The market for rye exists for several reasons. Areas within Southeastern Michigan have been converted from large agricultural use to large rural residential use. Hobby farms are more abundant today as a result of these changes in land use. Parcels sold for rural residential use are often from tracts of land that are less suitable for field crop production. These soils can be more susceptible to erosion.
Some new landowners are interested in using their acreage for small-scale agricultural production.
They have an interest in building soil organic matter levels and reducing erosion. Rye is well known as a cover crop or green manure crop among these new rural residents. It is perhaps the most common cover crop used by gardeners. Rye has also been of interest to organic farmers and conventional farmers looking for ways to improve soil structure or reduce weed growth. Rye is aggressive as a cover crop.