Growing Specialty Grains
North Coast Regional Grain Growing
Over the last few years several farmers have become interested in growing specialty grains to sell into the local markets for bread, beer, or direct consumption. Some of the local breweries, bakeries, farmers market customers, and specialty stores are buying these locally grown grains at prices that are many times higher than what generic bulk grains normally sell for. The local growers have mostly been planting heirloom varieties of barley and wheat - and growing them organically in order to further increase value. Small grains can also fit well into crop rotation plans and can be grown as a cover crop between rows in vineyards or orchards.
California produces about 1 million tons of small grains (wheat, oats, barley, etc.) annually on about 500,000 acres, which is only 1% of the USA production. Yields can vary considerably depending on the type of grain, variety, soil fertility, weed control, pest problems, and whether or not the field is either irrigated or adequately rain fed. Grain growing is not complex, but greater success can be achieved by incorporating natural systems within the North Coast’s climate, providing adequate fertility, and by seeding at the right rates, depths and at the right times. Growing heirloom varieties offers many additional challenges as they are often less disease resistant and can sometimes grow too tall and fall over (lodge) prior to ripening. The following presentations and links provide information on varieties, and cultural practices that can help you be more successful with your North Coast Grain Growing.
Paul Vossen, Farm Advisor, March 2015
Resources
UC Resources:
- Agronomy of Small Grain Production in California’s North Coast by Mark Lundy (pdf)
- Feasibility - Growing Grains PowerPoint by Paul Vossen (pdf)
- Lundy Lab, Grain Cropping Systems, Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis
- Soil Texture By Feel (Youtube video)
- UC Cost Study on Growing Grains Sample Costs (pdf)
- UC Publications: Small Grains
The following are not affiliated with UC:
- California Grain Campaign with a goal to expand marketing opportunities for small-scale CA grain growers.
- California Grains publishes the annual Grain Catalog with information about growers and the grain revival.
- California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS)
- California Wheat Commission, Research
- Dual-purpose wheat Grain and Grazing (OSU Extension)
- Estimating Soil Nitrogen (USDA)
- Farm Hack – Small-scale farming tools
- Growing Grains on a Small Farm (OSU)
- Guide to Soil Texture by Feel (USDA)
- Heirloom Spring Wheat 2014 Seedling Rate Trial (U of Vermont) (pdf)
- Heritage Grains Conservatory
- Kandarian Organic Farms, grains





- Liebig’s Law of the Minimum, Kemnovation
- Noble Foundation – Soil and Water Relationships
- Organic Seed Alliance
- Pacific Region Field Crop Review (USDA Statistics Service)
- Restoring Heritage Grains, Eli Rogosa (book) the Culture, Biodiversity, Resilience and Cuisine of Ancient Wheats (Google the title)
- SoilWeb soil types overlay onto Google Earth
- Tools for Agronomic Row Crops (SARE)
- Top Ten Factors to Consider Before Growing Grains (UV Extension)
- Weed Management – The Organic Grain Grower – Jack Lazor
- Whole Grain Connection Catalog of Wheat Seeds