WINNIPEG – Michel Durand knows that growing buckwheat can be a roller coaster ride for prairie farmers.
He has seen very low yields and extremely high yields on his family’s farm near Notre-Dame-De-Lourdes, Man.
But Durand remains confident that buckwheat has a place on the Canadian prairies.
That confidence is heightened by research aimed at solving the main concerns of buckwheat growers: fluctuating yields, frost damage and weeds.
A frost-resistant species of buckwheat might be on the market in as little as two years. That species has potential to produce double the yields of existing buckwheat varieties.
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“We have a lot of farmers interested in growing buckwheat, but they’re so concerned about frost that they can’t afford to take a risk,” said Durand, who heads the Manitoba Buckwheat Growers Association. “If we do have frost-resistant varieties coming, we can expect the acres to jump dramatically.”
Durand hopes the advances in research will arouse more interest in the buckwheat industry. North American buckwheat production has slipped from 30,000 tonnes to 10,000 tonnes in the past five years.
Efforts to bolster buckwheat production were showcased at the Seventh International Symposium on Buckwheat held Aug. 12-14 in Winnipeg.
Most of Canada’s buckwheat is grown for export to Europe and Japan. During the symposium, the Japan Buckwheat Millers Association showed what it makes from the crop: Cookies, noodles, cakes, pretzels and liquor.
Canadian delegates looked with envy at the Japanese products. Despite the flavor, quality and nutrition of Canadian buckwheat, little gets consumed here.
However, the quality of Canada’s buckwheat crop continues to ensure an overseas market. Through contract production, prairie growers can sell much of their crop at a guaranteed price each year.
The Continental Grain Company signed contracts guaranteeing Manitoba growers $8 per bushel up to a maximum of 15 bushels/acre for the 1998 crop. Yields vary year to year, but they average 15 to 25 bushels an acre.
“It’s one of the highest paying crops if you can get the yield,” said Brian Sweeney, an area manager for Continental Grain. “With new varieties coming on line, we are seeing increases in yield and milling quality for the Japanese market.”
