IS A PROJECT OF THE IS A PROJECT OF THE IS A PROJECT OF THE IS A PROJECT OF THE NNNNATIONAL ATIONAL ATIONAL ATIONAL CCCCENTER FOR ENTER FOR ENTER FOR ENTER FOR AAAAPPROPRIATE PPROPRIATE PPROPRIATE PPROPRIATE TTTTECHNOLOGYECHNOLOGYECHNOLOGYECHNOLOGY

www.attra.ncat.org

By Patricia Sauer and Preston SullivanNCAT Agriculture SpecialistsDecember 2000

INTRODUCTION

Various factors have stimulated interest in cropdiversification in recent years: commodity priceinstability, decreased or eliminated farmsubsidies, increased pesticide-resistance in pests,and losses in genetic biodiversity. At the sametime, consumer dietary changes have generatednew markets for alternative food products.

Experimenting with an alternative crop involvesboth risks and opportunities, from both theproduction and the marketing standpoints. Analternative crop may make a positive contributionby increasing the diversity of the farm�s incomebase, spreading out risks, reducing weaknesses inthe farm system, or broadening the base ofoperations.

While some alternative crops provide additionalmarkets or greater profitability compared to standard crops, others are not necessarilyhigher-value crops. Rather, they are added to arotation to break up insect pest, weed, anddisease cycles, to scavenge nutrients for othercrops, to improve soil tilth and fertility, or toclean up weedy fields. They are used to spreadout the workload, to make farming more funand interesting, and to add system flexibility,especially with crops that can double aslivestock feed or forage in bad crop years.

800-346-9140

Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas

ALTERNATIVE AGRONOMICCROPS

Abstract: This publication provides an overview of the considerations involved in selecting, cultivating, andmarketing alternative agronomic crops. Experimenting with alternative crops can be profitable but involvesrisk as well. Before venturing into an alternative crop, it is wise to investigate the market and determinewhether any new equipment will be required. It is also advisable to talk to others who have grown theproposed crop. Many additional resources for alternative crop information are referenced in this publication.

ATTRA is the national sustainable agriculture information center funded by the USDA�s Rural Business -- Cooperative Service.

Contents

Introduction......................................... 1Inventory of Available Resources........... 2Crop Selection...................................... 3Crop and Industrial Use Research.......... 3Markets and Marketing ......................... 4Starting Points to Consider.................... 5Summary............................................. 6References........................................... 6Appendix ............................................. 9

AGRONOMY SERIES

// ALTERNATIVE AGRONOMIC CROPS Page 2

Farm diversification using alternative cropsrequires considerable research and planning,from assessing available resources, to selectingpotentially feasible crops, to exploring the cropmarket. Information regarding alternative cropsis somewhat limited, especially when comparedto that available for crops such as corn, wheat,and soybeans. However, a lot of valuableinformation can be obtained by networking withother producers.

INVENTORY OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES

It�s a good idea to begin by inventorying youravailable resources. This inventory mightinclude some of the following information (1):

Land, Soil, Water

� How many acres do you own or rent?� What are the soil types, soil tilth and fertility,

erosion potential, and drainage?� What is your source of water (surface or

groundwater)? � Do you rely on an irrigation system for

current needs?� What is the quality of the water and are there

adequate supplies for irrigation?� How are wastes and wastewater managed on

your farm? � Are water storage and water treatment

facilities adequate?

Buildings and Equipment

� Do you have facilities and machinery that areunderused and can they be used or adaptedfor other crops?

� Is grain storage available?� Do you have access to a company or

individual that manufactures specializedequipment or modifies existing equipment?

Labor

� Do you have off-farm employment?� What are your slow months?

� How many employees do you currently haveand are their schedules flexible?

� Do you have access to seasonal employees?

Location

� Is your farm easily accessible and what arethe conditions of the roads?

� What is the population within a 50-mileradius and the number of communities?

Financial Status

� What are your monthly and annual incomeneeds and does your farm income meet theseneeds?

� What is your debt-to-equity ratio?� Do you have access to additional capital?� What are your current production costs per

bushel/ton/pound/cwt.?

Business Management and Marketing

� Do you have a business plan?� Do you maintain farm records and prepare

and analyze balance sheets, incomestatements, cash flow records, labor flowrecords, and unit budgets?

