Growing rye back in favor in North America

• From Grain News 

North American farmers are turning back to a neglected crop, sowing fields with the largest rye crop in years partly as consumers satisfy a growing thirst for whiskey.

Rye, planted in autumn and harvested in mid-summer, fell out of favor during the past decade as other crops produced bigger profits. But, whiskey demand as well as new varieties of rye that offer greater yields have renewed interest.

 U.S. farmers planted 1.76 million acres for the 2016/17 season, the biggest area since 1989 and a 12% year-over-year increase, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture. In Canada, a major rye exporter along with the European Union and Russia, farmers sowed 405,900 acres, the biggest rye area in seven years, Statistics Canada reported.

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