Where is rye grown in the us

In Minnesota grew 7. The average yield in was 17 bushels per acre, while in it was 34 bushels in the Upper Midwest. About half of the amount harvested for grain is used for livestock feed or exported, and the remainder is used for alcoholic beverages, food, and seed.

In the Midwest, rye is primarily grown for grain, but occasionally for hay or pasture. It can also be grown as a cover or green manure crop. In addition to contributing organic matter, rye reduces soil erosion and enhances water penetration and retention. Furthermore, due to its allelopathic effect, some evidence suggests that rye could be exploited for weed control. Rye residue which remains at the soil surface can potentially modify the physical and chemical environment during seed germination and plant growth.

Although rye flour does not develop true gluten, it has proteins which give it the capacity for making a nutritious leavened bread. Rye is most satisfactorily used when mixed with other grains at a proportion less than a third, because it is not highly palatable and is sticky when chewed. Forage: Rye makes excellent forage especially when combined with red or crimson clover and ryegrass. For best quality, cut rye between early heading and the milk stage of growth.

Yields and quality of rye harvested as forage compared to winter wheat and winter triticale are shown in Table 5. Rye matures earlier than wheat or triticale and has the highest crude protein levels. However, forage yields are lower than for the other two small grains, resulting in somewhat lower crude protein yields and overall lower relative feed values.

Thus, the main advantages winter rye has as a forage as compared to winter wheat or winter triticale, is that it is more winter hardy and reaches optimum harvest maturity 7 to 10 days earlier. Pasture: Rye generally provides more forage than other small grains in late fall and early spring because of its rapid growth and its adaptation to low temperatures.

Although rye is a less palatable pasture crop, it is readily grazed when other green forages are not available. In the Upper Midwest, care must be taken not to overgraze rye in the spring or fall due to the short growing season. Fall sown rye holds more snow and rainfall than does a bare field.

It also preserves soil moisture in the spring, since there is no spring seedbed preparation. It provides fall, winter, and spring soil cover when the potential for wind and water erosion losses are substantial in plowed fields.

Rye as a cover crop fits well into many erosion control programs. Land going into potatoes, soybean, or corn can be protected over winter by a rye cover crop. Rye can be also used as an emergency cover to fill gaps between other crops, or if a crop is removed early because of failure, rye can be seeded to protect the soil until time to plant the next crop.

It can also be used as a winter cover crop for continuous minimum tillage corn when the corn crop is harvested early. When corn or soybean are sod-planted, rye can be seeded in the fall and then killed with herbicides prior to planting. Rye should not be grown between crops of wheat or barley, unless it is completely killed before wheat or barley are planted in the spring.

As a green manure crop, rye is particularly suitable because of its winter hardiness and its rapid growth early in the spring. It should be plowed or disked when about 20 in. Winter rye generally overwinters; in the tillering stage. The winter temperatures near freezing satisfy the vernalization requirement and allow the plants to initiate reproductive development the following spring.

Rye varieties are long day plants, but they do not have an absolute requirement for a specific day length. Rye is cross pollinated, and relies on wind-borne pollen. The florets remain open for some time, but if conditions are not favorable for cross-pollination, rye spikes may have several empty florets. The inflorescence is a spike with one sessile spikelet per rachis node. Spikelet initiation begins in the middle of the spike and proceeds toward the tip and base.

Only the two basal florets in each spikelet produce seed. Spring rye does not require vernalization to induce flowering. Varieties of spring rye in general are less productive than winter rye in the Upper Midwest. Rye can be grown in a wider range of environmental conditions than any other small grain.

Winter rye is the most winter hardy of all cereals. Rye will usually make considerable growth during the cool temperatures of late fall, and resumes growth very quickly in the early spring. However, rye cannot survive the winter in pot holes or other wet areas where water collects or ice sheets form.

Winter rye is more productive than other cereals on infertile, sandy, or acid soils, as well as on poorly prepared land. For best results however, rye should be planted on well prepared, fertile, well drained soils, having a pH of 5.

Rye grows better on light loams and sandy soils than on heavy clay soils. It is also able to germinate in relatively dry soils, and is fairly tolerant to droughty conditions. Stored rye seed loses its ability to germinate more rapidly than do other cereals. It is recommended to buy Certified seed, that has proven adaptation to local conditions. Fungicide seed treatments used for other small grains are suitable for use on rye, and often can improve stands.

For best results, plant rye in a firm, well prepared seedbed. On fall plowed ground, disk and harrow and then drill rye. If fall plowing is not possible, particularly after corn harvesting, disk and drill the rye into the soil. Rye is sometimes drilled into small grain stubble without previous preparation. This practice is economical and satisfactory in reasonably weed-free land.

In addition to the economy of labor, it also leaves the stubble to hold the snow and protect the rye plant from winter killing. The time of seeding depends on the use of the crop. Winter rye can be generally seeded from late summer to late fall. However, when grown for grain, rye should be seeded at about the same time as winter wheat, but can be seeded safely as much as 2 weeks later.

The best time to seed winter rye is from August 15 to September 10 in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, and from September 5 to September 30 in southern areas of the two states. If winter rye is planted in August, cattle can lightly graze the crop, but enough vegetation must remain standing to control soil erosion.

When rye is grown for pasture, cover crop or green manure, seeding date should be 2 to 8 weeks earlier than for a grain crop to insure a heavy blanket of growth for protection over winter. However, rye is also successfully planted the first two weeks of October after harvesting potatoes to provide winter cover and a green manure crop.

Plant rye in 6 or 7 in. Higher seeding rates might be needed when planting later than desired or when perennial weed control is important. Winter rye and winter wheat respond similarly to nutrient additions.

Soil tests are the best guide on which to base fertilizer rates. Air, moisture and insects are the enemies of grains such as rye.

Rye berries should be stored in a sealed container to prevent contamination by these spoilers. If you are low on extra storage containers, you can fold the top of your opened bag of rye over several times and secure it tightly. Keep in a cool, dry place for up to six months or freeze for up to one year.

Milling will reduce the shelf life of the grain. Rye flour will stay fresh from one to three months in a cool, dark pantry or for two to six months in the freezer. From cool summer salads to toe-warming porridge, rye can play a lot of different roles and they all taste great.

Rye is high in fiber including a type of fiber called arabinoxylan , which is also known for its high antioxidant activity. Rye causes less of a spike in blood sugar than wheat. Real Food Encyclopedia Rye. Fun Facts about Rye: The grain co-evolved with wheat and barley but was considered little more than a weed for over 2, years until its value as a crop was recognized.

It was believed to have originated in the Mediterranean or Turkey and then spread throughout Europe where it enjoyed a solid reputation as a down-market grain. Coarse, whole-grain rye flour is called pumpernickel.

Department of Agriculture. High corn prices, good corn returns, definitely has pushed people to plant as many acres of corn they can. Alas, only a handful of American distillers actually use U. Buffalo Trace Distillery says it buys some rye from North Dakota, but most larger distilleries are forced to purchase rye elsewhere. Fortunately, the federal government does not mandate U. And this may not be a bad thing. Former Four Roses master distiller and consultant Jim Rutledge believes European rye is better for whiskey making anyway.

So, the selection process is a combination of desired sensory perception, starch content, and enzyme level and the best rye in the last 15 to 18 years has been found in northern European countries. And U. Stay up-to-date with the best from America's Best Racing!