� What does each labor hour you invest earnand what is your rate of return oninvestments?

� Do you compare major financial andproduction efficiency factors from one year toanother?

� Do you network with other producers?� How do you market your current

commodities?

Entrepreneurial Skills

� Do you think of new ideas and enjoyplanning new enterprises?

� Do you enjoy dealing with the public and canyou manage people effectively?

� Do you try to find benefits when things don�tturn out the way they were planned?

� Do you enjoy problem solving and do youlearn from past mistakes?

// ALTERNATIVE AGRONOMIC CROPS Page 3

The Small Farm Handbook (2) is one source ofadditional inventory topics and discusses allaspects of small farm operation and success. Itserves as an applied discussion of small-scalefarm operation in California for farms that raiseorganic and ethnic produce and unusual plantvarieties. Topics include requirements forsuccessful farming, finances, marketing, growingcrops, handling of perishable crops, alternativeagriculture, and labor management. Anothersource is Farming Alternatives: A Guide toEvaluating the Feasibility of New Farm BasedEnterprises (3). Worksheets are available in thispublication to help assess the feasibility ofdiversifying farm operations. For moreinformation on business planning, request theATTRA publication entitled Evaluating a RuralEnterprise.

CROP SELECTION

Alternative field crops are categorized as cerealsand pseudocereals; grain legumes; oilseeds;industrial crops; and fiber crops. The table belowlists many of the crops that fall within thesecategories. Feasibility of a specific crop dependson a number of factors including the suitability ofthe crop for local growing conditions. Climate,soil characteristics, and pest problems affect cropproductivity. Also worth considering is whetherthe alternative cash crop has other uses as well. For example, a number of the legumes andcereals have value as livestock forage. Shouldcrop quality or markets be too low in a particularyear, its usability as forage makes such a crop a

less risky investment. The Appendix provides anextensive list of alternative crops, including areaof adaptation, compiled by Kansas StateUniversity (4).

The Alternative Field Crops Manual (5), from theUniversity of Minnesota and the University ofWisconsin, is a comprehensive source ofproduction information on 48 alternativeagronomic crops adapted to the upper Midwest. Detailed information is provided for each crop,including a brief history, growth habits,environmental requirements, cultural practices,yields, performance, economics and primarymarkets, and information sources. This manual isprobably the single most informative resourceavailable to farmers and Extension agents on thistopic. It is also available on the web at<www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/index.html>.

CROP AND INDUSTRIAL USE RESEARCH

New crops and industrial products from thesecrops are being researched. Due to the complexnature of new crop production and development,progress seems slow. The following processes areinvolved in the development of an alternativecrop: collection of cultivars, plant breeding fordisease resistance and desirable plant traits,development of production and cultivationpractices, and market considerations.

On national and state levels, a number oforganizations transfer current research on

Table: Categorization of alternative agronomic cropsTable: Categorization of alternative agronomic cropsTable: Categorization of alternative agronomic cropsTable: Categorization of alternative agronomic crops

Category CropsCereals andPseudocereals

Amaranth, blue corn, buckwheat, einkorn, emmer, foxtail, grain millet,khorosan, intermediate wheatgrass, pearl millet, proso millet, quinoa, spelt,teff, triticale, wild rice, reed canary grass

Grain Legumes Many varieties of dry beans and dry peas, Illinois bundle flower, lentilsOilseeds Apeacia, camelina, canola, crambe, rape, cuphea, jojoba, lesquerella,

meadowfoam, perilla, rapeseed, sesame, flax, sunflower, safflowerIndustrial Crops Bladder pod, castor, cuphea, euphorbia, fanweed, gopher plant, guayule,

gumwood, jojoba, lesquerella, vernoniaFiber Crops Kenaf, milkweed, flax

// ALTERNATIVE AGRONOMIC CROPS Page 4

cultivation and production of alternative crops. Some of these groups include:

� Alternative Farming Systems InformationCenter (Beltsville, MD) (15)

� Carrington Research/Extension Center(Carrington, ND) (16)

� Center for Alternative Plant and AnimalProducts (St. Paul, MN) (17)

� Cooperative Extension Service (contact alocal county office near you) (18)

