Growing Mustard As A Cash Crop

Growing Mustard As A Cash Crop CROPS New Crops Mustard plants are considered weeds by most farmers and can be a challenge to uproot But for some the plant is a valuable cover crop with real profit potential As a cool-season spring annual mustard grows deep taproots that in dry conditions can grow well over 5-ft down This has long made it an ideal crop for breaking up hardpan and loosening the top few inches of soil Research shows that utilizing mustard as a cover crop may reduce soil-borne pathogens like nematodes and fungi improving soil health for the long term Mustard is a member of the brassica family which is gaining attention for its biofumigant properties Brassicas tend to have high amounts of glucosinolates which are compounds found in bitter pungent plants When mustard is cut down and incorporated into the soil as a cover crop it releases its glucosinolate content into the ground Over time this can reduce the amount of pesticide needed for the field When grown as a cover crop mustard germinates quickly and can reach maturity between 80 to 95 days depending on the variety It should be mowed in or chopped down before flowering to incorporate it into the soil while still green Make sure to cut the crop down before it goes to seed otherwise you will be introducing a tenacious weed into your growing space Other farmers are using mustard as a cash crop by selling to single buyers like Olds Products Company a leading U S mustard manufacturer Under their contract mustard sells for about $0 36 per pound for up to 800 lbs an acre Farmers are protected at this price point meaning that they are guaranteed the payment even if weather conditions ruin the crop before harvesting If a field has a bumper crop the grower can look elsewhere to sell the surplus though the company is often willing to purchase the full supply While yields from canola a closely related crop can easily triple mustard productions for the same acreage pound for pound mustard tends to be more profitable Mustard takes minimal special equipment for harvesting as farmers can use a combine equipped with the same header used for wheat On the downside mustard tends to be more temperamental and can be a challenge to harvest without shattering the seed pods and scattering the seeds Despite these challenges mustard offers impressive profit potential for farmers looking to switch up their cash crops or prioritize soil health Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Agricultural Marketing Resource Center AgMRC 2625 N Loop Dr Suite 2430 Iowa State University Ames Iowa 50010 ph 866-277-5567; www agmrc org

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