How cereal rye as a cover crop helps provide a new revenue stream
by Indigo Agriculture
Learn how cover crops open a new revenue stream and provide benefits beyond soil health improvement
It’s known planting cover crops in most regions has its benefits but taking a look at what is produced locally has the ability for your cover crops to serve more than the one purpose of building soil health. The American Farmland Trust saw an opportunity in Kentucky to encourage growers to use cereal rye as cover crops, in order to improve soil structure and earn profits from the crop itself by selling to breweries, distilleries, and bread makers.
Scoot Franklin, the Project Manager, for the Kentucky Commercial Rye Cover Crop Initiative, spoke to farmers about the benefits of this cover crop. But first, a little history on The American Farmland Trust, its main mission is to:
- Keep farmers on the land through generations
- Promote sound farming practices
- Protect farmland
With these goals in mind, the Kentucky initiative was born. AFT saw an opportunity as they knew distilleries were getting cereal rye globally now but knew cereal rye once was widely cultivated in Kentucky until the 1960s, so why not bring it back? There are 75+ distilleries, 70 + breweries, 10 millers, and bakeries in need of rye that could buy it locally.
Why cereal rye?
Specifically in Kentucky, this crop will strengthen the supply chain, while giving local businesses the opportunity to grow their local economy. Choosing this cover crop to plant will provide a wide variety of benefits, including the already stated soil health benefits, along with early weed suppression, moderate soil temperature, and extra profits from selling the cover crop, on top of the cash crop being grown. Lastly, this practice is a great way to sequester carbon and is an eligible practice to participate in the Carbon by Indigo program. It’s a win, win and win situation to explore.
Franklin and the American Farmland Trust are already halfway to their three-year goal of the number of participating growers and acres.
To learn more on the buyer side of the chain, click here to discover why Woodford Reserve is buying local rye rather than global.
This article may include information from third-party sources or other information that Indigo may not independently verify. Carbon quantification methods, processes and understandings are in their nascency and subject to change and continuous development. The information contained herein is for general informational purposes only and may be based on generally applicable assumptions that may not be applicable to any individual operation. Actual results may differ among growers and farms based on a large number of variables. Each operation should independently consider the financial implications and all potential risks and benefits of the use of any agronomic practice. Any payments under Carbon by Indigo are subject to multi-year vesting and are contingent on continued long-term maintenance of regenerative agricultural practices and soil carbon levels. All Carbon Credits generated are subject to buffer pool holdbacks required by third-party crediting; participants will not receive payments for such holdback. Neither Indigo nor its representatives or affiliates makes any representations, warranties or guarantees as to any specific outcomes (agronomic, financial or otherwise) in connection with any recommendations, calculations or predictions. Terms, conditions, limitations and eligibility requirements apply. See program agreement for additional details regarding Carbon by Indigo.
Farmers like you are getting paid to implement practices that improve soil health. With skyrocketing input costs, see how covers help.
You might also be interested in:
Neither Indigo nor any of its affiliates makes any representations, warranties or guarantees as to any specific results or outcomes, including, without limitation, with respect to soil health outcomes or any minimum amount of greenhouse gasses sequestered or number of carbon credits generated. Participation in Carbon by Indigo is subject to the terms, conditions and limitations of the program contained in the applicable enrollment agreement. Any payments under Carbon by Indigo are subject to multi-year vesting and are contingent on continued long-term maintenance of regenerative agricultural practices and soil carbon levels. All Carbon Credits generated are subject to buffer pool holdbacks required by third-party crediting; participants will not receive payments for such holdback. Not available in all areas.
500 Rutherford Ave, Boston, MA 02129 | 844.828.0240 | info@indigoag.com