Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
3.6.6 Oats (Avena sativa)
Oats are primarily a cool season forage crop with the grain being used for horses. Some
specialty types (hulless oats) are used for human consumption. It is a member of the
grass family, as are maize and sorghum. It has declined in importance for animal
feed in the United States since the 1940s when tractors replaced horses for farming
operations. Oats grain is still fed to young livestock and horses. It has received
increased attention for human nutrition after clinical studies indicated that the water-
soluble fibers in oat bran inhibit formation of cholesterol in the human body.
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3.6.7 Rye (Secale cereale)
Rye is believed to be the first member of the grass family cultivated by early humans. It
was replaced by barley, then wheat. It remains second to wheat as a grain for human
consumption.
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It is used primarily for bread making, though ergot on the grain may
be a problem. It is postulated that ergot poisoning was a cause of the hallucinations
of young girls involved in the Salem witch trials. It is a cool season cereal crop,
grown from the most northern climates to subtropical areas.
3.6.8 Millet
Several crops come under the general name of millet.
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Pearl millet (Pennisetum
glaucum) appears similar to maize and sorghum in the seedling stages but bears a
cattail-like seed head. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) is named after the large, bushy
seed head similar to a miniature foxtail. Japanese millet (Echinochloa frumentaceae)
is grown mostly as a forage grass in the United States but is a minor grain crop in
Japan and Australia.
3.6.9 Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Sunflower is raised primarily as an oil crop. It is one of the few crops cultivated in the
world that originated in North America.
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From its introduction in Spain, it spread
through Europe to Russia where oil content was increased from 28 to 50 percent.
Over 80 percent of the crop in the United States is raised for the oil market. Most oil
goes for the cooking market, with high-oleic-acid oil being preferred for its stability
and resistance to oxidation. Problems limiting cultivation of sunflower are diseases
and bird damage to the mature heads.
3.6.10 Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius)
Safflower is a broadleaf plant adapted to dry areas with warm summers. It was orig-
inally cultivated for the flowers used in preparation of dyes and colors. Today it is
raised primarily for the oil, which is considered to be “high-quality” edible oil. A sec-
ondary market in the United States is for birdseed.
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Safflower is best suited to mech-
anical harvesting. The leaves and seed head have prickly spines that make hand
harvesting a problem.
