Expanding New and Alternative Crops
When Tom and Nola Borgen moved back to the farm
in 1981, Nola's father was already growing canola. "It was a
good rotation and the money was there, but there were some
difficulties," says Tom, who farms near Langdon.
The Borgen family is one of many that grows new
and alternative crops. "We grow approximately 50 crops in
North Dakota, but only 10 to 12 are what we call major crops," says
Burton Johnson, assistant professor in the NDSU plant sciences
department. "A large number of crops grown in the state are considered new
or alternative crops, and that's not even counting vegetables."
Experiment Station researchers in Fargo and at NDSU
research extension centers, and NDSU Extension Service specialists are
working with new and alternative crops. "Our research is related to
identifying practices that will improve production and profit,"
Johnson says. "The practices need to be cost effective. Ultimately, they
have to be beneficial to the producer."
Producers growing new or alternative crops face many obstacles. "Seeding, swathing, even the delivery of our product
were hurdles," Borgen says. "In the early 1980s, we had to truck
our canola into Canada, which meant dealing with export and
import papers. I started hauling for other growers and also doing all
the paperwork at the border. I guess I was eliminating the middle man."
 U.S. elevators began accepting canola as the number of
planted acres increased, according to Borgen. "So marketing isn't really
as big an issue as it once was."
The use of canola as a cooking oil and in processed foods
has risen steadily and so has the number of planted acres.
North Dakota producers planted 18,000 acres to canola in 1991. This
year, producers planted more than 1,350,000 acres. "What once was
an alternative has now become a major crop," Borgen says. "It
is estimated that consumption of canola oil will surpass corn
and cottonseed oils, becoming second only to soybean oil."
Lentil acreage, while not growing as rapidly as canola
acreage, is also increasing. In 1998, the first year the North Dakota
Agricultural Statistics Service tracked production, 22,000 acres were
planted. This year, lentil growers planted an estimated 50,000 acres.
Mike Youngs and his father started raising lentils in the
late '70s or early '80s on their farm near Roseglen. "A company
from Canada came to visit the farm looking for growers to try a few
acres," Youngs says. "We have been planting lentils ever since."
Youngs, like Borgen, says alternative crops are a good fit
in rotation with small grains. "Anything that fits our rotation that
also is a good cash crop is looked at pretty seriously. We've made
money on lentils every year except for one. Lentils and some other crops
are what have kept me on the farm for the past 15 years."
Youngs says research at NDSU research extension centers
near Minot and Carrington on lentil varieties and herbicide testing
has been helpful. NDSU plant pathologist Art Lamey (now retired)
also visited the Youngs farm to study disease problems.
"With new crops, adaptation is a real issue," Johnson says.
"Will new crops produce seed during the short North Dakota growing
season? Other agronomic deficiencies might be poor stand
establishment and low yield. It's important to have a concerted
research effort to identify problems and find solutions. In many cases,
there isn't a lot of money to support new crop improvements."
Insurability is also an issue, according to Johnson. "If it's a
new crop or has entered alternative status, it may or may not
be insurable. It's another piece of the puzzle."
Starting small, doing research and becoming involved are
issues Borgen, Youngs and Johnson all agree on. "It's
important that growers contact researchers to find out what varieties are available," Borgen says. They also need to look at moisture
needs, tillage practices, and weed and disease problems, and
determine the market needs."
Youngs is an original board member of the North Dakota
Dry Pea and Lentil Association. Borgen is president of Northern
Canola Growers and a board member of the U.S. Canola Association
while Nola Borgen serves on the North Dakota Oilseed Council.
"New and alternative crops offer some exciting
possibilities," Johnson says. "Who knows? Some of the new crops we're
studying now may become important alternative crops in 10 to 25 years."
For more information: Burton Johnson,
701-231-8895, burton.johnson@ndsu.nodak.edu |
