The Rural Voice, 2003-04, Page 18Grabbing a golden
opportunity
The Whyte family looks to put a little spice in their cropping
with yellow mustard
By Bonnie Gropp
The Whyte family knows how
to work the land. Nick Whyte
has lived in the same area all
of his life. He and his wife Joan
currently reside on what is part of the
original family farm. The Whytes'
four children, David, Brian, Crystal
and Murray and their spouses all live
within a mile in Hullett Township
near Seaforth.
Working 1,200 acres
independently, but also in
conjunction as a family enterprise,
the Whytes have farmed successfully
in poultry, corn, soybeans and wheat.
Such a strong agricultural
background has ensured that they are
always looking for new opportunities
to strengthen the existing livelihood.
Two years ago, such a venture was
undertaken by Murray and his
business associate Barry Cleave,
when they grew 10 acres of mustard
in search of a new crop that would
improve profitability.
"Some of us have felt that corn and
soy have not been profitably priced
on average over the last four or five
years," explains Nick. "We are
looking for a crop that would make
as much or more as the tried and
true."
14 THE RURAL VOICE
In that first year the new crop did
just that, says Whyte. "We liked the
results."
Having contracted to G.S. Dunn
and Co. Ltd. in Hamilton the first
year, the Whytes were given the
opportunity to grow 3,000 acres in
2002. They grew 10 per cent; the
remainder was subcontracted.
The second year, however, proved
not quite as good for growing
conditions, but Whyte says they are
"optimistic the crop has its place."
-It will take a number of years to
know for certain. There are so many
different weather variables."
Specifically, says Whyte to grow
yellow mustard farmers are looking
for heat units of 2,750 or Tess. "It is
not a crop to grow south of here."
Mustard is also reasonably frost
resistant, says Whyte. "Much more
so than corn or soybeans."
The crop is also fairly drought
tolerant, because its tap root
penetrates about five feet into the
soil, which under dry conditions
allows it to use stored soil moisture
efficiently.
The plants prefer well-aerated soils
that do not become water logged, as
poor aeration will stunt the growth.
Nichole and Sean Whyte stop and
smell the flowers in the Whyte
family's mustand field. On the
cover their grandfather Nick shows
some of the mustard seed.
Admixtures can be a severe
problem in mustard. Some, such as
wild mustard or canola are virtually
impossible to clean out. "The land
before seeding a mustard crop should
be essentially free of these."
As well mustard has several insect
pests and diseases in common with
soybeans so they should not be sown
on the same field more than once in
four years. Conversely, cereals,
Whyte notes, are not susceptible to
mustard pests and diseases.
Unlike some new crops, such as
garlic, mustard requires no
specialized equipment to grow,
spray, till or combine. For seeding
they use a drill with a grass seeder
attachment as an option. Another is a
brillion seeder, which is used to plant
anything with a fine seed such as
clover or alfalfa.
Some use air seeders, says Whyte.
When it comes to seeding Whyte
feels that five to six pounds per acre
is an adequate yellow mustard
seeding rate in Ontario. A seeding