� Cooperative State Research, Education, andExtension Service, Small Farm Program,USDA (Washington, D.C.) (19)

� Indiana Center for New Crops and PlantProducts (West Lafayette, IN) (20)

� Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture(Poteau, OK) (21)

� Missouri Alternatives Center (Missouriresidents only) (Columbia, MO) (22)

� Small Farm Center (Davis, CA) (23)

Research is also being conducted on industrialproducts that can be manufactured fromalternative crops. Industrial use updates on cropssuch as castor, lesquerella, crambe, industrialrapeseed, guayule, jojoba, kenaf, and milkweedare available from the New Uses Council. TheNew Uses Council�s 1997 Bioproducts Directory (6)lists companies, organizations, researchers, andsuppliers of products made from renewableagricultural, forestry, or livestock materials orresidues. (The �97 version is the latest �paper�edition. A 1999 web version of this directory isavailable at <www.newuses.org>.)

The Minnesota Agricultural Utilization ResearchInstitute works to create new uses and newmarkets for Minnesota�s agricultural commoditiesand alternative crops (7). They publish a freenewsletter called Ag Innovation News. They alsodo market research, technology transfer, andwork one-on-one with Minnesota farmers andbusiness people.

Several conference proceedings from the newcrops meetings have been published. Many ofthe papers presented at these conferences arevery technical in nature and may be of more useto researchers than to farmers. These proceedingscover a wide variety of new crops and many

aspects of their growth, adaptation, andproduction. Their titles are:

� Advances in New Crops, edited by Jules Janickand J.E. Simon. 1990, 560 pages (8)

� New Crops, edited by Jules Janick and J.E.Simon. 1993, 710 pages (9)

� Progress in New Crops, edited by Jules Janick. 1996, 660 pages (10)

� Perspectives on New Crops and New Uses, editedby Jules Janick. 1999, 528 pages (11)

The Association for the Advancement ofIndustrial Crops (12) is an international, nonprofiteducational and scientific organization thateducates its members, the public, industryleaders, and government policy makers onutilization and commercialization of industrialproducts from agricultural crops. Over half of themembership is involved in research anddevelopment of industrial crops. For informationon upcoming conferences as well as programabstracts of past meetings, see the AAIC websiteat <www.aaic.org>.

MARKETS AND MARKETING

The bottom line in raising crops is whether theprojected receipts for the crop will be greater thanthe projected costs for producing it. It is theresponsibility of each producer to carefullyevaluate the marketing potential for analternative field crop before getting intoproduction.

Market supply and demand, depth of market interms of how much of a crop is needed to saturatethe market, and market stability are veryimportant topics to research. Availability andlocation of the nearest market, marketingstrategies, and access to processing are alsoimportant considerations.

Markets for alternative crops can vary greatly,depending on the crop. For a few examples:

� Approximately 95% of the buckwheatproduced in North Dakota and surroundingstates is exported to Japan where it is milledinto flour and used to prepare noodles forhuman consumption (13).

// ALTERNATIVE AGRONOMIC CROPS Page 5

� Grain millet grown in Florida and Georgia isbecoming a major feed source for broilers inthese states, a substitute for maize thatreduces the need for high proteinsupplements in feed (13).

� Proso millet is marketed through elevatorswhere it is grown locally and is used forbirdseed.

� Spelt is grown under contract and sold tohealth food stores as grain, white flour, andprocessed products such as pancake mix andcereals. It is marketed as a wheat alternativefor people who have wheat allergies.

Many alternative crops are marketed by contractto processors or packers. It is unlikely thatalternative crops are handled by local elevators ormarketing channels. Elevators in some locationswill take alternative crops, but they should becontacted before planting specific crops that areintended for delivery to them.

It is common for companies developingproducts based on unusual alternative crops tointegrate vertically. That is, they lease land, usetheir own managers, and hire local labor. Asmentioned earlier, when considering analternative crop, it is necessary to carefullyresearch all aspects related to the production,processing, and sale of that crop.

