Alternative Crops : The Future? Or Snake Oil.

Since the dawn of time, humanity has always sought the next big thing. Constantly bustling around for a better invention, more destructive weapon, more efficient means of transportation, food with better nutritional value. This concept is certainly not exempt from the ag community and farmers alike. In particular, it seems as if everyday a new super crop emerges from the obscure and makes its claim as the crop that is superior to corn and soybeans. Recently, Hemp has been a popular name thrown around. Hemp is a fibrous crop that can be used in a multitude of ways such as fiber for clothes and rope, its oil can be used for medicinal purposes, and it can also be used as a grain for livestock. However, in particular Hemp is a cannabinoid, which means that a certain strand of Hemp contains THC depending on the hybrid. THC is illegal in Iowa and in many other states. Until the law changes this is the proverbial nail in the coffin for Hemp. With that being said, many other crops have come and gone to take Corn's throne as the premier cash crop in the state of Iowa and the Midwest.

Pearl Millet

Last year, my father (a local North Central Iowa farmer) and I drove past a vast field of crop that looked unlike any crop I have seen before. That field was an experimental project by another local farmer who planted a crop named Pearl Millet. Millet is a cereal grain that can be harvested just like soybeans. When doing some research into Millet, I was shocked at how much other foreign countries relied on Millet. Over 90% of Africa and Asia utilize Millet in their diets, and the market for Millet in those areas is great. The country of India produces the most Millet internationally. Iowa has some catch up to do, but it could be a great investment to make. Situationally, Millet is a great substitution for Rice in drought like conditions. Millet consumes 70% less water than most cereal crops. According to (Maximize Market Research) the Millet market is supposed to grow 4.8% from 2023-2029.

Amaranth

Amaranth has a rich history. It was a major cash crop for Indians in North America and primarily the Aztec's in Central America. During the Spanish Inquisition, the Amaranth population diminished along with the rate it was grown by farmers on American soil. However it is slowly making a tremendous comeback. Amaranth is a broadleaf plant that produces seeds which are rich in protein. Some people refer to Amaranth as a pseudo-cereal plant due to Amaranths seeds being primarily used as a cereal grain. Due to the lack in production for Amaranth, the plant can be often times be viewed as a novelty crop or a luxury crop. It costs a lot to produce the plant, and even more to buy it off the shelves. However, as the crop rises in popularity amongst farmers, the lower its prices fall, and the more accessible it is.

Canola

At first when you think of Canola, you first think of it as a cover crop. With growing erosion in the state due to harsh winters, wet springs, and constant tillage, cover crops have been a savior for our soil. Crops like Rye, Buck Wheat, and Canola are frequently used as a cover crop. But is Canola a legitimate cash crop that can make as much profit as soy beans and corn? Probably not, but it can certainly offer supplementary income. Canola is a flowering plant whose mustard-like seeds contain a bountiful amount of oil. Of course everyone has a bottle of Canola Oil, well that oil is crushed from the miniscule seeds of a yellow flower plant. The market for Canola is growing, however the crop is used exclusively for oil, so the market is narrow. From a farmers perspective, Canola is multipurpose. You can not only use Canola as a cover crop, but you can also harvest it for product. The miracle crop can fill the gaps in-between corn and soybeans and solve one of the biggest problems facing farmers right now, erosion.