He Cashed In With Alternative Crop
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When North Dakota State University recommended growing "borage" as an alternative crop, Roger Gussiaas gave it a try. Nearly 20 years later, he's still growing it and selling borage seed to overseas markets where it's pressed for oil used in supplements and cosmetics, lotions and shampoos.
With blue and purple flowers that last about a month, it's one of the prettiest crops in his Carrington, N. Dak., fields.
"It's a crop you would only grow if you had a market for it," he says, adding that it's not something producers can sell at the local elevator.
Borage is suitable for areas with cool nights, and moderate moisture and day temperatures. It needs bees for pollination û at least one hive per acre.
"Beekeepers love borage because it's one of the best producers of high quality honey," Gussiaas says. "Beekeepers welcome the invitation to come to borage fields."
On fields of 50 to 100 acres, the hives are set on all four corners, but they can also be placed in the middle or on the edges of the field.
Before planting, Gussiaas uses a pre-emergence herbicide. Later, he follows up with a grass herbicide and an herbicide to kill mustard.
It's important to plant on clean ground, he says, in order to avoid weed seeds at harvest. Borage is planted at 12 to 15 lbs./per acre in late May/early June in North Dakota. It emerges in 7 to 10 days, and then grows slowly for 2 to 3 weeks.
When borage starts to bloom, the bees get busy on the flowers that continue to bloom right up until harvest.
"It's an indeterminate plant so it doesn't all ripen at the same time," Gussiaas says. In North Dakota, harvest is around Sept. 1. The borage is cut with a swather, windrowed, dried and then combined with a pickup header. Yields vary from 100 to 600 lbs. an acre and sell for $1 to $2.50/lb. Seeds are stored in totes or bags.
"All of our production goes overseas," says Gussiaas, who contracts with North Dakota farmers to grow seed. His main export is flax seed, but there is also demand for borage, which has the highest content of gamma-linolenic acid (Omega 6) in a plant.
In some markets, borage flowers are sold as food or dried for tea. Many gardeners believe that when borage is planted next to tomato plants, it enhances the tomato flavor.
"You need to know someone," Gussiaas emphasizes to market the seed. "Go to a processor of some kind for a contract."
Seed is generally only available through processors and runs $3/lb.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Roger Gussiaas, 6945 5th St. N.E., Carrington, N. Dak. 58421 (ph 701 652-3529; www.healthyoilseeds.com).
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He Cashed In With Alternative Crop CROPS Miscellaneous When North Dakota State University recommended growing borage as an alternative crop Roger Gussiaas gave it a try Nearly 20 years later he s still growing it and selling borage seed to overseas markets where it s pressed for oil used in supplements and cosmetics lotions and shampoos With blue and purple flowers that last about a month it s one of the prettiest crops in his Carrington N Dak fields It s a crop you would only grow if you had a market for it he says adding that it s not something producers can sell at the local elevator Borage is suitable for areas with cool nights and moderate moisture and day temperatures It needs bees for pollination û at least one hive per acre Beekeepers love borage because it s one of the best producers of high quality honey Gussiaas says Beekeepers welcome the invitation to come to borage fields On fields of 50 to 100 acres the hives are set on all four corners but they can also be placed in the middle or on the edges of the field Before planting Gussiaas uses a pre-emergence herbicide Later he follows up with a grass herbicide and an herbicide to kill mustard It s important to plant on clean ground he says in order to avoid weed seeds at harvest Borage is planted at 12 to 15 lbs /per acre in late May/early June in North Dakota It emerges in 7 to 10 days and then grows slowly for 2 to 3 weeks When borage starts to bloom the bees get busy on the flowers that continue to bloom right up until harvest It s an indeterminate plant so it doesn t all ripen at the same time Gussiaas says In North Dakota harvest is around Sept 1 The borage is cut with a swather windrowed dried and then combined with a pickup header Yields vary from 100 to 600 lbs an acre and sell for $1 to $2 50/lb Seeds are stored in totes or bags All of our production goes overseas says Gussiaas who contracts with North Dakota farmers to grow seed His main export is flax seed but there is also demand for borage which has the highest content of gamma-linolenic acid Omega 6 in a plant In some markets borage flowers are sold as food or dried for tea Many gardeners believe that when borage is planted next to tomato plants it enhances the tomato flavor You need to know someone Gussiaas emphasizes to market the seed Go to a processor of some kind for a contract Seed is generally only available through processors and runs $3/lb Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Roger Gussiaas 6945 5th St N E Carrington N Dak 58421 ph 701 652-3529; www healthyoilseeds com
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