There are several resources available that provideinformation on alternative crop markets andmarketing. The National Organic Directory (14) isupdated annually and focuses on organicallygrown commodities and alternative crops. Specific marketing information on organicallygrown wheat, oats, and sunflowers, and a list ofsome markets for these crops, are available inNorthern Plains Organic Crops Marketing Analysis(13). The Cooperative Extension Service in somestates has compiled a list of buyers of somealternative commodities. Commodity groupsmay also have such a list. Also, many stateagriculture departments and land-grantuniversity agricultural economics departmentsmay have market information for specific crops.

STARTING POINTS TO CONSIDER

Talk to others who are already doing it. If youdon't know anyone already involved in theenterprise, locate the state, regional, and nationalgroups involved and get a list of local contacts.Avoid being swayed by hype. If possible, alsotalk to some folks who have tried and failed. Weoften learn more from failure than from success.

Read all you can about your proposedenterprise. The popular farm press commonlypicks up on new trends and features articles onnew crops. Furthermore, there are typically awealth of newsletters and journals that arisefollowing the introduction of new crops andother enterprises. The Internet also offers a new,rapid means of accessing information on newtopic areas. If you don't own a computer, you canusually get internet access at your local library orExtension office.

Learn about the equipment for any new crops. Where feasible, choose crops that only requireadjustment or some modification of your currentequipment, rather than requiring significantinvestment in new or different equipment.

Study the markets. Get a good sense of themarket possibilities for any crop or product youare considering producing. Identify wholesalers,retailers, brokers, direct marketing options, andother resources that can be helpful. Ask otherproducers how they market.

Learn the specialty market standards required. Evaluate your ability to meet standards forcleanliness, packaging, crop quality, etc. Somerequirements are rather unique. For example,synthetic fertilizers and pesticides may not beused on a field for three years before a harvestedcrop may be sold as "organically grown."

Establish your market connection BEFORE yougrow your crop. This is especially critical forhighly specialized commodities like ediblesoybeans. The seeds of edible soybeans are often

// ALTERNATIVE AGRONOMIC CROPS Page 6

colored differently from conventional beans,making them difficult or impossible to sellthrough conventional channels as a fallbackoption.

Become techno-smart. Get comfortable with theidea of using the phone and the computer tomarket your products.

Be flexible. When dealing with nicheenterprises, it is often necessary to move quicklyin response to rapidly changing marketconditions. Farmers must constantly be on thelookout for ways to improve and innovate.

Think (w)holistically. Consider more than justimmediate, short-term profits when investigatingnew crops and enterprises. Diversification maynot actually increase profits. What it can do ismake profitability more reliable by smoothing outthe ride between good and bad years. There maybe additional benefits. Perhaps adding a newcrop to the rotation will reduce problempests�or maybe it will build soil fertility.Develop a whole-farm business plan and studycarefully how well a new enterprise can beintegrated.

Internet resources. Surf the internet to findorganizations, such as ATTRA, that provideinformation on alternative field crops andsustainable agriculture. Many web homepageaddresses are included with the citations in thereference section of this document.

SUMMARY

Farmers interested in alternative crops shouldinventory their current farm resources andcarefully review the production and marketingpotential of these crops before planting. Networking is an essential part of this process.ATTRA and other organizations mentioned inthis publication have more detailed informationon specific crops and the suitability of these cropsfor certain regions and farm production systems.Seed sources and marketing information can beobtained through elevators, Extension personnel,commodity groups, processors, and otherchannels.

REFERENCES:

1) Hoffman, Steven M. (ed.). 1987. ADAPT 2: AgDiversification Adds Profits Today�100 Ideas forFarmers. Proceedings of the Successful FarmingMagazine Conference, held December 3�4, 1987 inKansas City, Missouri. (OUT OF PRINT. See local library interlibrary loandepartment.)

2) Small Farm Handbook, Division of Agriculture andNatural Resources, Oakland, CA. To order send$20.00 + $4.50 S & H to:ANR PublicationsUniversity of California6701 San Pablo AvenueOakland, CA 94608-1239(800) 994-8849; (510) 642-2431www.anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu

3) Grudens-Schuck, Nancy, et al. 1988. FarmingAlternatives: A Guide to Evaluating the Feasibility ofNew Farm-Based Enterprises. Northeast RegionalAgricultural Engineering Service, CornellUniversity, Ithaca, NY.

