Progress 07/01/06 to 06/30/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Objective 1 - Compare performances of alternative crops grown in sequence with organic corn and soybean. Oat, barley, wheat, field pea, pearl millet, flax, buckwheat, sorghum, and amaranth were grown following corn, soybean, and alfalfa. In all 3 years, highest yielding alternative crops at 3 sites after corn and soybean were sunflower and small grains. Weed populations and biomass were greatest for field pea and flax indicating lack of competitiveness. We determined that fall-seeded oilseed radish was effective in reducing weeds in field pea and flax that were spring-seeded in the radish residue, but yields were reduced. Sweet sorghum was evaluated to determine adaptation to organic rotations as a corn alternative. At Staples, Simon and Della were the top performers in syrup production. At Lamberton, Sugar Drip and Dale yielded the highest. Umbrella and M81E performed best at Rosemount. At Lamberton in 2009, field pea varieties were tested in organic rotations. Admiral, Yellow and Miami yielded 51, 63, and 43 bu/ac. In 2010 at Lamberton, alternative crops were examined in rotation after alfalfa in addition to corn and soybean. Small grains yielded well, but other alternative crops performed poorly. Similar results were found after corn. Objective 2 - Evaluate methionine content of alternative crops. We grew alternative crops to determine potential to identify crops with increased grain methionine. In 2008, methionine content of dry bean, field pea, and flax were about 0.21% compared to 0.38% for soybean. Amaranth contained 0.16%. Foxtail millet, proso millet, barley, oat, and sorghum contained about 0.10%. In 2009, highest methionine concentrations occurred in sunflower, millets, and amaranth. Objective 3 - Determine methionine bioavailability to swine from alternative crops. Results showed low consumption by the piglets, due to the fine grind. The trial was conducted again with feed of a coarser grind and piglets grew well on the organic feed from the alternative crops. Objective 4 - Deliver research findings to stakeholders. Outreach efforts included field days, conferences, workshops, learning groups, and a manual. Plot tours of our experiments were conducted every July at the Organic Field Day in Lamberton with 125+ people. An on-farm field day on organic alternative crops was held in Staples in 2009. A 3rd on-farm field day was held in Pipestone in 2009. Results of this project were also presented at the Buckwheat Growers Association in 2008; the Minnesota Organic Conference in 2009 in St. Cloud; and at the Annual Southern Minnesota Organics Crops Day in 2009 in Owatonna. Workshops on growing alternative organic crops were held in St. Charles in 2008, Staples in 2009, Litchfield in 2009, and Lamberton in 2009. Learning group meetings with organic farmers were held regularly to discuss their experiences with alternative crops. We published the 300-page "Risk Management Guide for Organic Producers" manual. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals involved in this project - Dr. Craig Sheaffer is the Principal Investigator for "Beyond Corn and Soybean: Alternative Organic Crops for the Upper Midwest". He coordinated project activities that included overseeing the field research (alternative crops is rotation), the lab analysis (nutrient content, piglet study, and soil analysis), and outreach education (field days, plot tours, winter workshops, and learning group meetings). Dr. Deborah Allan conducted the soil quality testing for the alternative crops in rotation experiment. Dr. Marsha Hathaway was responsible for assessing the nutrient availability of alternative crops by testing the methionine availability to piglets. Dr. Don Wyse was involved with the research planning and interpreting the research results and will assist in manuscript preparation. Joshua Larson coordinated all the field research activities for this project at Rosemount, Lamberton, and Waseca. In the laboratory, Joshua analyzed grain samples for methionine and other nutrients. Kristine Moncada is conducting data analysis of the alternative crops in rotation study and the methionine content study. She assisted in event coordination such as the winter workshops, field days and learning group meetings. Pauline Nickel is the Southwest Research and Outreach Center Head. She plans the Organic Field Days held in Lamberton and oversees the organic research projects at the center. Mel Wiens is an organic producer in northwest Minnesota who has assisted with field days and plot tours in Staples, MN. Tom and DeEtta Bileks are organic producers who are involved in alternative crops marketing and have assisted with field days and plot tours. Carmen Fernholz, the organic research coordinator at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center, has helped coordinate organic research including the alternative crops in a corn-soybean rotation experiment. Carmen also assisted with learning group meetings, field days, and presentation of research results at regional conferences. