Rye Harvest Date

The interest in growing cereal rye for grain to be sold as cover crop seed, or to other value-added markets (distillers and bakers), has increased considerably across the Northeast region. As a result, farmers and end-users are requesting yield and quality information on cereal rye varieties. In 2019, University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils (NWCS) Program conducted a harvest date trial to evaluate harvest date yield and quality of cereal rye. The overall goal of this project is to determine the impact of harvest timing on rye yield and quality. Wheat and barley require timely harvest to maintain quality, especially falling number, for baking and brewing. It is unclear if harvest timing impacts falling number in cereal rye. Subsequently, there is little knowledge if rye with high falling number is required for baking. The goal of this project was to evaluate the impact of harvest date on yields and quality parameters across two rye varieties