The Rural Voice, 2004-01, Page 38Advice
So what is spelt, anyway?
By Hugh Martin,
Organic Crop Production Program
Lead, OMAF, Guelph
Spelt is a species of wheat that has
been grown since 5000 BC. Spelt.
emmer and eincorn are considered to
be "ancient" wheat species. since
there has been very little breeding of
these crops. All three are covered
wheat species, which means the hull
remains attached to the kernel after
harvest, similar to barley. Spelt was
also called "dinkle" by some early
farmers. In the early 1900s there was
up to 500,000 acres grown in the
USA.
In Ontario there has never been a
large acreage of spelt. In 2002 there
was around 6,000 acres of spelt,
mostly on organic farms. Spelt has
become a major cash crop for
organic farmers to' compliment other
crops, such as soybeans and other
grain crops.
Varieties: There are both spring and
fall seeded varieties of spelt. but
most spelt is fall -seeded. Varieties
include the older Oberkulmer type
and a newer variety called Heritage.
A high percentage of the crop is
common seed. Most varieties are
awnless.
Common spelt is susceptible to
leaf rust, fusarium, powdery mildew,
and loose smut similar to wheat. But
in most years diseases have not been
a serious problem on Ontario organic
farms. Spelt is tall, with moderately
weak straw, and is later maturing
than most wheat varieties.
Seeding & Fertility: Spelt needs to
be planted about the same time as
winter wheat. Spelt and wheat
should not follow each other as
rotation crops. Spelt can be grown in
most areas where winter wheat safely
survives the winter. Spelt requires
about 25-50% Tess nitrogen than
wheat. Phosphorous and potassium
requirements are similar to wheat or
barley.
Seeding Rates: The Organic Field
News
Gaylea Foods has plans for new
products at Teeswater plant
Continued from page 33
The new plant was only in
operation for three months and was
going through its shakedown period
at that time but is still increased
Gaylea's milk volume usage to 322
million litres from 292 million. The
new plant means the co-op can now
handle its entire quota of milk. In the
past it has farmed out 'some of its
milk to other processors who then
kept the butterfat. Gaylea now gets
the bonus of keeping this butterfat.
With the opening of the new plant
the company had expected to shut
down its milk drying operation at
Teeswater but it has continued as
high volume as before doing
specialty products. Plans in 2004 are
to convert Teeswater to produce a
line of product Gaylea has never
made before.
Also in innovation, the co-op has
invested several million dollars to
lead the category in aerosol whipped
34 THE RURAL VOICE
toppings. Its goal Is to grow from 25
per cent of the capacity in 2003 to 60
per cent in 2004.
Currently the company has 52 per
cent of the aerosol whipped dairy
topping category, 48.6 per cent of
cottage cheese category and 31.7 per
cent of the sour cream.
The company's Lacteeze milk
sales dropped eight per cent for the
year, taking 23 per cent of the
market. Competitor Natrel makes up
42 per cent of this market with
another competitor Lactaid also
losing market share.
Butter sales were down seven per
cent in 2003 because there wasn't
enough butter in storage to meet
demand in the high -demand periods
for cooking at Thanksgiving and
Christmas.
In an election, John Ellison of
Listowel was returned as director for
Zone 1, defeating Rowena Wallace
of Seaforth.0
Crops Handbook recommends a
seeding rate of 160-180 lb./acre, but
in practice seeding rates vary from
125 to 200 lb./acre. The Ohio
Agronomy Guide suggests a spelt
seeding rate of 15 to 20 seeds per
foot of 7 -inch row. Winter wheat
research would indicate that we need
20 plants per foot of row (7") for 100
per cent yield potential. The seeding
rate is determined by the percent
viable germination of the seed, seed
size and by the personal experience
of the grower in previous years.
Spelt is a large seed (due to the
hull) with relatively high seeding
rates. Drills must have adjustable
openings of sufficient size to
accommodate the large pointed seed,
and allow for the planting of
adequate seeding rates. Smooth drop
tubes are desired to prevent seed
from lodging and plugging the tube.
Some grower's double drill or
broadcast seed to facilitate planting.
Grain Quality: Protein is variable
but most buyers require 12 per cent
protein and the "falling number"
should be at least 300. No official
test weight has been established for
spelt, but recent tests show that with
the hull attached it averages 27-30
Ib./bushel. The test weight of hulled
seed is close to that of wheat (60
Ib./bushel). The 2003 crop has been
of excellent quality.
Yields & Price: A successful crop
of spelt can yield 1.0 to 1.2 tonnes
per acre. Good quality spelt is
currently selling for over $350 per
tonne at the farmgate. Most of the
Ontario crop has traditionally been
exported to Europe, but the North
American consumption of this grain
is increasing. Most flour millers buy
the grain dehulled, which requires
grain elevators to dehull the grain
with specialized dehulling
equipment.
Spelt Flour: Spelt flour can
substitute for wheat flour in many
products (breads, pasta, cookies,
crackers, cakes, muffins, pancakes
and waffles). The starch in spelt is
more soluble than wheat and recipes
containing spelt flour will frequently
require less water than when using
wheat flour.0