Texas producers find value in alternative crops

Texas farmers continue to find ways to add value to their operations through alternative crops like oilseeds and cover crop forages.

Calvin Trostle, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agronomist and statewide hemp and alternative crop specialist, Lubbock, said markets may be limited for alternative crops like sunflowers, sesame, Sudan grass and canola, but Texas producers are taking advantage of cropping opportunities.

For producers, alternative crops can serve as primary summer crops or provide supplemental income. They can also provide the benefits of a cover crop during the cool season.

“Alternative crops are a small piece of Texas ag production,” Trostle said. “But for producers looking for opportunities to supplement their primary crop production, they can really be a value-added component.”

Sunflowers show potential

Trostle said total acres for sunflowers in the Rio Grande Valley increased slightly but remained static in other regions of the state. Growers typically engage with buyers before acres are planted to fill contracts at set prices. Seeds are grown for two markets – as bird food and for oil extraction.

Per pound prices were good for both markets, he said. Seeds bound for “crushing” end up in oil form for various products, but primarily for cooking, especially in large-scale food manufacturing.

Sunflower seeds’ high-oleic content makes them more shelf-stable and better for cooking and frying, but their monounsaturated fats retain healthy attributes, he said.

Trostle said there may be growth potential in the demand for crushing-seeds for oil but the demand for them as bird food remained steady.

“Sunflowers seem to provide some price security and safety for growers, and it has the potential for premiums based on oil content,” he said. “It takes experience and building relationships with potential buyers to enter some of these alternative crop markets. That’s why we recommend growers dedicate some acres each season to experiment with growing options that might have potential for their operation.”

Finding markets for alternative crops

Production capacity in other alternative crops slipped or made gains based on regional demands, Trostle said.

Sesame seed acres remained close to last year, but demand dropped when a contractor pulled out of the Texas market, he said. As a result, prices have not been strong enough to generate interest in expansion among producers. It remains an alternative crop that is on a contract basis and filled by established growers.

Canola for oil production also experienced a decline in demand, even in surrounding states like Oklahoma, as acres moved to other states, Trostle said. However, some growers are finding a market for the cool-season crop as a high-value forage for dairy production in the Panhandle. Canola is a brassica, which are fast-growing, high yielding forage and cover crops, and its silage’s high nutritive value outperforms grasses like wheat and ryegrass.

Trostle said wheat, triticale and Sudan grass, which is a forage sorghum variety, have generated increased interest among producers. They are seeing the harvest and post-harvest value in these cool-season crops.

They can be grazed or grown as forage but also provide excellent cover-crop residue for growers who might follow with cotton or other warm-season commodities.

Trostle said Texas A&M AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension scientists continue to research the versatility of these cool-season options and provide valuable information and recommendations to growers.

“A new major educational effort for me this year is the advent of prussic acid-free sorghums,” he said. “There are first-time sorghum/Sudan hybrids that eliminate prussic acid poisoning in stressed or frostbitten sorghums.”

Trostle said that for now, those seeds cost more, and there are first-year limited seed supplies.

“A lot of this initial work is laying out the pros and cons, but I think more and more producers are seeing the pros — especially in a grazing situation,” he said.  

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

Central

Counties across the district received good rainfall with reports of more than 2 inches in some areas. The moisture brought benefits and challenges for agricultural operations. Continued wet conditions severely hampered wheat harvest and hay cutting operations, with producers struggling to find dry windows of time for fieldwork. There were growing concerns about grain quality and forage deterioration. Despite operational delays, crop conditions remained generally favorable, with all crops benefiting from moisture. Cotton progressed well and was flowering, and sorghum was heading out with an excellent appearance. Corn progressed well, but some fields showed some disease pressure, specifically southern rust. Pasture conditions were excellent, with abundant forage supporting livestock with good body conditions. Stock tanks remained full, and cattle markets stayed strong.

Rolling Plains

Farmers and ranchers across the district continued to receive moisture. Livestock drinking sources were in great shape going into the summer. However, the sustained rains caused a few problems. Prior to cotton planting, farmers needed to repair several waterways and terraces. Additionally, many wheat fields were too wet for large equipment to access for harvest. Cattle producers were enjoying record-high cattle prices, which raised questions about plans for herd rebuilding.

Coastal Bend

Dry and hot conditions continued with temperatures in the 90s. Fields were drying out, though previous rainfall was timely for corn, sorghum and cotton. Earlier planted corn was in the dough stage, and sorghum harvest was expected to begin soon. Most crops looked good, though late-planted acres were showing some stress. Insect pressure was present but being managed. Weed spraying and fertilizer applications continued. Pasture conditions improved but were beginning to dry. Forage was still adequate, and hay harvest was underway. Livestock remained in good condition, though some areas still needed pond water.

East

Scattered rains continued to deliver moisture. Some areas reported more than 1.5-4 inches, while other areas received very little. A few areas reported flooding. Temperatures were high and caused moisture stress in drier areas. Some vegetable crops were struggling due to wet conditions. Producers harvested hay when and where conditions were dry enough. Cattle were in good to excellent condition, and grazing was abundant. Sale prices were down on some classes and higher on others. Horn fly numbers were up, and grasshopper nymph numbers increased in pastures. Producers were monitoring for armyworms, and feral hog damage continued.

