Organic Rye Resources

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  1. Organic Rye: A Resilient Grain for Tough Conditions and Specialty Markets
  2. Advantages of Growing Organic Rye as Grain
  3. Advantages of Growing Organic Rye for Grazing
  4. Advantages of Growing Organic Rye for Silage
  5. Overall Benefits
  6. Rye Seed Count and Weight
  7. Planting Rate
  8. Planting Depth
  9. Additional Considerations
  10. Rye Varieties
  11. Rye Seed Companies
  12. Organic Small Grain (wheat, oats, triticale, barley, and rye) Traders
  13. More Resources

Organic Rye: A Resilient Grain for Tough Conditions and Specialty Markets

Organic rye production is valued for its adaptability, resilience, and significant contributions to soil health. Rye is a hardy crop that thrives in poor soil conditions where other grains may struggle, making it an excellent choice for organic systems that emphasize soil conservation and reduced input costs. As a cover crop, rye is unrivaled in its ability to suppress weeds, prevent erosion, and build organic matter through its extensive root system. Organic rye production supports biodiversity and ecosystem balance, offering a low-input, high-return solution for sustainable farming. Its use in food products, such as rye bread and whiskey, caters to a niche market of health-conscious consumers seeking clean, chemical-free grains.

  • Food Use: Rye is commonly used in bread, especially in Eastern European countries, with rye bread being known for its dense texture and slightly sour taste. It has a lower gluten content than wheat, making it a good option for people with mild gluten sensitivities (though not suitable for those with celiac disease). Rye contains dietary fiber, iron, and B vitamins, and is associated with lower glycemic index foods.
  • Animal Feed: Rye is less common in animal feed compared to wheat and barley due to its higher fiber content and certain antinutritional factors. However, modern varieties have improved, making it a potential energy source for pigs and poultry when used in limited quantities.

Advantages of Growing Organic Rye as Grain

  1. Adaptability to Poor Soils and Harsh Conditions: Rye is highly adaptable and can thrive in poor, sandy, or acidic soils where other grains might struggle. It is also more tolerant of cold and drought conditions, making it suitable for marginal lands.
  2. Soil Health and Erosion Control: Rye’s deep root system improves soil structure and reduces erosion. It helps to build soil organic matter, enhances water infiltration, and can suppress weeds through its vigorous growth and allelopathic effects (chemical compounds released by the plant that inhibit the growth of other plants). 1
  3. Market Demand for Specialty Products: Rye is used in specialty products such as rye bread, whiskey, and other fermented products, providing niche market opportunities. Its high dietary fiber content, particularly soluble fibers like arabinoxylans, makes it popular in health-conscious markets.2
  4. Pest and Disease Resistance: Rye is generally more resistant to pests and diseases compared to wheat, reducing the need for chemical inputs and making it a more resilient option for organic and low-input farming systems.

Advantages of Growing Organic Rye for Grazing

  1. Early and Extended Grazing: Rye can be planted in the fall and provides early spring grazing, often earlier than other winter cereals. This can help extend the grazing season, especially in colder climates.
  2. High Forage Quality: When harvested at the right stage, rye offers high-quality forage with good levels of protein and digestibility. It is particularly valuable for livestock in the early vegetative stages.
  3. Rapid Growth and Recovery: Rye grows rapidly in cool weather and can be grazed multiple times due to its quick regrowth after grazing. This makes it an excellent forage option in rotational grazing systems.
  4. Resilience to Trampling: Rye’s robust growth habit allows it to withstand trampling by livestock better than some other cereals, maintaining forage quality and yield under grazing pressure.

Advantages of Growing Organic Rye for Silage

  1. Nutritional Silage: Rye silage provides a good source of energy and fiber, suitable for feeding ruminants like dairy cows and beef cattle. It is particularly useful in maintaining forage supplies during times when other silage crops are unavailable.
  2. Early Harvest and Double-Cropping Potential: Rye can be harvested for silage in early spring, allowing farmers to double-crop by planting another forage or grain crop immediately afterward. This can enhance overall farm productivity and land use efficiency.
  3. Disease Management: By harvesting for silage, farmers can avoid some of the common diseases that may affect grain production, such as ergot, a fungal disease that can affect the grain.
  4. High Biomass Production: Rye is known for its high biomass production, which contributes to a significant amount of silage per acre. This makes it an excellent option for producing large quantities of feed in a relatively short period.

Overall Benefits

  • Weed Suppression: Rye’s allelopathic properties and rapid growth help suppress weeds naturally, reducing the need for herbicides and contributing to organic farming systems.
  • Soil Improvement and Cover Crop Benefits: Rye is widely used as a cover crop due to its soil-improving qualities, including enhancing soil structure, reducing compaction, and increasing organic matter content.
  • Low Input Requirements: Rye generally requires fewer inputs in terms of fertilizers and pesticides compared to other grains, making it a cost-effective option for growers, especially in low-input or organic systems.

