Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-08-18
WINTER RYE, A PROFITABLE CROP
By Edgar l. Olsen, Field Agent, Grand Forks County Farm Bureau.

WIFI WHICH TO S60U OOWu SIAbS Se0u
especially on light land where grass
1t has to be seeded shallow. In seeding
down with rye the grass seed should
not be planted in the fall with the rye
but should be cross seeded on the rye
field early the next spring. Owing, to
the fall growth of the rye the soil will
not blow enough to blow out the light
grass seed.
AS rye volunteers badly it should be
followed by late barley or a cultivated
crop.
In building up a u down soil rye
would be one of the best crops to start
to, raise. n n
:. Preparation Of Seed Bed.
Fs Where seeded on plowed ground the
same general principles apply as in
preparing a seed bed for wheat. The
land should be well plowed and a firm
mellow seed bed provided. In seeding
it should be, planted to a uniform
depth, about two inches being consid-
cred right.
Seeding. /,
Good home grown seed is possible
should be used, this of course should
be tested SO that one knows that 1t
Will grow. Care should be taken that
the seed Is free from ergot, this will
be discussed later. In regard to the
amount hat ought to be seeded to the
acre opinion varies. With rye as with
everything else one should seed the
amount that is customary in that vi
cinity and that gives the best results.
Generally from a bushel and a peck
to a bushel and a half is seeded. Rye
should be planted from the 18th or
August to the last of September.
Enemies OF? Rye.
Rye is affected to some extent by the
different insects and plant diseases
that affect wheat but never with such
serious resultR 1T has however one
disease that Is peculiar to itself, al
though found or other cereals, and
that Is ergot, a fungus growth. This
is found on the head and resembles q
kernel of rye except that 1t is not COW
cred. is larger and has a purplish col
or. This is also known as spurred or
horned rye. AS spores from this disease
stay In the field 1t is not advisory to
seed rye on land that has produced
rye with ergot in 1t for at least three
years. Care should be used in feeding
rye containing a large amount Of err
got as serious results are often pro-
duced. a -:
Harvesting.
Rye generally natures early, abous
a week before winter wheat and even
before early seeded barley. Just when
to cut rye has always been a debatabie
question as when 1t is cut too green
IT is hard to thresh and whenslet stand
100 long It skaters badly causing q
heavy volunteer crop the next4year
One must us his own Judgment; ii
snouid1 however be treated like#whea
Use.
Rye is used for the production 81
-four for human consumption ana Tor
iced for livestock and also 10 sonoe
extent In the production Of alcoholic
beverages. -sss
Rye bread Is used to 4 m,,ch
larger extent in Europe than In thir
country. and for this reason is in ire
demand at the present time to supple.
ment me wheat crop as like wheat i,
pc easily handled and shipped. IN
present time II is bringing m the
minneapolis market around 81 3
|bushel. Z
summarizing the value OF rye a. 4
crop we find that 1t is q proftabIe crnr,
compares well with wheat. II diverry.
lies crops, 1t provides fall pastrIe
az we get rainy, 1t iS handled Az Z
work. ~ =
Without question winter rye is tic
surest crop we can raise as It doe,
vel on poor y and is a. drouth re-.
sister. AT this stage Of the game wher
their is an acute food snortaees and
when we would like to put in ever
available acre whether ar nnt Tho,
= isEtn h best condition to rafss
grain we should by all means attic,
put IN rye than wheat. THE nianffms
81 wheat on land that lis not in ths