Research and Extension personnel from the North Dakota State University Carrington Research Extension Center received awards at the recent Northern Plains Food and Farming Conference held recently in Fargo, North Dakota. The Northern Plains Sustainable.
A new appreciation has developed for rye, a winter-hardy grain that develops a deep root system. Growing rye is seen as beneficial to soil health, is a strong competitor to weeds, and helps reduce erosion from water and wind. It can be a companion crop to soybeans, edible beans and sugarbeets to cut down on wind damage as plants emerge. In areas with livestock, producers can graze it or harvest it for forage.