"No Gluten" Grain Catching On Fast
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Gluten free, mineral rich and high in protein, teff is a traditional Ethiopian cooking grain that is growing in popularity. Described as having a nutty flavor, it can be cooked like porridge, added to stews, ground into flour and used in all types of baked goods. However, conditions have to be just right to grow it, according to a spokesperson for The Teff Company.
“If it is rained on at harvest, that can ruin the crop as it sprouts very quickly,” said a spokesperson for The Teff Company. “We contract with producers to grow it here in Idaho in a very arid environment, and even here it can be difficult. However, teff can be grown for hay in many parts of the country.”
Company founder Wayne Carlson has been growing and supplying teff to Ethiopian and Eritrean communities in the U.S. for nearly 30 years. He says a pound of teff seed, which compares in size to poppy seed, can produce up to a ton of grain in only 12 weeks.
He recommends a very firm seedbed. Seeding is most effective when seed is spread on the ground surface and cultipacked or rolled.
The company sells its grain and flour in 5-lb. ($25) and 25-lb. ($65) bags. The Teff Company also sells a patent-protected variety, Dessie Summer Lovegrass Seed, suggested for hay production, for $75 for 25 lbs., shipping included. Carlson reports that a single Dessie plant can form as many as 3,500 tillers at maturity. He recommends it as a nutrient rich hay with health benefits for horses as well as a top yielding grain.
Hunton Family Farms produces teff, marketing it through their Camas Country Mill store (ph 541 357-5448; www.camascountrymill.com). A spokesman says they’re hard pressed to meet demand. While they sell it as grain ($6 for 1.5 lbs. or 25 lbs. for $40) and as flour (1 lb. for $4 or $14.50 for 4 lbs.), they don’t have enough to sell for seed. By mid June, they were nearly out of flour and grain.
Jay Davison, area forage and alternative crop specialist, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, has worked with 15 different varieties in his trials. He reports there are more than 4,000 varieties identified in Ethiopia. The USDA Agriculture Research Service Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Research Station, Prosser, Wash., has nearly 400 numbered cultivars in its collection, though most have not been evaluated for either grain or grass production.
Davison seeded his 20-sq. ft. plots at a 3 lbs./acre rate. The top variety produced more than 1,500 lbs./acre. The bottom 5 produced less than 500 lbs./acre. Lodging was common with all the top yielding varieties.
Davison advises producers considering growing teff to conduct small-scale trials of unknown varieties, or only plant commercial varieties with proven yields.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, The Teff Co., 2520 Sundance Rd., Nampa, Idaho 83651 (ph 208 461-5634 or 888 822-2221; questions@teffco.com; www.teffco.com).
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No Gluten Grain Catching On Fast FARM HOME Food Gluten free mineral rich and high in protein teff is a traditional Ethiopian cooking grain that is growing in popularity Described as having a nutty flavor it can be cooked like porridge added to stews ground into flour and used in all types of baked goods However conditions have to be just right to grow it according to a spokesperson for The Teff Company “If it is rained on at harvest that can ruin the crop as it sprouts very quickly ” said a spokesperson for The Teff Company “We contract with producers to grow it here in Idaho in a very arid environment and even here it can be difficult However teff can be grown for hay in many parts of the country ” Company founder Wayne Carlson has been growing and supplying teff to Ethiopian and Eritrean communities in the U S for nearly 30 years He says a pound of teff seed which compares in size to poppy seed can produce up to a ton of grain in only 12 weeks He recommends a very firm seedbed Seeding is most effective when seed is spread on the ground surface and cultipacked or rolled The company sells its grain and flour in 5-lb $25 and 25-lb $65 bags The Teff Company also sells a patent-protected variety Dessie Summer Lovegrass Seed suggested for hay production for $75 for 25 lbs shipping included Carlson reports that a single Dessie plant can form as many as 3 500 tillers at maturity He recommends it as a nutrient rich hay with health benefits for horses as well as a top yielding grain Hunton Family Farms produces teff marketing it through their Camas Country Mill store ph 541 357-5448; www camascountrymill com A spokesman says they’re hard pressed to meet demand While they sell it as grain $6 for 1 5 lbs or 25 lbs for $40 and as flour 1 lb for $4 or $14 50 for 4 lbs they don’t have enough to sell for seed By mid June they were nearly out of flour and grain Jay Davison area forage and alternative crop specialist University of Nevada Cooperative Extension has worked with 15 different varieties in his trials He reports there are more than 4 000 varieties identified in Ethiopia The USDA Agriculture Research Service Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Research Station Prosser Wash has nearly 400 numbered cultivars in its collection though most have not been evaluated for either grain or grass production Davison seeded his 20-sq ft plots at a 3 lbs /acre rate The top variety produced more than 1 500 lbs /acre The bottom 5 produced less than 500 lbs /acre Lodging was common with all the top yielding varieties Davison advises producers considering growing teff to conduct small-scale trials of unknown varieties or only plant commercial varieties with proven yields Contact: FARM SHOW Followup The Teff Co 2520 Sundance Rd Nampa Idaho 83651 ph 208 461-5634 or 888 822-2221; questions@teffco com; www teffco com
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