By Scout Nelson
A report by agriculture writer Stan Wise highlights how farmers are using winter camelina to improve soil health while creating new income opportunities. The crop is gaining attention because it works both as a cover crop and as a cash crop, helping producers strengthen long-term farm sustainability.
Winter camelina is planted in the fall and harvested in early summer. Many growers use a relay cropping system, planting soybeans into the standing camelina during spring. After camelina is harvested in late June or early July, soybeans continue growing and are harvested in the fall. This approach allows farmers to produce two crops from the same field while keeping living roots in the soil for a longer period, which supports healthier soil and better resilience.
Market access has been a challenge since camelina is not widely accepted at many grain elevators. Programs like Cargill’s SourcePoint Commodities Winter Camelina Program help address this issue by offering on-farm pickup, flexible pricing tied to soybean futures, and a minimum revenue guarantee.
“Our contract offering includes a number of different things for growers to make decisions on, starting with delivery or pickup on-farm,” Cargill Novel Oilseeds Program Manager Anna Teeter said, noting that the goal is to give growers flexibility as they decide whether camelina fits their system.
Research also shows strong soil health benefits.
USDA Agricultural Research Service Research Agronomist Carrie Eberle said that studies have demonstrated camelina’s soil health benefits.
“What we have found with winter camelina in our studies is that it really offers the same benefits that a cover crop does,” Eberle said. “Winter camelina is going to be planted in mid-September and is going to be harvested in early July. And from that mid-September till around the end of April, its job is basically to be a cover crop.”
Growers note that there is a learning curve when adding camelina to their system. Producer David Kruger experienced weather and stand challenges during his first season but continues to adjust planting and harvest practices. Experts recommend checking equipment carefully because the seed is very small and requires proper sealing and setup.
Even with early challenges, winter camelina offers farmers a practical way to improve soil health, diversify crop rotations, and add another revenue stream while building stronger farming systems for the future.
To learn more about the benefits of diverse crop rotations and improved soil health, visit www.sdsoilhealthcoalition.org or contact the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition at sdsoilhealth@gmail.com or 605-280-4190.
Photo Credit: credit-minnesota-corn-growers-association
Categories: South Dakota, Crops, Soybeans, Sustainable Agriculture