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for this research is organic producers from the Midwest. Efforts to convey project information to our target audience included winter workshops, conferences field days, plot tours, learning group meetings, and presentations at regional organic meetings. Another effort to reach our target audience is the "Risk Management Guide for Organic Producers" publication, a 300-page manual intended as a guide for organic and transitioning producers in the Upper Midwest to lower risk in their operations. The fourteen chapters of this manual cover a wide range of production topics that are relevant to organic farmers, including the importance of rotation, soil health and fertility, weed management, cover crops, and alternative crops. The website (http://www.organicriskmanagement.umn.edu/) has received almost 1000 visitors. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Corn and soybean are commonly grown organic crops for processing into human foods or for livestock feeding. Diversification of crop rotations to include crops beyond corn and soybean is critical to provide economic insurance as well as ecosystem services. Improved production practices for commonly grown, alternative organic crops will decrease their costs to consumers and make healthy foods available to more consumers in our society. Crops like field bean, peas, and lentils that are high in protein and amino acids have great potential to be grown by organic farmers and to be used locally to provide healthy foods for the general public. In addition, these grains can be used as a protein replacement for soybean in livestock rations. Increased diversification of the number of crops that can be grown provides great reduction in the production and economic risks to producers. Yield and nutritional information on alternative crops like flax, millet, amaranth, buckwheat, and peas is important to determine their economic value to producers. The results of this project will provide options for rotation diversification, improve methods for growing alternative crops, and develop crops with richer sources of methionine for livestock. We explored the effect of crop rotation and found that weed control was more challenging after corn. We also found that organic sunflower and small grains were among the most successful alternative crops over the different locations and years. Laboratory analysis showed that sunflower, millets, and amaranth have potential for livestock feed with higher methionine content when compared to corn. Organic producers learned the latest results of our research through several field days and plot tours, while we learned about producers' experiences with alternative crops through our semi-annual learning group meetings. Organic agriculture intrinsically has greater risk than conventional agriculture because of the greater complexity in crop management issues such as fertility, weed control and pest control. Consequently, we found a need for information directed to organic producers on managing risk. One of the outcomes of this project was the development of our "Risk Management Guide for Organic Producers" publication, a 300-page manual intended as a guide for organic and transitioning producers in the Upper Midwest to lower risk in their operations. The fourteen chapters of this manual cover a wide range of production topics that are relevant to organic farmers, including the importance of rotation, soil health and fertility, weed management, cover crops, and alternative crops. Learning group discussions with organic producers provided us with their experiences, which were incorporated in the manual. Research results from this project were used to support our discussion, particularly for Chapter 14 Alternative Crops and Chapter 2 Rotation. The website with the manual (http://www.organicriskmanagement.umn.edu/) has received almost 1000 visitors. We have received excellent feedback from numerous organic producers on the publication.

Publications

• Moncada, K. M. and Sheaffer, C. C. (editors). 2010. Risk Management Guide for Organic Producers. University of Minnesota. This 300-page PDF manual is available at: www.organicriskmanagement.umn.edu .
• Coulter, J.A., Sheaffer, C.C., Haar, M.J., Wyse, D.L., and J.H. Orf. 2011. Agronomic performance of cropping systems with contrasting crop rotations and external inputs. Agronomy Journal 103(4):1223-1229.