Southeast

Moisture levels were adequate to surplus. Many areas received rainfall, with up to 4 inches reported in northern areas of San Jacinto County and light showers elsewhere. Temperatures were warm. Fields began to dry in areas that missed rain. Despite declining conditions, rice crops continued to perform well. Weather contributed to favorable crop and pasture conditions in most areas. Corn was silking, and sorghum continued to progress, with some fields coloring. Sunflowers and cotton fields were planted. Cotton emerged and was in good condition. Some areas reported declining pasture quality due to a lack of moisture. Field crops benefited from recent rains, and winter wheat harvest was nearly complete. An increase in fly populations was reported. Forage growth supported good body condition scores. Pasture and rangeland conditions were poor to excellent.

South Plains

Subsoil and topsoil moisture levels were mostly adequate. Counties reported trace amounts of rain up to 3.5 inches. Moisture should benefit all crops, pastures and rangeland. Temperatures reached the 90s, accompanied by high winds. Farmers were rushing to complete cotton planting. Some crop losses were reported due to storms. Producers who received rain turned off irrigation pivots. Weed emergence was a concern. Cucumber planting resumed, and black-eyed pea planting was expected to begin as soon as conditions dried enough. 

Panhandle

The district received much-needed rain over a three-day period. Soil moisture levels were adequate. Most acres of warm-season crops, such as corn and cotton, were planted and progressing at various stages. The additional moisture improved subsoil moisture levels. Forage harvesting for silage and hay came to a standstill due to rain events. Improved and native grass pastures continued spring green-up, setting up good grazing and livestock conditions. Crop, pasture and range conditions were fair to good.

North

Some areas received heavy rains. Cotton planting continued while early planted fields were progressing and setting bolls. Watermelons looked good, and harvest was about 10 days away, while cantaloupe harvest was in full swing. Wheat harvest continued, and some remaining wheat was damaged by storms. The wet conditions mean further delays for harvest and reduced grain quality. Vegetables were being harvested while blueberries and blackberries were being picked. Plums and peaches were coming into season. Rains helped pecan trees.

Far West

Recent weather across the district was highly variable. Widespread rainfall in some areas brought optimism for an early and strong summer monsoon season, but excessive moisture led to localized flooding. Other areas faced limited precipitation and extremely high temperatures, intensified by strong winds and sandstorms. Moisture improved pasture conditions and supported soil stability in areas that received rain. Cotton planting was nearly complete. Producers struggled with high heat indexes and remained concerned about managing livestock.

West Central

Rainfall was scattered, with some areas reporting up to 6 inches. Fieldwork halted in some areas due to excess moisture. Cotton planting continued. Producers cut and baled hay in areas dry enough. Some producers reported 2-4 round bales per acre. Haygrazer pastures looked excellent. Some small grain fields were being harvested while others were near harvest. Early yield reports were below average. Cattle looked good, and grazing conditions continued to improve. Stock tanks were full. Pecan trees improved with rainfall.

Southwest

Temperatures were normal or slightly above normal, which increased evapotranspiration. Some areas reported flooding, while others received minimal rainfall. There was some hail damage reported. More rain was in the forecast. Peaches were thinned by the hail, but fortunately, no major crop losses occurred. Recent rains improved the row crop outlook, though some corn was beyond recovery. Additionally, corn earworm infestations were rapidly spreading through some fields. Irrigated crops looked good, but dry conditions persisted in some areas. Despite high moisture levels in previous weeks, extreme temperatures caused heat stress in some fields. Grasshopper nymph populations increased in pastures, though no major damage was observed. Grazing conditions were improving, but many pastures were covered in broadleaf weeds. Some hay neared harvest, and early planted hay looked excellent. Tanks and streams remained low. Home gardeners were harvesting vegetables in abundance. Livestock and wildlife were doing well.

South

A few scattered showers delivered some moisture to some parts of the district. Most areas needed additional rain. Conditions were extremely hot, dry and humid, with temperatures reaching triple digits. Moisture helped row crops, vegetable crops and forage for beef cattle production. Topsoil and subsoil conditions declined due to excessive heat. Corn and grain sorghum continued to mature and were still benefiting from adequate soil moisture. Cotton was in fair condition as most plants set bolls. Citrus needed rain as irrigation water remained limited. Cantaloupe and watermelon harvests were in full swing, and most fields showed promising yields. Peanut planting was in full swing and should be completed by next week. Bermuda grass fields were being cut and baled. Sesame was being sprayed for weeds and insects. Range and pasture forage conditions varied throughout the district but were mostly fair to good. Extreme heat was zapping vegetation. Haygrazer fields showed promising yields and may prove to be an important crop for beef cattle producers. Cattle prices continued to hold steady, with some prices moving up slightly, especially for stocker calves. Stock tanks were low, and some ranchers were hauling water and supplementing their livestock and wildlife with feed.