ability to perform well under low fertility conditions compared to conventional grains such as corn. Buckwheat can mature in as little as 70 days and has been widely adopted by many small-scale growers as a rotational or cover crop, while offering good nutritional value and pollinator support. Millets on the other hand are drought-tolerant and could offer crop security during dry conditions we have been experiencing through summer months.

   Despite growing interest among farmers and bakers, limited research has been conducted on both buckwheat and millet production systems in the Northeast. Farmers lack regionally relevant recommendations regarding adaptable variety selection and seeding rates to optimize yield. Additionally, there is limited information on how these grains produced under Northeast conditions can perform in value-added food products such as gluten-free baking mixes or standalone flours. These grains offer a promising opportunity for growers due to their adaptability to various growing conditions, shorter maturation periods, and surging markets. They are are also high in nutritional alue being rich sources of protein, fiber, and essential minerals.

   This project seeks to address these knowledge gaps through collaborative research conducted by the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program in partnership with Borderview Farm (Alburgh, VT) and Mama Tree Farm (Worcester, VT). Replicated variety trials will be conducted at each of the partner farms for buckwheat or millet, while complementary seeding rate trials will be implemented at Borderview Farm to evaluate crop yields and performance in baking. Grain harvested from these trials will be cleaned, milled, and evaluated as individual flours or mixes by Mama Tree Farm, which has an existing line of baking mixes.

Our overall goal is to evaluate the feasibility of growing millet and buckwheat for the gluten free grain culinary markets in the Northeast.

The objectives of this study are to determine:

1. Varieties of millet and buckwheat that are best suited for grain production in the Northeast.
2. Planting date ranges that will allow for production of high yield and quality grain.
3. Seeding rates and plant populations that will produce optimal yields and quality of grain.

Hypothesis: If regionally specific agronomic practices are developed for growing gluten free grain, then farmers will have success in meeting the quality standards for value-added markets. Implementation of appropriate practices such as adapted varieties, seeding rates, and proper planting dates will more often result in grain that meets the standards for gluten free markets.