Progress 07/01/09 to 06/30/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Objective 1 - Compare performance of alternative crops grown in sequence with organic corn and soybean. Soybean, oat, spring barley, spring wheat, field pea, pearl millet, flax, buckwheat and amaranth were grown following corn, and following soybean with corn substituted for soybean at three locations over four years. Data analysis of these field experiments is being conducted. Objective 2 - Evaluate variation in nutritional value of alternative crops. We are evaluating the concentration of essential amino acids in organically grown soybean, oat, spring barley, spring wheat, field pea, pearl millet, flax, buckwheat and amaranth. Objective 3 - Methionine bioavailability to swine from millets, amaranth, and buckwheat. One trial of the piglet feeding has been conducted. The trial will be conducted a second time with feed of a coarser grind to increase piglet consumption. Objective 4 - Deliver research findings to stakeholders. Plot tours of the organic alternative crop research were conducted at the Organic Field day in Lamberton, MN on July 9, 2009. Over 100 people attended this event where they could observe organic alternative crops such as peas, lentils, flax, and sunflowers in field research plots. An on-farm field day dedicated to organic alternative crops was held in Staples, MN on July 11, 2009 with 15 people attending. A third field day was held on-farm in Pipestone, MN on August 31, 2009 with 12 people in attendance. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals involved in this project - Craig Sheaffer is the Principal Investigator for "Beyond Corn and Soybean: Alternative Organic Crops for the Upper Midwest". He coordinates all activities relating to this project. Activities include overseeing the field research (alternative crops is rotation), the lab analysis (nutrient content, piglet study, and soil analysis), and outreach education (field days, plot tours, winter workshops, and learning group meetings). Deborah Allan conducts the soil quality testing for the alternative crops in rotation experiment. She will be doing the soil data analysis. Marsha Hathaway is responsible for assessing the nutrient availability of alternative crops. She has tested the methionine availability to piglets. Don Wyse is involved with the research planning. He will be interpreting the research results and assisting in manuscript preparation. Joshua Larson coordinates all the field research activities for this project at Rosemount, Lamberton, and Waseca. He plants, cultivates and harvests the alternative crops in rotation study. He oversees undergraduate students who collect and process samples. In the laboratory, Joshua has analyzed grain samples for methionine and other nutrients. Kristine Moncada conducts data analysis of the alternative crops in rotation study and the methionine content study. She assists in event coordination such as the winter workshops and field days. She conducts the learning group meetings. Kristine also prepares presentations with research results. She will be preparing manuscripts with the final research results. Pauline Nickel is the Southwest Research and Outreach Center Head. She plans the organic field day held in Lamberton and oversees the organic research projects at the center. Mel Wiens is an organic producer in northwest Minnesota. He has assisted with field days and plot tours in Staples, MN. Tom and DeEtta Bileks are organic producers who are involved in alternative crops marketing. The Bileks have assisted with field days and plot tours. Carmen Fernholz is the organic research coordinator at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center. He helps coordinate organic research including the alternative crops in a corn-soybean rotation experiment. Carmen also assists with learning group meetings, organizes field days, and presents research results at regional conferences. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for this research is organic producers from the Midwest. Efforts to convey project information to our target audience include workshops, field days, plot tours, learning group meetings, and presentations at regional organic meetings. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Objective 1 - Compare performance of alternative crops grown in sequence with organic corn and soybean. The Rosemount site was extremely dry in 2009 and alternative crops such as buckwheat, foxtail millet, Japanese millet, and proso millet had poor yields. The yield of corn, grain sorghum and sunflower were 66, 22, and 32 bushels/acre, respectively. The addition of compost equivalent to 80 lbs of nitrogen/acre increased yields of the crops to 99, 22, and 51 bushels/acre, respectively. At Lamberton, amaranth, grain sorghum, and Japanese millet had poor yields. Yields of buckwheat, corn, foxtail millet, proso millet, and sunflower were 37, 60, 28, 26, 118 bushels/acre. The addition of compost equivalent to 80 lbs of nitrogen to