Crop Initiative is the foundation of our work. A 3rd crop is any crop beyond corn and soybeans that is not a row crop. Third crops are intended to be several different types of crops, not just one additional crop. The work of Rural Advantage is focused toward targeting 3rd crops to environmentally sensitive areas of the landscape. Converting environmentally sensitive land, currently in annual tillage, to perennials can result in multiple benefits. Our primary goal, and a result of 3rd crops, is the significant reduction of non-point source pollution loading from agricultural lands in annual tillage. Pollution concerns include nitrogen, phosphorous, sediment and pathogens.

Our third crop preference is toward perennials, especially native mixes, although small grains, hay, pasture and cover crops are included. There also are non-crop third crops such as wind energy, eco-tourism, rural artisans, bio-energy, recreation, etc. that a landowner could benefit from.  The premise is to get other crops on the landscape- besides corn and soybeans- that can be working lands, providing economic return to the farm family, ecological services to society and with local processing and markets, build a stronger community.

• Benefits of 3rd Crops

• Moving Beyond Conventional Cash Cropping

• Third Crop Opportunities

• Bioenergy

  • Energy and Chemicals From Grasses

• Using 3rd Crops to Enhance Soybeans
• Cover Crops
  • Overseeding Annual Ryegrass and Cereal Rye into Soybean
  •  Rye as a Cover Crop Prior to Organic Soybeans
• 3rd Crop Options
  • Buckwheat
  • Flax
    • Flax
    • Management Tips
  • Native Grasses
    • Native Plant and Seed Production
    • Management Guide for the Production of Switchgrass for Biomass Fuel in Southern IA
    • Costs of Producing Switchgrass for Biomass in Southern IA
    • ATTRA – Switchgrass as a Bioenergy Crop
    • Management Guide for Biomass Feedstock Production from Switchgrass in the Northern Great Plains
    • Iowa State University, Department of Agronomy – Switchgrass
    • GrassBioenergy.org
  • Hay
  • High Value Hardwoods
  • Hybrid Hazelnuts
    • Hybrid Hazelnuts
    • Minnesota Grown -
    • University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Publication - Hybrid Hazelnuts: An Agroforestry Opportunity
  • Hybrid Poplars
    • AURI, Growing Poplars as a Crop
    • U of M, Natural Resources Special Report – Hybrid Poplars as an Alternative Crop
  • Miscanthus
    • Xcel Grant Reports
      • RD-27 Milestone Report 1
    • Miscanthus Factoid
    • Miscanthus - click on “Growers Guide”
  • Woody Decortive Florals
    • Woody Ornamentals
    • University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Publication - Marketing Specialty Forest Products
    • Nebraska Forest Service - A Growers Guide to Producing Woody Floral Stems
  • Willows
    • DOE, Salix Consortium:  Energy Crops for Power Production
    • Willow Biomass Producers Handbook

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