As we prepare ourselves to launch into the 21st century, we find our farms operating on even smaller margins with rising input costs and increased risk. We, as producers, have a tendency to be the limiting factor on our upside yield potential because of political, area, and family traditions. We become willing to accept a predetermined yield goal, usually much lower than our actual potential.

The laws of economics dictate that the low cost producer will be the profitable survivor. The mistake that we can make here is that we do not want to limit our production by lack of necessary inputs but lower our cost per bushel by having a production system where the preceding crops complement the following crops.

In order to do this we need:

1) Low disturbance zero tillage to protect our soil and conserve water (our most limiting factor)

2) Crop rotations to prevent insect, disease, weed and resistance problems

3) Crop competition - good, thick stands promote high yields and are the cheapest weed control.

4) Sanitation - by keeping the weed seed bank empty helps to reduce chemical requirements and maintains high yields!

As we find ourselves struggling with low cereal prices, many producers are searching for profitable alternatives. We feel the solution here is to look at the whole picture and make all of the crops in our system profitable. As we initially began to move toward zero till,

our focus was mainly on erosion control and water conservation with cereals. After several years our yields were not adding up to the plant available water and fertility. We knew something wasn't quite right and shifted some acreage to alternate crops. It was at this point when we planted cereals back on these fields that the picture became clear. Root disease was severely limiting our yield potential. During the '97 growing season, our area extension agronomist did three research plots on a field that had been continuous durum for three years. The plots were 300 square feet at a random location. The plots were tarped and fumigated with methyl bromide. Methyl bromide is not an economical means of controlling root disease but is used to demonstrate actual field losses from root disease and to demonstrate what to expect if adequate rotations to control root disease were practiced. Root diseases were found to have caused a 40% yield loss. Test weight and protein were consistently higher in the plots where root diseases were controlled. Soil nitrate levels were found to be greater under non-fumigated areas than under healthy root systems where root disease was controlled. Crop rotations which include crops dissimilar to cereal grains for two or *three years between cereal crops breaks the disease cycle for cereal root diseases and has been found to be as effective in reducing root disease causing pathogens as fumigation. With this in mind we need to focus on crops that will perform well in our climatic environments, have access to markets, learn how to grow these crops and in a timely fashion (do your homework), spread workloads, have the potential for respectable returns, accepted by landlords, match crops to soil types and pH, and consider current rental agreements and risk factors, residual herbicides, pay closer attention to micronutrients.

We do not have an established rotation across our farm, instead we go on a field by field basis considering the above-mentioned factors. We prefer to rotate out of cereals for two years. Crops that we use in our cropping system are: peas, lentils, corn, sunflowers, millet, crambe, mustard, alfalfa and flax.

• PEAS - the sweetheart of our system, it give us more back than just a grain crop - Nitrogen (the highest cost input on our farm). Usually the first crop* harvested - this allows for longer recharge period. Semi-leafless varieties leave more surface residue for snow catch. Inoculation is very important. Surface residue has a dark color which allows for faster sod warm-up in the spring and usually drier surface conditions from lack of residue. Plant early; frost tolerant crop that performs very well in cool sod conditions. Seed 2" -3" deep. We prefer to plant peas following cereals.

• LENTILS - Our favorite crop. The most difficult crop to grow weed-free due to sensitivity to herbicides and lack of crop competition. Performs well in our and environment. May presents harvest problems because of low growth habits, especially during droughty periods. May require a rolling operation to flatten lumps and stones. Frost tolerant crop that should be planted early for best results. Seed 1.5" to 3" deep. Proper inoculation is very important. We prefer to plant lentils following cereals.

• CORN - We like to have our corn for grain planted by May 1 as corn can tolerate frost up to the five-leaf stage. Corn cannot tolerate much frost in the fall. We target 20,000 plants per acre at 1.5" deep. Many different modes of herbicides available. Much more efficient user of nitrogen than small grains. 1.2 lbs. N per bushel versus 2.5 lbs. N per bushel of wheat. Very water-use efficient plant. Rooting depth similar to small grains. Local markets in most communities in North Dakota. Golden Valley County has one of the lowest GDU= (growing degree unit) totals in the state. Requires all crop or corn head. Usually harvested by first week in October. Yields varied from 50 - 95 bushels per acre across Southwest North Dakota this year. We prefer to plant corn following peas or lentils. Early fall frost can make this a risky crop.

