Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center

Organic Cereal Crop Production

Presented by:Christian Kapp, MSU AgBioResearch

Grains grown in Michigan

Wheat (Soft red winter, soft white winter, hard red spring)

Oats Barley Rye Spelt Triticale Ancient grains (Einkorn, Emmer)

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Uses Flour Straw Animal feed Cover crops Artisanal purpose

Forage Green manure

(plowdown) Distilling Malt

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Challenges

Climate Weeds Soil type Fertility Insects Disease Lack of equipment Storage

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First step

Secure a market! Contract? Have a plan B

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Variety selection

Refer to regional variety trial data Consult with end user Spread your risk

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ESBN Yield across location7

Varietal yield (bu/ac) across location

Hickory Corners Posen Chatham

Field selection

Small grains prefer well drained soils-sandy loam, silt loam, clay loam

Soil pH range from 6 to 8 Some have low tolerance of acidic soils

(barley)

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Crop rotations Well planned crop

rotation important.

Continuous small grain production is BAD.

Why? Leads to higher incidence of disease and insects.

Small grain following legume best.

Small grain grown after corn can lead to an increase of FHB.

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Planting Plant as soon as soil

conditions allow Early planting leads to

higher yields and lower crude protein

Plant 0.5 to 1.5 inches deep

Target is 1 inch Use high end on

seeding rate

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Soil Fertility

Healthy soils key

Don’t guess soil test!

How much N?

Based on yield goal, previous crop grown

Small grain responds well to N.

Use legumes, compost, manure, commercial organic fertilizer- Bio-Ag, Fertrell

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Weed Control Weeds are nutrient, moisture and sunlight takers

Make it difficult at harvest – grain heating, seedcontamination

Control through previous years management

Tine weeder

Early planting

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Insects Cereal leaf beetle main insect pest

Threshold is 3 larva/stem before boot stage.

After boot stage, 1 larva/flag leaf.

Always protect the flag leaf!! Factory for grain fill

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Feekes Stages14

Flag leaf

Disease Most severe disease is

Fusarium Head Blight (FHB)

Fungal disease that infects kernels.

Develops mycotoxins (DON)

FDA regulated 1 ppm DON on finished

wheat products for human 10 ppm DON on grains

and grain by-products for cattle

5 ppm DON on grains and grain by-products destined for swine

Favorable environment 75 to 85 F

Spores carried by wind or splashed by rain.

Control through resistant varieties crop rotation, tillage

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Harvesting Target moisture, 13.5% Grain harvested above 13.5 % has to be

dried. Beard removal can be challenging Slow cylinder speeds, adjust concave Can be harvested at 18% but watch for

kernel damage, slow both reel and ground speed

Dry with cool aeration If no storage, transport to end user/feed

mill Can be stored on concrete floor IF correct

moisture-will have issue with rodents/insects

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UPREC Research Overview

Small grains (conventional mgt) in UPREC research program for 15+ years- oats, barley, spring wheat, winter wheat

Last 5 years have focused on malting barley-msue.anr.msu.edu/topic/info/malting_barley

Started organic grain research in 2017 focusing on available varieties/species, weed control and fertility

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UPREC Malting Barley Laboratory

Crude protein Germination- GE, GC Kernel assortment Pre-harvest sprout DON screen

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Thank you! 19