Organic Management of Ancient Wheats in North Dakota and the Northeast.

The overall goal of this project is to add value to the small grain component of the food system by promoting the organic production of grains with distinct culinary traits and high market potential.  Millers, bakers, food processors, and consumers have shown increased interest in the ancient wheats emmer and einkorn. Replicated field trials were conducted in North Dakota, New York and Pennsylvania to characterize best organic management practices for spring emmer and spring einkorn, in addition to spring spelt and modern spring wheat.  Specific objectives were 1) to identify optimal spring emmer and einkorn seeding rates, and 2) to evaluate the effect of planting date on the productivity of spring emmer, spring einkorn, spring spelt, and hard red spring wheat varieties.