Rye Seed Count and Weight

  • Seeds per Pound: The number of rye seeds per pound typically ranges from 18,000 to 22,000 seeds per pound, with a common average around 20,000 seeds per pound. This can vary slightly depending on the variety and seed size and has been known to vary from 12,000 to 33,000 seeds per pound.

Planting Rate

  • Typical Planting Rate: For grain production, the standard seeding rate is typically 60 to 90 pounds per acre. This equates to about 1.2 to 1.8 million seeds per acre based on the average seed count. It is generally recommended that you plant 1.2 million seeds per acre as a standard which means your bags per acre can vary tremendously!
  • Range of Planting Rates:
    • Grain Production: Generally 60 to 90 pounds per acre.
    • Forage or Cover Crop Use: Seeding rates can be higher, ranging from 90 to 120 pounds per acre to ensure dense ground cover for weed suppression or forage purposes.
    • Erosion Control or Soil Health: In these cases, even higher rates, up to 120 pounds per acre, may be used for quick canopy closure and soil stabilization.

Planting Depth

  • Optimal Depth: Rye should be planted at a depth of 1 to 1.5 inches. The key factors for depth selection are:
    • 1 inch deep is generally sufficient in most conditions, especially where moisture is readily available.
    • Up to 2 inches deep in drier soils or where moisture is deeper below the surface.
  • Depth Considerations: Planting rye too shallow can increase the risk of exposure to cold or drying winds, while planting too deep can delay emergence and reduce seedling vigor.

Additional Considerations

  • Soil Temperature: Rye is highly cold-tolerant and can germinate in soil temperatures as low as 34°F (1°C). However, ideal germination occurs when soil temperatures are between 50°F and 70°F (10°C to 21°C).
  • Row Spacing: Row spacing for rye can range from 6 to 8 inches for grain production, with narrower spacing used in forage or cover crop applications to achieve rapid ground cover.
  • Uses: Rye is versatile and used for grain, forage, cover cropping, and erosion control. As a cover crop, rye is valued for its allelopathic properties that suppress weed growth and its ability to scavenge residual soil nitrogen.

Rye Varieties

Oklahoma Foundation Seed: Oklon, Elbon, Maton

There are hardly any variety tests to share but this is an especially good one. These are not necessarily organic, but several could be grown on organic soil and then sold since they are OP varieties.

2024 Trial Data from Practical Farmers of Iowa

Rye Seed Companies

Organic farmers are required to purchase organic seed when it is available, but for many crops, organic seed options are limited or unavailable. Many seed companies offer both organic and non-organic seed, and it’s essential for farmers to understand that non-organic seed can be used on certified organic farms as long as it is non-GMO and untreated. Farmers should always verify seed sourcing requirements with their organic certifier to ensure compliance while balancing the need for high-quality planting seed.

Turner Seed Company

Albert Lea Seeds

Trical Superior Forage

Warner Seeds, Inc.

Organic Small Grain (wheat, oats, triticale, barley, and rye) Traders

Here is a list of potential organic commodity buyers (based on organic certification) who have historically engaged in the organic grain market. While these companies have shown interest in organic commodities, it’s important to note that their purchasing activities can vary based on market conditions, demand, and availability. I encourage you to contact them directly to inquire about their current buying needs and contract opportunities, as their purchasing intentions may change over time.

Barton Springs Mill, Inc.

Pink Rose Organix

Caprock Enterprises LLC

  • Beau Brown
  • 1301 E 5th
  • Plainview, Texas 79072
  • PO Box 53538, Lubbock, Texas 79453
  • 806-798-8900
  • beau@lonestarcom.org

Commodity Brokerage Services LLC

Coyote Creek Organic Feed Mill & Farm

Deaf Smith County Grain

Enger Farms, LLC

Lone Star Commodities, Ltd.

McDowell Feed Source

Muleshoe Specialty Grain, LLC

New Deal Grain Inc

TIERRA MANNA TRADING

Triple Nickel, Inc.

  • Kayla Nickels
  • 808 W 19th St
  • Muleshoe, Texas 79347
  • Triple Nickel East
  • 413 East American Blvd.
  • Muleshoe, TX 79347
  • (806) 272-7500
  • Triple Nickel West
  • 1680 CR 1044
  • Muleshoe, Texas 79347
  • (806) 272-5589
  • kayla@cknickels.com
  • https://cknickels.com/

More Resources

  1. Weston, L. A. (1996). “Utilization of Allelopathy for Weed Management in Agroecosystems.” Agronomy Journal, 88(6), 860-866. doi: 10.2134/agronj1996.00021962008800060004x ↩︎
  2. Penãlas, L. T., et al. (2009). “Rye and Health – Grain with Complex Carbohydrates.” Journal of Nutrition & Food Science. ↩︎

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Author: Bob Whitney

Extension Organic Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

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