WASHINGTON — Diversifying your crops is like diversifying your financial portfolio. Having more than one type of financial investment reduces the risk of losing all your money. Thefield of wheat mid-season showing slight variation in areas of the field August 7th, 2021 Sustainable, Secure Food Blog discusses the value of mixing different varieties of wheat in a field.
Blogger Julie Baniszewski explains, “A typical wheat field is one variety, a monoculture production. This tends to be common because it is the most efficient method. However, this type of specialization often requires additional inputs, fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals, to maintain the high yields that is expected of modern agriculture. This, in turn, can cause a cycle of reliance on these chemical inputs.”
By planting two to four varieties of wheat with different traits, the field is more genetically diverse and better able to withstand pests and diseases than a field with a single variety. This practice protects against a complete crop failure that might occur to one variety. To learn more, read the entire blog: https://sustainable-secure-food-blog.com/2021/08/07/why-mix-varieties-of-wheat-in-a-field/
–American Society of Agronomy
Crop Science Society of America
For more articles concerning the wheat industry, click here.