Alternative crops include just about anything that is not corn, soybean, or wheat--the "Big 3" of Minnesota agriculture. Alternative crops also include specialty varieties of the big three crops: things like white corn, waxy corn, and food-grade soybeans.
A good source for alternative crop information is the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Minnesota Grown Opportunities website. You can find production and marketing information on a very wide variety of crops.
Another helpful source is the website of ATTRA, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas. Click on "Horticultural Crops" or on "Field Crops" in the left column; or type a specific crop name into the "Search" field at the top of the home page. You can also contact ATTRA to request print copies of publications.
ATTRA telephone numbers: 800-346-9140 (English); 800-411-3222 (Español)
Minnesota contact people for alternative crops:
Meg Moynihan, Agricultural Diversification Specialist, Minnesota Department of Agriculture. E-mail: Meg.Moynihan@state.mn.us. Telephone: 651-297-8916
Lizabeth Stahl, Regional Extension Educator--Crops, University of Minnesota Extension Service. E-mail: stah0012@umn.edu. Telephone: 507-372-3900
Jeff Jensen, Marketing/Program Assistant, Blue Earth River Basin Initiative. E-mail: 3rdcropmarkets@earthlink.net. Website: www.berbi.org.
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