buckwheat, corn, foxtail millet, proso millet, and sunflower resulted in yields of 30, 88, 33, 14, and 129 bushels/acre. Sweet sorghum varieties were evaluated to determine their adaptation to organic rotations as an alternative to corn. In Staples, which has a short season, 'Simon' and 'Della' were the top performers in syrup production with 2258 and 2237 gallons of syrup/acre. At Lamberton, 'Sugar Drip' and 'Dale' yielded 1514 and 1195 gallons/acre. Improved varieties, 'Umbrella' and 'M81E', performed best at Rosemount with 2634 and 2526 gallons/acre. At Lamberton in 2009, the field pea varieties, 'Admiral', 'Yellow' and 'Miami' yielded 51, 63, and 43 bushels/acre, respectively, in organic rotations. Objective 2 - Evaluate variation in nutritional value of alternative crops. Methionine content of recently harvested alternative crops is being analyzed. Objective 3 - Methionine bioavailability to swine from millets, amaranth, and buckwheat. Preliminary results demonstrated low consumption of alternative crop feed by the piglets, most likely due to the feed being ground too fine. Another feeding trial will be conducted with organic alternative feeds that are more coarsely ground with a longer adjustment period for the piglets. Objective 4 - Deliver research findings to stakeholders. Organic producers learned the latest results of our research through several field days and plot tours. We learned about producers' experiences with alternative crops. Overall impacts: Improved production practices for commonly grown and alternative organic crops will decrease their costs to consumers and make healthy foods available to more consumers in our society. In addition, these grains can be used as a protein replacement for soybean in livestock rations. Increased diversification of the crops that can be grown provides great reduction in the production and economic risks to producers.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 07/01/08 to 06/30/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Objective 1 - Compare performance of alternative crops grown in sequence with organic corn and soybean. Soybean, oat, spring barley, spring wheat, field pea, pearl millet, flax, buckwheat and amaranth were grown following corn, and these same crops were grown following soybean with corn substituted for soybean at three locations over several years. Data analysis of these field experiments is being conducted. Objective 2 - Evaluate variation in nutritional value of alternative crops. We are evaluating the content of the essential amino acids in soybean, oat, spring barley, spring wheat, field pea, pearl millet, flax, buckwheat and amaranth. Objective 3 - Methionine bioavailability to swine from millets, amaranth, and buckwheat. We are growing and testing quantities of feed to conduct the feeding trial. Objective 4 - Deliver research findings to stakeholders. Plot tours of the organic alternative crop research were conducted at the Organic Field day in Lamberton, MN on July 10, 2008. Over 125 people attended this event. At the end of 2008, learning group meetings were held around the state. Three learning group meetings were held averaging an attendance of 6 producers per meeting. We discussed alternative crops and their production and other organic topics such as weed control and crop fertilization. Another learning group meeting was held in Lamberton, MN on March 17, 2009. 20 producers attended this meeting. A winter workshop on alternative crops was held in Litchfield, MN on March 24, 2009. 24 producers attended this meeting. On January 6, 2009, Craig Sheaffer gave a presentation on alternative crops and research results at a winter workshop in Staples, MN. Results of this project and other organic University research were also given at the Minnesota Organic Conference on January 16, 2009 in St. Cloud, MN and at the Annual Southern Minnesota Organics Crops Day on March 24, 2009 in Owatonna, MN. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals involved in this project - Craig Sheaffer is the Principal Investigator for "Beyond Corn and Soybean: Alternative Organic Crops for the Upper Midwest". He coordinates all activities relating to this project. Activities include overseeing the field research (alternative crops is rotation), the lab analysis (nutrient content, piglet study, and soil analysis), and outreach education (field days, plot tours, winter workshops, and learning group meetings). Matt Harbur is no longer employed by the University of Minnesota and not involved in this project. Deborah Allan conducts the soil quality testing for the alternative crops in rotation experiment. She will be doing the soil data analysis. Marsha Hathaway is responsible for the nutrient availability aspect of this project. She is preparing to test the methionine availability of the alternative crop in piglets. Don Wyse is involved with the research planning. He will be interpreting the research results and assisting in manuscript preparation. Joshua Larson coordinates all the field