To order, send $3.75 to:152 Riley Robb HallIthaca, NY 14853(607) 255-7654E-mail: nraes@cornell.eduwww.nraes.org

4) Shroyer, James P. and Donald B. Erickson. 1987.Specialty and Non-Traditional Crops. MF-844, Cooperative Extension Service, Kansas StateUniversity, Manhattan. January. 6 p.

5) Alternative Field Crops Manual. 1989�1992. University of Wisconsin-Extension, CooperativeExtension, University of Minnesota Center forAlternative Plant and Animal Products, andUniversity of Minnesota Extension Service.

Available on-line at<www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/index.html>. Print copies are available for $45.00 from:Center for Alternative Plant and AnimalProductsUniversity of Minnesota352 Alderman Hall, Room 3521970 Folwell AvenueSaint Paul, MN 55108(612) 624-4217 or (612) 625-5747E-mail: mgo@tc.umn.eduwww.mgo.umn.edu

// ALTERNATIVE AGRONOMIC CROPS Page 7

REFERENCES: (continued)

6) Harsch, Jonathan (ed). 1997. The New UsesCouncil�s 1997 Bioproducts Directory.

To order ($40.00 for members, $80.00 fornonmembers) contact:New Uses CouncilJohathan Harsch295 Tanglewood DriveEast Greenwich, RI 02818-2210Ph-401-885-8177, FAX-419-821-5789www.newuses.org

7) Minnesota Agricultural Utilization ResearchInstituteAURIPO Box 599Crookston, Minnesota 56716-0599(800) 279-5010, FAX (218) 281-7600www.auri.orgNewletter: Ag Innovation News (free subscription).

8) Advances in New Crops.Paper version out of print. Web version availableat <www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/CropInfoSources/NewCropsBook1990_info.html>

9) New Crops. Paper version out of print. Web version availableat <www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/CropInfoSources/NewCropsBook1993_info.html>

10) Progress in New Crops.Available for $79.95 + $7 shipping and handlingfrom:ASHS Press113 South West StreetAlexandria, VA 22314-2857703-836-4606FAX 703-836-2024E-mail: Ashspres@ashs.orgWeb version available free at<www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/CropInfoSources/NewCropsBook1996_info.html>.

11) Perspectives on New Crops and New Uses.Available for $99.95 + $7 shipping and handlingfrom ASHS Press (see above reference). Thispublication is not available on the web.

12) Association for the Advancement of IndustrialCrops (AAIC)AAIC Secretaryc/o U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory4331 E. Broadway RoadPhoenix, AZ 85040www.aaic.org

13) Stearns, Larry, and David Watt. 1993. NorthernPlains Organic Crops Marketing Analysis: Wheat,Oats, Sunflower. Agricultural Economics ReportNo. 293. Department of Agricultural Economics-Agricultural Experiment Station, North DakotaState University, Fargo, North Dakota.

This publication provides useful information onorganic production including wheat, oats, andsunflowers in the Northern Plains. A survey oforganic producers was conducted in the region.Supply and demand information along withproducer experiences, buyer/processor responsesand distributor/retailer responses are included. Alist of organic buyers is included. To order this freepublication, contact: North Dakota State UniversityDepartment of Agricultural EconomicsMorrill Hall, Room 217Fargo, North Dakota 58102(701) 231-7441

14) National Organic Directory. Community Alliancewith Family Farmers. Davis, California.

This document provides extensive information onorganic farming and sustainable agriculture. Included is a list of farmers, wholesalers, farmsuppliers, resource groups,manufacturers/processors, commodity groups, andimporters/exporters. To order send $51.15(includes shipping) to:National Organic DirectoryCommunity Alliance with Family FarmersPO Box 363Davis, CA 95617Order line only: 800-852-3832530-756-8518, ext 17 FAX 530-756-7857E-mail: nod@caff.orgwww.caff.org

15) Alternative Farming Systems Information CenterUSDA�s National Agricultural LibraryRoom 30410301 Baltimore AvenueBeltsville, Maryland 20705-2351(301) 504-6559 Fax (301) 504-6409afsic@nal.usda.govhttp://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic

This information service provides literaturesearches including information on potentialenterprises for diversification, association andagency contacts, and current research by USDAand other organizations.

