Greetings, Fall is nearly here which means busy schedules full of winter small grain planting, corn and soybean harvest and cover crop planting. If you will be planting a winter small grain (or even a spring one!) for harvest in 2021, don’t forget to apply for cost share! We’ve already had 104 applications for cost share on 8,600 acres! That’s a little over halfway to allocating our total funds for the year, so get your application in soon to reserve your place. Don’t forget - September 30 is the deadline for crop insurance enrollment on your winter small grains. Check out this resource for more details on policies offered and custom options for winter small grains in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Scroll down to the “in the field” section for timely reminders on optimum planting rates, seeding dates and other tips if you’ll be planting a winter small-grain crop soon.  Safe Harvest, Alisha

2021 Small Grains Cost Share OPEN! Farmers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin are invited to apply for cost share on small grains harvested in 2021 and followed by a legume-containing cover crop. Small grains include barley, oats, rye, triticale or wheat and a legume cover crop could be under- or co-seeded clover or alfalfa or a summer planted cover that includes hairy vetch or field peas. PFI will pay $15 per acre cost share on up to 200 acres for this combination of main crop and cover crop. We also have a growing number of programs that link this cost share with a market opportunity for a small-grain crop that you may qualify for based on your location and production practices. Acres are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. Apply for cost share on our small grains cost share page. Small Grains Cost Share Sign-up

Blog Online from Call on Crop Insurance for Small Grains

On our September shared learning call we heard from two agents at USDA’s Risk Management Agency on crop insurance options for both popular and less-grown small-grain crops. The blog recap summarizes the information shared on the call including an overview of existing small grain crop insurance plans and where they are available and how to request a custom policy if there are no standardized policies available. We also explored whole farm revenue protection, which may work better for your farm depending on how many crops and years of production history you have.

Read the Call Blog

New! 2020 Rye Variety Trial Report

2020 was our second year hosting rye variety trials in collaboration with Iowa State University at three locations in Iowa - Nashua, Kenawha and Charles City. For 2020 we collected information on rye grain yields, plant height and lodging for the nine varieties in the trial. This year we also added data collection for germination on all of the open-pollinated (non-hybrid) varieties and straw yield at the Nashua location. Check out the full report.

Read the Research Report

EVENTS

October ***No shared learning call in October - good luck with harvest!*** December Prairie Grains Conference Dec. 9-10 | Grand Forks, ND

IN THE FIELD

Marketing If you don't already have a market lined up for your grain, here are some resources on identifying a market that lines up with the grain quality you've achieved with your crop: Our small grains directory lists small grains buyers for seed and grain by location The recap blog from our markets call in early 2017 Grain Miller's markets presentation from the 2016 small grains short course The recap blog from our March 2018 call on marketing to breweries and distilleries The rotationally raised short on markets for small grains And don't forget about straw! The blog recap from our 2017 straw marketing call Winter Small Grains Variety Selection Though it's a busy time of the year in October, don't forget to plan for a precise plant population, calibrate your drill and prepare your seed bed for establishing a good stand of your winter small grain. The variety selection episode of our rotationally raised video series The blog from January 2017's shared learning call with seed dealer Mac Ehrhardt This blog on planting a cereal rye crop for cover crop seed production. Our PFI rye variety trial reports When you're choosing between oats, wheat, rye and barley, you might consider which ones are feasible to secure crop insurance on. See our blogs for information on crop insurance for small grains: Crop Insurance Options for your Small Grains and Crop Insurance Options: Individual, Custom and Whole-Farm Plans Seeding Dates, Rates and Field Prep for Winter Small Grains The drill calibration episode of our rotationally raised video series. The seed bed preparation episode of our rotationally raised video series. This blog from Oct 2017 shared learning call on Raising High Yielding Winter Small Grains Starts in October with Planting Crop rotation and residue management on your small grains fields can have a big impact on your disease management costs down the line. Refresh on the disease risks with our blog on small grain disease management. Have you considered a phosphorous starter for your winter small grains? Check out this blog for some tips on the do's and don'ts of fall fertilizer for a winter small grain crop.

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Looking for more? Contact us today!

Alisha Bower Strategic Initiatives Manager alisha@practicalfarmers.org (515) 232-5661

Sarah Carlson Strategic Initiatives Director sarah@practicalfarmers.org (515) 232-5661