If you’ve been adversely affected by this year’s wet weather, the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) can help you figure out how to make the most of your damaged crop. FAR Board Chair Steven Bierema and CEO Alison Stewart met with grower representatives in May for a post-harvest look at grain drying and seed cleaning facilities. These short on-farm meetings provided an opportunity to share information about grain and seed drying and cleaning options.

The advice from FAR is that sprouted grain is unsuitable for use in the milling, brewing, and food industries, but it can be fed to livestock. The feeding value of the sprouted grain is not greatly reduced. In some cases, it appears sprouting may actually improve the feeding value. Sprouted wheat should be processed similarly to non-sprouted wheat, but it may have a higher moisture content, which can lead to spoilage and mould growth during storage. If there is any question about the presence of moulds or toxins, have the grain screened. Interested in a workshop with FAR? Keep an eye on their website for future dates.