Small Grains News & Updates

Greetings,

We're doing a deep dive into variety trial information for our November issue. While it might seem like overkill, choosing a small grain variety that can deliver on performance goals can make or break a successful crop year. Don't know where to start with choosing a variety? Fear not! We've compiled lots of resources to help guide you.

Practical Farmer's winter event season has started and we have a great mix or virtual and in-person programming. Don't miss out on our Shared Learning Call series or the Cover Crop Boot Camp. More information below!

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving,

The Strategic Initiatives Team

PROGRAM UPDATES

Call December 3 at noon on marketing small grains

Friday, December 3 | Noon - 1 p.m. CT

Small grain prices are looking good, but marketing isn't as easy as with corn and soybeans. On our December shared learning call hear from Mike Schulist as he describes common challenges and opportunities for marketing small grains like oats and wheat for food and feed markets.

Mike is the marketer for NF Organics and the organic grain program manager at National Farmers Organization. He has been helping farmers market their organic grain for 14 years.

Come with your marketing questions! There will be information for both organic and conventional growers.

New! We'll be convening on Zoom

To join by computer: click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83632167882

To join by phone: dial +1-312-626-6799 and enter meeting ID 836 3216 7882 followed by #

Add to Google Calendar

Add to Outlook Calendar

Blog online from call on oat variety selection

On November 5 we gathered for the first of our winter shared learning call series and heard from Matt Miller and Lydia English about considerations for oat variety selection.

Matt consistently grows two oat varieties to spread risk and ensure a successful crop each year. To aid in variety selection, Lydia shared PFI's selector tool, which predicts variety performance given a growers' ZIP code.

Read all about Matt's process for choosing an oat variety as well as some general tips for starting out on the right foot this spring.

2021 oat selector tool report published

This is the second year that five PFI cooperators put our selector tool to the test! Each cooperator compared their traditional oat variety with a variety predicted to do well by the genotype-by-environment model that powers the tool.

Once again, the results were a mixed bag. Four of the five cooperators chose Reins as their traditional variety and it performed well. Read the full research report.

Don't forget to sign up for small grains cost share

Farmers in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin with conventional or transition-to-organic small grain acres are eligible for cost share of $15 per acre when they follow their small grain with a legume cover crop. On top of that, we have additional cost share for taking a nitrogen fertilizer credit in corn that follows a small grain in an extended rotation.

Curious to learn more? Check out our flyer with eligibility requirements.

Apply for cost share today!

IN THE FIELD

Variety selection round up

Hungry for even more information on variety selection? Look no further!

Watch our Rotationally Raised Short, which covers the basics of why variety selection is so important for small grains.
View a recording of our an annual conference session with breeder Melanie Caffe, buyer Mac Ehrhardt and farmer Chard Ingels all about oat variety selection.
Read up on some blogs about understanding variety trial data and the process of selecting a variety.
See the results of PFI's 2021 oat and cereal rye variety trial reports.

Choosing the Right Oat Varieties - Breeding to Buying - 2021 Virtual Annual Conference

UPCOMING EVENTS

Last chance! Register for the Cover Crop Boot Camp

Join Practical Farmers of Iowa for the Cover Crop Boot Camp, Tuesday, Nov. 30, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. in Ankeny, IA. We'll hear from fellow farmers about cutting nitrogen with legumes, growing your own cover crop seed, feeding ryelage and much more!

This event is free and includes lunch, but registration is required.