Exploring alternative field crops
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EmailAlternative crops come with both opportunities and risks.
An alternative field crop could be defined as an agronomic crop not usually grown in a geographic region, selected for use due to potential high sale value or specialized benefit to the farming system. The concept of alternative crops greatly interests some growers as an opportunity for innovation or entrepreneurship, while for others it represents a source of risk to be avoided. For those in the middle considering alternative crops, they need assurances that the long-term economic or environmental benefits can outweigh the risks. Michigan, being one of the top-ranking U.S. states in agricultural diversity, provides many opportunities to explore alternative crops. Farmers are increasingly seeking out these opportunities as the demographics and economics of Michigan agriculture continue to evolve with current trends in farm ownership, farmer age and experience, and consumer preferences.
Some alternative crops suitable for Michigan include malting barley, sorghum, sunflower, triticale, buckwheat, hemp, intermediate wheatgrass, rapeseed, canola, dry peas and others that can be found at the Michigan 2022 Census of Agriculture. Most of these crops have less than 2,000 U.S. harvested acres; proper planning can allow growers to successfully add these crops to current rotations, potentially increasing the number of markets available to growers and the value of their harvest, which may improve net income.
Selecting alternative crops that have multiple potential uses and market outlets reduces the risk. For example, intermediate wheatgrass (also known as Kernza) is a dual-use crop, meaning it can be used for grain and forage. Grain and straw can be obtained in the summer, and another forage harvest can be scheduled for the fall. Alternative small grains like malting barley and oats can similarly be harvested for grain and used for brewing, distilling or livestock feed, or instead harvested immature for forage. Sunflower is another crop with multiple uses, such as for oil and agrotourism (i.e., picking flowers for decorations or family photography sessions); this strategy provides multiple revenue streams, which reduces the risk of crop failure (e.g., grain harvest or post-harvest losses) and lost income. Industrial hemp is the quintessential multi-use crop yielding grain, fiber and/or cannabinoid rich flower with too many potential products to count and emerging markets in the U.S. and abroad.
Cover crops provide ground cover, and their roots help hold the soil in place, minimizing erosion. They can also enhance weed suppression while facilitating carbon and nutrient cycling, which can help growers manage soil health. Some cover crops can also be considered alternative crops, such as cereal rye, triticale and buckwheat, that can be managed for additional uses like seed, grain, straw or forage production. Selecting which cover crops to grow has been made easier thanks to the online Cover Crop Selector Tool, which allows you to indicate your goals for the cover crop and other information, such as your geographic location and cash crops in rotation, to get a list of appropriate cover crops with listed attributes and planting recommendations.
Certified organic production and other alternative agriculture certification schemes (i.e., Real Organic or Certified Naturally Grown) offer another approach to alternative crop production. Due to the modified management and required certification to be marketed as organic, production costs often increase along with the amount of labor and record-keeping involved. In return, new markets become available to the grower, which sometimes offer premium pricing. Organic prices vary depending on the product and market, so take into account all the relevant information and consider what works best for your operation to make an informed decision. You can reach out to Vicki Morrone or the Transition to Organic Partnership Program for assistance with mentorship, certification and organic management practices. Another resource is the Organic Farmers’ Agency for Relationship Marketing, Inc., who provides organic commodity producers assistance with marketing.
One of the risks of utilizing alternative crops is not having a ready-made market to sell the product into or the transparent pricing that comes with traditional/commodity crops; finding markets and consumers before planting the crop is an important step to take for success. Furthermore, established infrastructure for post-harvest handling, storage, marketing, transportation, etc., may not be readily available, necessitating new investments with additional administrative and labor costs for growers.
Economics plays a major role when considering the production of a new crop. Does the new cropping system increase/decrease previous input, management or infrastructure costs? Do costs and potential revenues change depending on the crop selected and how it is used (i.e., annuals vs. perennials, grain vs. forage, etc.)? Is there an accessible market with strong demand for the crop? What quality specifications need to be met to make the crop valuable or even saleable? Will new equipment be needed? What additional knowledge and skills are required? Is there enough labor available?
Each farmer should consider the resources available to them, reach out to growers who already utilize these crops and practices, and contact local Michigan State University Extension educators for assistance with more in-depth questions. The University of Wisconsin-Madison also hosts the Emerging Crops Accelerator program as a one-stop shop for information on many of these alternative crops with relevance for Michigan.