SUNFLOWERS - Target 20,000 plants per acre at 1.5" deep. Our planting dates range from May 25 to June 10. Broadleaf control has been our biggest concern due to lack of herbicides. We have surface applied Sonalan in the fall with good results and surface applied up to 3.6 pints of Prowl in the spring with good results. The labeled postemergence grass herbicide has also worked very well. Solid seeding looks like a viable alternative to a planter. New varieties are leaps and bounds ahead of past varieties in yield and oil content. Requires pans or row crophead. Usually the last crop we harvest. We prefer to plant sunflowers following corn, millet or small grains.

PROSO MILLET - Planting dates range from June 1 to June 30. We like to target a seeding rate of 25 lbs. per acre and plant 1" - 1. 5 " deep with the single disk opener. The most important lesson we have learned with the small seeded crops we raise is to make sure we have them planted deep enough to get through the duff layer and get good seed-to-soil contact. Usually this means planting up to 1.5" deep. Under conventional tillage this would be to deep, but with the duff layer to protect the seedling from crusting and the soil from drying out, we have been able to get good stands in unusually heavy residue. Millet requires roughly 4 lbs. of nitrogen per hundred weight and is the most water-use efficient plant in the grass family. There are no labeled grass herbicides for millet but millet is very tolerant of atrizine, this is why we like to plant millet following corn. Banvel is labeled for broadleaf control in the three to five leaf stage. Swathing is usually necessary to prevent shattering. Millet for grain is harvested in mid September. Yields have ranged from 1,500 to 2,000 lbs. per acre. Currently priced at .045 cents per pound, this is not a high return crop and volunteer millet can pose problems in following cereal crops.

FLAX - We like to plant flax as soon as our peas and lentils are planted, usually late April to early May at a depth of 1.5". We like to target 40 lbs. of seed per acre. This is the seeding rate that has given us the best yield. We prefer to plant flax following millet. Yields have ranged from 15-25 bushels per acre.

CRAMBE - A new crop for us this year and one that we are excited about. It is a very efficient water user and will tolerate water stress better than canola or mustard. We like to plant crambe at 25 lbs. per acre by the -middle of April at a depth of 1.5" deep. Very good grass herbicide labeled for crambe, limited broadleaf herbicide available. Grasshoppers can pose a threat to crambe. Swathing was necessary due to uneven maturity and harvested before small grains were mature. Yields ranged from 1,600 to 2,000 lbs. per acre. We had heavy swaths and used a roller but strong winds scattered the swaths. Crambe is contracted to AgGrow Oils. We prefer to plant crambe following corn or cereals.

MUSTARD - We like to plant mustard during mid April to early May at 15 lbs. of seed per acre at a depth of 1.5". We prefer to plant mustard following peas and lentils due to lack of a labeled grass herbicide. We have used Treflan applied with a rotary harrow with mixed results. The harrow seemed to dry the soil surface and resulted in reduced germination. Nitrogen to sulfur ratio critical for maximum yield. 65 lbs. of nitrogen per 1,000 lbs. of yield. A low input crop with good return potential. Grasshoppers also posed a threat to our mustard this year. We straight combine mustard during cooler parts of the day to reduce shatter loss. Yields have varied between 700 - 1,100 lbs. per acre. Mustard is contracted by Minn-Dak Growers.

ALFALFA - We like to plant alfalfa in our saline areas but have discovered that it can also be a profitable crop in non-saline areas. We like to plant alfalfa between June 1 and June 20 at a depth of 1.5". By planting in warm soils we get fast emergence and considerably less weed pressure. We target 8-10 lbs. of seed per acre. Grassy weed can be controlled with Poastplus and broadleaves can be controlled with Buctril. Alfalfa can be harvested for seed or put up as forage. We like to put alfalfa on fields that are not performing as well as they should be - tremendous benefits to soil health!

The largest potential drawback to a diverse cropping system is lack of reasonable crop insurance. This is one area where all producers can band together and search for a solution to this problem.

These are the crops in our cropping system, but there are many more opportunities out there - from soybeans, canola, lupine, sorghum, Sudan, canary seed, safflower, edible beans, chickpeas, buckwheat, borage.

Many of these crops are not new crops, but because of our previous farm bill, these crops were imported into this country, usually at a premium. We now have the opportunity to raise these crops profitably with rotational benefits that can help us be low-cost producers!

Seize the moment!