// ALTERNATIVE AGRONOMIC CROPS Page 8

REFERENCES: (continued)

16) Carrington Research Extension CenterNorth Dakota State UniversityPO Box 219Carrington, North Dakota 58421(701) 652-2951recenter@ndsuext.nodak.edu

The center will provide some assistance indetermining the adaptability of some alternativecrops to specific locations. A report of agriculturalresearch including alternative field crops andextension in North Dakota is published annually. The latest publication available is volume 38,December 1997.

17) Center for Alternative Plant and Animal ProductsUniversity of Minnesota352 Alderman Hall, Room 3521970 Folwell AvenueSaint Paul, MN 55108(612) 624-4217 or (612) 625-5747E-mail: mgo@tc.umn.eduwww.mgo.umn.eduNewsletter: BioOptions (published quarterly; costis $10.00).

18) Cooperative Extension Service: see your local countyoffice or refer to NCAT/ATTRA�s homepage for a list ofextension websites for most states.

19) USDA Small Farm Program Cooperative StateResearch, Education, and Extension Service

For publications write to:CSREESMail Stop 2220,868 Aerospace Center, 901 D StreetWashington, D.C. 20250(800) 583-3071 Fax (202) 401-1602E-mail: smallfarm@reeusda.govwww.reeusda.gov/smallfarmFree newsletter: Small Farm Digest

20) Indiana Center for New Crops and Plant ProductsPurdue University1165 Horticulture BuildingWest Lafayette, IN 47907-1165(765) 494-1329 Fax (765) 494-0391E-mail: jjanick@hort.purdue.eduwww.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop

The Center�s homepage is dedicated to new cropsand plant products and includes sections onannouncements, upcoming symposia, meetings, anew crops library, copies of New Crop News, and adirectory of new crop experts.

21) Kerr Center for Sustainable AgriculturePO Box 588Poteau, Oklahoma 74953-0588(918) 647-9123E-mail: mailbox@kerrcenter.comwww.kerrcenter.com/

22) Missouri Alternatives Center531 Clark HallColumbia, MO 65211(573) 882-1905(800) 433-3704 (Missouri only)E-mail: moac@ext.missouri.eduwww.agebb.missouri.edu/mac/agopp/index.htmNewletter: Ag Opportunities (free for residents ofMO; out-of-state subscriptions $10.00; alsoavailable on-line at the website).

23) Small Farm CenterUniversity of California�Davis1 Shields AvenueDavis, California 95616(530) 752-8136 Fax: (530) 752-7716E-mail: sfcenter@ucdavis.eduwww.sfc.ucdavis.eduNewsletter: Small Farm News

By Patricia Sauer and Preston SullivanNCAT Agriculture Specialists

December 2000

The ATTRA Project is operated by the National Center for Appropriate Technology under a grant from theRural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. These organizations do not recommendor endorse products, companies, or individuals. ATTRA is located in the Ozark Mountains at the Universityof Arkansas in Fayetteville at P.O. Box 3657, Fayetteville, AR 72702. ATTRA staff members prefer toreceive requests for information about sustainable agriculture via the toll-free number 800-346-9140.

The electronic version of Alternative Agronomic Cropsis located at:http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/altcrops.html

AppendixPLANT CHARACTERISTICS, USES, AND PRODUCTION PRACTICES OF VARIOUS NON-TRADITIONAL CROPS (4).

Crop Characteristics Suggested Cultural PracticesCrop Area of

AdaptationUses Plant

HeightMaturityDays

Seeds/lb Test wt lbs/bu

Planting Date Planting Rate lb/a

Final PlantPopulation/a

RowSpacing

PlantDepth

Pests/Problems/ Special Requirements

Amaranth Great Plains Human,livestock feed

4-8 ft 125-150 650,000 - 70o F soil temp 1-2 120,000 15-30� ½� Poor competitor-slow early growthLygus bugsShattering, lodgingPythiumCannot tolerate poorly drained soilsSusceptible to triazine herbicidesGrain drying necessaryExcellent grain quality

Buckwheat Northern U.S. Human food 2-5ft 90 15-25,000 48 May-June 40-55 - 6-12� ½�-2� Shattering and lodgingSusceptible to numerous herbicidesDirect harvest or swathDoes well on poor or acid soils

