Small grains such as organic spelt, hard red spring wheat, soft red winter wheat, buckwheat, and oats form a critical piece of our crop rotation and provide several benefits both on and off the farm.
With Christmas just around the corner and delicious homemade baked goods, soup, and other treats on the mind, we’ve added a couple new products to our lineup featuring our certified organic soft red winter wheat. Organic small grains have long been a part of the crop rotation at Jennings Family Farm and have included organic spelt, hard red spring wheat, soft red winter wheat, buckwheat, and oats to go along with our corn and beans. Unfortunately, the role of small grains has decreased in many farm operations across the country, particularly during the last 3 decades. However, this is not the case at Jennings Family Farm as small grains form a critical piece of our crop rotation and provide several benefits both on and off the farm.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
As a product from the farm, these organic whole grains provide a healthy food source and retain the dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals that are often stripped from the processed grains you often see on the grocery store shelf. Also, thanks to the natural antioxidants and disease-fighting compounds that are found in these organic whole grains, they have been linked to lower risks related to heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and obesity (www.wholegrainscouncil.org). Combined with having a longer shelf-life, these organic whole grains represent a wonderful source of food from the farm.
Small grains also form a critical link in the chain that makes up the crop rotation at Jennings Family Farm. Since Jennings Family Farm grows a diversity of crops that includes small grains in the rotation, pests and diseases find it more difficult to key in on any one specific crop. This allows us to maintain higher yields year after year using organic methods rather than relying on pesticides and chemicals to control these pressures.
The soils benefit from the inclusion of small grains. Small grain crops can provide thousands of pounds of biomass and plant material to the soil which in turn is decomposed into precious soil organic matter. The dense fibrous root systems improve soil structure throughout the soil profile which helps to reduce soil compaction and increase water infiltration. And the added diversity of small grains into the crop rotation feeds a more diverse soil biological community. These invaluable soil microbes and fungi are the engine which drives soil chemical processes and the creation of soil organic matter.
Finally, small grains have several benefits outside of the crop itself. Fields across the country are often left barren during the late fall, winter, and early spring seasons. During this time these fields can experience soil erosion and loss of nutrients through subsurface tile drainage which decreases productivity in the field but also causes environmental degradation downstream. Small grains help fill this barren period and can reduce erosion and increase water use thereby reducing environmental impacts from agriculture.
Overall small grains are a gift that keeps on giving for Jennings Family Farm, allowing us to attain good, consistent yields using organic production methods and providing a healthy food product to bring to your table. So this holiday season, grab a bag of our organic soft red winter wheat or a Grains-n-Bees pack and whip up some delicious, organic Christmas cookies for Santa. He might just give leave a special gift under the tree!
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