Dr. Robert L. Myers

National and Local Opportunities to Diversify

Presentation Summary

U.S. Cropland is currently characterized by a lack of diversity in most areas of the country. Three major commodity grains (corn, soybeans, and wheat) make up almost 80% of the land devoted to grain crop production. These three grains dominate the use of agricultural land, consuming over twenty times the acreage used for all fruit and vegetable production in the U.S. Alternatives to these commodity crops do exist. There are grains and oilseeds grown in other parts of the world that can be adapted here, including canola, sesame, millet, and various fiber or industrial use crops. These alternative crops represent new opportunities to diversify U.S. agriculture, with a substantial number of benefits. Achieving these benefits is highly dependent on thoroughly integrating production and marketing programs.

New crops offer many potential benefits for producers and U.S. agriculture. Diversifying the number of crops on the farm, particularly for different markets, such as food vs. feed vs. oilseed uses, can help offset fluctuations in market price for a given commodity area. For example, a corn and soybean producer would find the market for both crops closely tied to the demand for livestock feed, while adding the price of a food crop (such as buckwheat) or an industrial oilseed (such as crambe) might be unaffected. New crops with industrial use potential can broaden the marketplace for crop use, because they can serve as a source of renewable resources, often substituting for nonrenewable petroleum©based products. individual producers can sometimes obtain higher profit potential for selected new crops, particularly if direct marketing is involved. Conversion of crop acreage into new industrial crops can reduce surplus production of current commodities. Another important way in which new crop development can offset surpluses is to convert acreage into crops we are currently importing, such as canola, sesame, guar, and castor. Agronomic studies have shown yield benefits, in part through reduction in pest pressures, by diversifying crop rotations. Often soil erosion is reduced and soil quality is improved through diversification.

There are many crops that can potentially be grown in the upper Delta region. These include oilseeds such as canola, sunflower, sesame, and flax. There are legume grain crops such as dry edible beans and cowpeas that have been grown in the area, and others that are adapted such as adzuki beans and mung beans. Buckwheat is a short season grain crop that can be double cropped after wheat, or even after an early spring crop like oats or flax. Pearl millet is a crop similar to sorghum that may be especially good for sandier soils in the Delta region. Foxtail millet and amaranth are two crops that could have potential as grain crops down the road after more research and market development. Besides the grains, there are fiber crop alternatives, such as kenaf. Energy crops are gaining more attention, such as switchgrass and poplar trees. A number of farmers are having success by diversifying into horticultural crops, provided markets are not too distant. There are even small markets for specialty herbs and medicinal plants.

Fortunately, there are a number of possible sources of assistance, including AATTRA in Arkansas. USDA offers both technical and financial sources of assistance in some types of value©added agricultural areas (a publication on these resources will be available December 1997). The challenges with most diversification efforts include not only determining what to grow and how to grow it but also establishing and maintaining markets. There are a number of examples of farmers that have successfully diversified, but more effort at developing diversification is needed to continue to improve agriculture.