Popcorn Corn Belt Human,livestock feed

5-7 ft 100-120 2,500-4,500 65 April-May - Dryland 16-24,000Irrigated22 - 30,000

30� 1-2� Seed rots and seeding diseasesStalk and root rotsCorn rootworm, wireworms and cutwormsDrying or forced air usually necessary (under 100oF)Slower cylinder speeds and wider concaves necessary

Mungbeans Oklahoma-Texas

Human food,livestockforage andgreen manure

1-3 ft 60-90 11,000 50 June-July 10-15 - 21-28� 1-2� Seedling diseasesShatteringNeeds to be inoculatedSwath for harvestKeep fertilizer away from seed

Cowpeas Oklahoma-Texas

Southeastern U.S.

Human food,livestock feedand greenmanure

1-3 ft 90 3-6,000 60 May-June 12-25 - Drilled orwide

1-2� Charcoal rot, root rotsFusariumwiltCowpea curculio, corn earwormNeeds to be inoculatedHarvesting procedure depends on how the crop Is to be marketed

Guar Oklahoma-Texas

Food additivesIndustrial-clothand paperdrying, oildrilling, greenmanure

2-4 ft 120-140 15,000 60 70oF soil temp 8-10 90-120,000 10-20�36-40�

1-1 ½� Bacterial blight, southern blightGuar midgeNeeds to be inoculatedDrought resistanceDirect HarvestFits well into rotations

Fababeans PacificNorthwest California

Livestockforage andfeed

2-6 ft 100-110 1,000 70 April-May. 150-175 -- 6-10� 1-2� Sclerotinia, pod blightWhite mold; grasshoppersShatteringNeeds to be inoculatedResponds to irrigationSwath for harvest

Lupines Gulf Coaststates

Livestockforage, greenmanure

1-2� 75-90 1,500-2,000 60 Feb.-Mar. 90-150 -- Drilled 2-4� Winterkill; Phytophthora root rotBitter type contains alkaloidsNeeds to be inoculatedRequires vernalization to produce grainDoes well on sandy, well-drained acid soils

APPENDIX (CONTINUED): PLANT CHARACTERISTICS, USES, AND PRODUCTION PRACTICES OF VARIOUS NON-TRADITIONAL CROPS (4).

Crop Characteristics Suggested Cultural PracticesCrop Area of

AdaptationUses Plant

HeightMaturityDays

Seeds/lb

Testwt lbs/bu

Planting Date Planting Ratelb/a

Final PlantPopulation/a

RowSpacing

PlantDepth

Pests/Problems/ Special Requirements

Millet

Foxtail

Proso Pearl

Central GreatPlains

Livestockforage & feedBirdseedHuman food(grain type)(forage type)

2-4 ft

2-4 ft3-6 ft

7-10 ft

75-90

60-90

75-100

220,000

80,000

85,000

50

56

56

June-July 10-20

5-15

3-6

60-90,000 6-12� <1� Poor seedling emergence & vigorBirds, kernal smut & head smutCinch bugs, green bugsDrought tolerantNeeds warm soilsSensitive to cool temperatures during heading

Sainfoin Northwest U.S. Livestockforage

1-2 ft Perennial 25,000 Fall & Spring 25-30 1- pits/sq ft Drilled 1-1½� Only 1 cutting with slow regrowth;Crown rotsNeeds to be inoculatedDoes well on heavy soils with pH of 7.0-8.0

Broomcorn Central GreatPlains

Brush forbrooms

6-12 fttall

3-6 ftdwarf

90-130 25,000 44-50 April-June 2-4 18-40,000 30-36� 1-2� Considerable hand laborCinch bugs, green bugs and other sorghum insectsand diseasesStandard and dwarf types

Kenaf SoutheasternU.S. and CentralGreat Plains

U.S. textile fiber 8-20 ft Fullseason

18,000 May 6-8 75-100,000 20-30� ½-1� Root knot nematode, Rhizoctonia,Gray moldWill not tolerate standing water or waterlogged soilsFast growing and competitive

Kochia Great Plains Livestockforage

2-4 ft Frost May-June 4-8 52-150,000 drilled ¼-½� Contains sodium & potassium oxalates; nitrate poisoning may occurGrazing cattle may develop sore eyes and nosesRequires several clippings to keep plant frombecoming too stemmy and fibrous

Comfrey Northern &Northeastern U.S.

