In a Market-Based Crop Rotation, TEFF Will Maximize the Use of Soil Moisture and Increase the Annual Income for Dryland Farmers in Kansas

The purpose of this award is for the grantee to incorporate the cereal grain, teff, into a market-based crop rotation to maximize soil moisture and precipitation while increasing the annual income for dry land farmers in Kansas.Teff, a crop native to Ethiopia, has been proven to grow in northwest and north central Kansas. Two years of teff experimentation has also been conducted by Kansas State University at the Experiment Station near Colby, Kansas and by the KBFA at Nicodemus, Kansas. Teff is also being commercially grown in both Oklahoma and Idaho and sold throughout the United States to Ethiopian restaurants and health food stores. Teff is drought and flood tolerant, can be used as both forage and a grain, and is low in gluten. The Solomon Valley RC&D, in collaboration with the KBFA will select six to eight limited resources, EQIP eligible producers to incorporate and grow eighty acres of teff within existing crop rotations. Teff will maximize the efficient use of precipitation and soil moisture. With teff the innovative crop rotations will improve soil health, conserve moisture, and sustain productivity.