research activities for this project at Rosemount, Lamberton, and Waseca. He plants, cultivates and harvests the crops in the alternative crops in rotation study. He oversees undergraduate students who collect and process samples. In the laboratory, Joshua has analyzed grain samples for methionine and other nutrients. Kristine Moncada conducts data analysis of the alternative crops in rotation study and the methionine content study. She assists in event coordination such as the winter workshops and field days. She conducts the learning group meetings. Kristine also prepares presentations with research results. She will be preparing manuscripts with the final research results. Collaborators on this project - Nathan Winter is an extension educator who helped organize a winter school on organic alternative crops in Litchfield, MN. Pauline Nickel is the Southwest Research and Outreach Center Head. She plans the organic field day held in Lamberton. She oversees the organic research projects at the center. Mel Wiens is an organic producer in northwest Minnesota. He has assisted with field days and plot tours in Staples, MN. Tom and DeEtta Bileks are organic producers who are involved in alternative crops marketing. The Bileks have assisted with field days and plot tours. Carmen Fernholz is the organic research coordinator at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center. He helps coordinate organic research including the alternative crops in a corn-soybean rotation experiment. Carmen also assists with learning group meetings, organizes field days, and presents research results at regional conferences. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for this research is organic producers from the Midwest. Efforts to convey project information to our target audience include workshops, field days, plot tours, learning group meetings, and presentations at regional organic meetings. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Objective 1 - Compare performance of alternative crops grown in sequence with organic corn and soybean. A significant location by alternative grain crop effect occurred for grain yields. At Waseca sunflower and milo had the greatest grain yield following corn while flax had the least yield. Field pea, amaranth, and buckwheat yields were intermediate and similar. At Rosemount, yields of all grain crops following corn were less that at Waseca due to the lack of soil moisture but grain yields were again greatest for milo and least for flax and buckwheat. At each location, weed populations and biomass were greatest for field pea and flax indicating the relative lack of competitiveness of these crops. At Waseca, barley, foxtail millet, and sunflower had the greatest yield following soybean, while at Rosemount yields following soybean were greatest for wheat and barley. At both locations, flax was the lowest yielding crop. Weed yields were greatest for flax and wheat at Rosemount and Waseca, respectively. We also determined that fall seeded oilseed radish was effective in reducing weeds in field pea and flax that were spring seeded into the radish residue but oilseed radish reduced flax and pea yields. Objective 2 - Evaluate variation in nutritional value of alternative crops. Methionine content of dry bean, field pea, and flax averaged 20.9 % (crude protein basis) compared to 37.8% for soybean. Amaranth grain contained 16% methionine (crude protein basis). Foxtail millet, proso, millet barley, oat, and sorghum contained about 10% methionine (crude protein basis). The legumes, dry bean, soybean, and field pea were also high in lysine while grass crops (millets, barley oat and sorghum) were very low in methionine. Plant introduction of millets and amaranth did not differ in methionine content. Objective 4 - Deliver research findings to stakeholders. Organic producers learned the latest results of our research through learning groups and plot tours. We learned about producers' individuals experiences with alternative crops. Overall impacts: Improved production practices for commonly grown and alternative organic crops will decrease their costs to consumers and make healthy foods available to more consumers in our society. Crops like field bean, peas, and lentils that are high in protein and amino acids have great potential to be grown by organic farmers and to be used locally to provide healthy foods for the general public. In addition, these grains can be used as a protein replacement for soybean in livestock rations. Increased diversification of the number of crops that can be grown provides great reduction in the production and economic risks to producers.