Livestockforage

2-4 ft - - - April-May - - 30-48� 2-4� Inferior crop quality and yieldsGrazing destroys plantsEnsiling difficult due to high moisture contentPropagated vegetatively due to poor seed yieldsRoot cuttings should be 1½-6� long

Cotton Southern U.S. Fiber, vegetable,and industrial oil

2-4 ft 120-130 4,000 28-33 May-June. 15-25 50-70,000 30� 1-3� Rhizoctoria, Phythium, FusariumExtremely sensitive to 2,4-DSpecialized harvesting equipment needed

Sesame Southwest U.S. Edible &industrial oil

Confectionary(seed)

3-5 ft 90-120 160,000 37 70oF soil temp 1 40-50,000 20� or wider 1-2� Poor competitor; frost injuryBacterial & fungal leaf spots;Charcoal rot; fusarium & Verticillum wilt; Aphids, thrips & stink bugsRequires 150 frost free daysContract marketShattering & non-shattering varietiesDrought toleranceCan be irrigated

Safflower Western U.S. Edible &industrial oil

2-5 ft 110-150 8-13,000 45 60oF soil temp 15-40 130-170,000 6-12� 1-2� Poor competitor for 3-4 weeksDoes not tolerate standing waterRust, Verticillum wilt & Phytophthora root rotPlant earlyModerately drought tolerantGood standabilitySalt tolerantCan be irrigated

APPENDIX (CONTINUED): PLANT CHARACTERISTICS, USES, AND PRODUCTION PRACTICES OF VARIOUS NON-TRADITIONAL CROPS (4).

Crop Characteristics Suggested Cultural PracticesCrop Area of

AdaptationUses Plant

HeightMaturityDays

Seeds/lb

Testwt lbs/bu

Planting Date Planting Ratelb/a

Final PlantPopulation/a

RowSpacing

PlantDepth

Pests/Problems/ Special Requirements

Flax Northern GreatPlains

Industrial oil,fiber

1-3 ft 90 82,000 56 March �April 35-50 - 6-8� ¾-1 ½� Poor competitorFusarium wilt, rust, pasmo & aster yellows; cutworms,wireworms, grasshoppersDo not plant on poorly drained soils. Frost injuryduring seedling stagePlant earlyCrop rotation requiredNot salt tolerantDirect harvest or swath

Sunflower Great Plains Edible oil,Confectionary(seed)

3-7 ft 90-100 5-8,000 24 April-July - 15-25,000 30� 1-3� Scierotia, Rhizopus head rot, Phoma black stem, head moth, head clipping weevil, stem and root weevilCan be planted as full season or doublecropResponds to irrigationExtensive root systemCrop rotation needed

Crambe Canada &Northern GreatPlains, MidwestSoutheast

Industrial oil 3 ft 120 86,000 27 April 8-15 650,000 6-14� ½-1� Lygus & cabbage maggotVery few pest knownSeed shatteringDirect harvest or swathCan be irrigated

Rape

Brassica napus Brassica campestris

Canada & GreatPlains

Industrial &edible oil

21/2-5 ft

280

80-90

160,000

240,000

50

Aug.-Sept.

Feb-March

3-8 - 6-14� ¾-1½� Poor competitorBlackleg, Sclerotinia, flea beetleSeed shatteringPlant early to insure winter survivalNeeds well-drained soils,Swath for harvestCrop rotation required to prevent diseasesSome potential for forage

Meadowfoam Pacificnorthwest

Industrial oil 1-11/2 ft July - - Sept-Oct 30-40 - 6-7� ¼-½� Shattering

Adapted to poorly drained soilsRequires insect pollinationSwath for harvest

Castor bean Southern &SouthwesternU.S.

Industrial uses 3-5 ft(dwarfvarieties)

125-150 1,000 50 April-May 10-15 - >30� 1-3� Alternaria and bacterial leaf spot

Cotton root rot, southern blightCutworms and wirewormsSeeds contain ricin (poisonous)Direct harvestResponds to irrigation, but excessive Water will hurt yieldsRequires 140-160 frost free days

// ALTERNATIVE AGRONOMIC CROPS Page 12

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