Midwestern cropping is dominated by corn and soybeans, but small grains can create a third phase in the rotation. The article considers hybrid rye, oats and related cereals as crops that may deliver a saleable harvest while changing the biological and operational pattern of the farm.
A third crop can provide several kinds of value
Small grains grow at different times from corn and soybeans. That can spread fieldwork, keep living roots in the soil for longer and interrupt some weed, pest and disease cycles. Their ground cover can also reduce erosion and nutrient movement during vulnerable periods.
Revenue may come from grain, livestock feed, straw, grazing or a following forage or cover crop. Hybrid rye has attracted interest because breeding has improved yield and crop uniformity, while oats may fit farms with suitable feed or food markets.
Markets and management determine viability
Agronomic benefits do not automatically produce a profitable crop. Growers need a dependable buyer, quality specifications, storage or livestock use, suitable varieties and a realistic comparison of yield, price and production cost.
Small grains are therefore best assessed as part of a whole rotation rather than as a stand-alone commodity. On-farm trials can test establishment, harvest timing, market access and the effect on the following corn or soybean crop before a larger acreage is committed.
Read the original report: Iowa Farmer Today.