KindHarvest summary: Plant breeders and commercial partners are developing pennycress as a winter cash cover crop for the US Midwest. The crop can protect soil between summer crops, scavenge nutrients and then supply oil and high-protein meal before soybeans are planted.
From weed to oilseed crop
Western Illinois University breeder Win Phippen began collecting and breeding pennycress in 2009. Newer lines include golden-seeded types with more than 33% oil and reduced erucic acid and fibre, characteristics intended to improve the value of both the oil and the remaining meal.
Fitting two crops into one year
The crop is generally planted from mid-September to mid-October and harvested in late May or early June, followed by soybeans. About 10,000 acres were reported in Illinois and Missouri in 2022. Proposed markets include biodiesel and aviation fuel, with the meal offering a possible high-protein coproduct.
What farmers need to weigh
Pennycress can provide winter cover and an additional source of revenue, but it also delays soybean planting and currently depends on contracted markets in suitable regions. Harvest timing, stand establishment, soybean maturity and buyer access all affect whether the system works on a particular farm.
Related KindHarvest reading
For more on the importance of timing, read Why it pays to plant cover crops early.
Source and credit
This KindHarvest Team research brief is based on reporting by Holly Spangler for Farm Progress, published 15 June 2022. The publisher has since moved the article to a new address. Read the full Farm Progress article.