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 07/01/07 to 06/30/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Objective 1 - Compare performances of alternative crops grown in sequence with organic corn and soybean. Soybean, oat, spring barley, spring wheat, field pea, pearl millet, flax, buckwheat and amaranth were grown following corn, and these same crops were grown following soybean with corn substituted for soybean at three locations. Weed management was a challenge especially following corn. Weed competition reduced the yield of peas and flax. We will be examining the agroecological and economical values of these alternative crops. Objective 2 - Evaluate variation in nutritive value of millets, barley, buckwheat, and other species. This experiment focuses on methionine, an essential amino acid that is limiting in most grains. We grew multiple varieties and plant introductions of pearl and proso millet, amaranth, buckwheat, and other species to determine the potential to develop varieties with increased methionine content. Samples are being analyzed for methionine and other essential amino acids. Preliminary results show that flax, sunflower, and amaranth were highest in methionine, while foxtail millet, proso millet, and dry bean were next highest. Spring wheat, chenopodium, field pea, buckwheat, spring oat, spring barley, and sorghum had methionine contents similar to or lower than corn. Flax had high crude protein content, comparable to the legumes like dry bean and field pea. This field experiment is on-going and further data analysis will be conducted. Objective 3 - Determine methionine bioavailability to swine from millets, amaranth, and buckwheat. Preparations are being made for the piglet feeding trials to begin in 2008. This experiment will be ongoing. Objective 4 - Deliver research findings to stakeholders. Plot tours of the experiments were conducted at the Organic Field Day in Lamberton, MN in July 2007. Preliminary research results were presented to the Buckwheat Growers Association in January 2008. We met with three organic farmers' learning groups across the state in the winter and spring of 2008; topics of discussion included growing alternative crops. We held a winter school focused on organic feed crops in St. Charles, MN. The agenda included: Producing Organic Feed Crops and Accessing Organic Markets, Minimizing Risk in Organic Feed Crop Production, and a producer panel. We have several more educational activities planned including more learning group meetings and field plot tours. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Corn and soybean are commonly grown organic crops for processing into human foods or for livestock feeding. Diversification of crop rotations is critical to provide economic insurance as well as ecosystem services. Yield and nutritional information on alternative crops like flax, millet, amaranth, buckwheat, and peas is important to determine their economic value to producers. The results of this project will provide options for rotation diversification, improve methods for growing alternative crops, and for development of crops with richer sources of methionine for livestock.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 07/01/06 to 06/30/07

Outputs
Organic experiments were established to compare the agroecological and economical value of alternative crops grown in rotation with corn and soybean. Soybean, oat, spring barley, spring wheat, field pea, pearl millet, proso millet, flax, buckwheat and amaranth were grown following corn, and these same crops were grown following soybean with corn substituted for soybean. Weeds were controlled following planting using mechanical tillage. Grain yields and grain quality (amino acid profile, protein, and fatty acid composition) will be measured. Weed population and soil quality effects of alternative crops will be determined. Another experiment involves methionine, an essential amino acid that is limiting in most grains. We grew multiple varieties and plant introductions of pearl and proso millet, amaranth, and buckwheat to determine the potential to select varieties with increased methionine content. Samples will be analyzed for methionine and other essential amino acids. Other research is examining peas and flax, which can be high value alternative crops but weed control is challenging. We evaluated the use of winter mulches of oilseed radish and oat to suppress weeds in flax and peas. A preliminary result is that oilseed radish effectively controlled weeds without reducing flax or pea yield compared to the control. All field experiments are on-going and further data analysis will be conducted. The research results will be distributed to producers through various educational programs.

Impacts
Corn and soybean are commonly grown organic crops for processing into human foods or for livestock feeding. Diversification of crop rotations is critical to provide economic insurance as well as ecosystem services. Yield and nutritional information on alternative crops like flax, millet, amaranth, buckwheat, and peas is important to determine their economic value to producers. The results of this project will provide options for rotation diversification, improve methods for growing alternative crops, and develop crops with richer sources of methionine for livestock.

Publications

• No publications reported this period