Reasons to grow buckwheat:

• Fits into rotations at a time when fields might otherwise be idle.
• Can be grown as a catch crop where another crop failed.
• Inexpensive to grow because it requires no pesticides and little fertilizer.
• Can be grown with equipment available on most farms.
• Requires little attention during the growing season.
• Mellows the soil and suppresses some weeds.
• Easily raised Organically, at a premium price.

For more information from Cornell University: Buckwheat

High Protein Content

Our non-GMO soybean seeds are perfect for growing edamame, a nutritious snack high in protein. Because soybeans are high in protein, they are a major ingredient in livestock feed. Whether you're cultivating for deer food plots or harvesting fresh edamame, our soybeans ensure a bountiful harvest of protein-packed beans.

Rich in Essential Amino Acids

From the mighty soybean seed with its impressive nutritional benefits, we get soybean meal, a superstar rich in essential amino acids. These amino acids are highly digestible, and soybean meal has the highest lysine digestibility among all common protein sources. It's truly a protein-packed powerhouse!

High Yield Variety

Outsidepride Soybean seeds are a high-yield heirloom variety, ensuring a bountiful harvest of over 3 bushels per acre. When processed, a 60-pound bushel will yield about 11 pounds of crude soybean oil and 47 pounds of soybean meal, proving that soybeans are amazing in every way!

USDA Zones 2-11

Soybeans flourish in USDA growing zones 2-11, so be sure to select a variety suited to your climate. Optimal growth occurs at temperatures between 70°F and 95°F. Extreme heat or cold can hinder their development, as they aren't frost-hardy and suffer damage when temperatures fall below freezing.

Soybeans (KS 5120N) - An heirloom variety which features good resistance to soybeans cyst nematode and soybean mosaic virus. It is an annual legume of the pea family which has edible seeds. The soybean is economically the most important bean in the world, providing vegetable protein for millions of people and ingredients for hundreds of chemical products.

When the farmer sells soybeans to a grain dealer, the beans may then go to a number of ultimate destinations. When processed, a 60-pound bushel will yield about 11 pounds of crude soybean oil and 47 pounds of soybean meal. Soybeans are about 18% oil and 38% protein. Because soybeans are high in protein, they are a major ingredient in livestock feed. Soybeans are processed for their oil and meal. A smaller percentage is processed for human consumption and made into products including soy milk, soy flour, soy protein, tofu and many retail food products. Soybeans are also used in many non-food industrial products.

Soybean processors bake the high-protein fiber that is left after the oil is removed and sell it for animal feed. Soybean oil is used in cooking and frying foods. Margarine is a product made from soybean oil. Salad dressings and mayonnaises are made with soybean oil. Some foods are packed in soybean oil such as: tuna and sardines. Baked breads, crackers, cakes, cookies and pies usually have soybean oil in them.

The high-protein fiber which remains after processing has removed the oil is toasted and prepared into animal feed for poultry, pork, cattle, other farm animals and pets. The poultry and swine industries are major consumers of soybean meal. Over half of the soybeans processed for livestock feed are fed to poultry, about one-quarter is fed to swine, and the rest is used for beef cattle, dairy cattle and pet food.

Mung Beans (Vigna radiata) - Mung Beans are a warm season legume that is similar to cowpeas, however it has a shorter growing season. Mung beans are fairly similar in size and look to cowpeas, but the seed is smaller. This warm season legume is know for its excellent drought and heat tolerance. Mungs beans require very little water, therefore it makes for a perfect component in grazing mixtures. Mung beans have excellent nitrogen fixing potential and it beneficial for surface compaction and weed control.

Seed at 15 - 25 lbs per acre planted at 1 - 1 1/2 inches deep in a well prepared seed bed. When planted in early June, the crop will flower in 50 to 60 days, and will continue to flower for a few weeks. Grown primarily in the Midwest and Southeast maturing at 1 - 3 feet in height.

Mung beans are also cultivated across Asia, known for their versatility in both sweet and savory dishes, and are a highly nutritious, low calorie, rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They are used whole, ground into flour, or sprouted, and are a staple in many cuisines for soups, curries, and desserts, offering a complete protein when cooked with rice. 

Lentils (Lens culinaris) - Winter Lentils (planted late September or early October) are cool season annual vegetables in the legume family. Grown across the world for human consumption they are high in protein and low in fat. They also are able to deposit nitrogen into the soil making this a great cover crop to include in your rotation. Individual plants may vary from single stems to vigorous, bushy forms in dense or sparse stands that normally reach 12 - 18 inches tall. Flowers are small, less than 1/2 inch long, and white, pale purple, or purple black. Lentils prefer cool weather, full sun, and a well-drained soil pH from 6 - 8. You can also grow these in drought-prone areas however, the yields will likely be reduced. Plant with potatoes, cucumbers, and summer savor. Avoid planting with onions or garlic.

Lentils compete poorly with weeds for light, water, and nutrients. During early stages of vegetative growth and in cool weather, lentil growth rates are slow and weeds can quickly overgrow the crop. A seeding depth of 1.5 - 2 inches is optimal for germination and growth, even though deeper plantings may have better access to soil moisture and improved protection from frost. Planting can occur any time after ground temperature sustains 40 - 45F.

Difference between Winter and Spring Lentils:

• Planting Time: Spring lentils are sown as soon as soil hits 40F - 45F, usually April – May. Winter lentils are sown in late September or early October, settling in before winter.
• Harvest and Maturity: Winter lentils reach maturity 3 – 4 weeks earlier than spring-sown varieties, allowing them to avoid late-summer drought conditions.
• Yields: Winter lentils typically produce higher yields and more pods than spring varieties due to a longer growing season and better moisture utilization.
• Hardiness: Spring lentils can withstand light frost (down to 21F). Winter lentils are highly hardy, able to survive temperatures below -25F (Zone 5b).
• Production Area: While spring lentils are common, winter lentils are highly valued in the U.S. Pacific Northwest for reducing erosion in conservation tillage systems.
• Winter Lentils: Offer better weed control (better competition), improve rotation with winter cereals, and increase yields.
• Spring Lentils: Offer immediate convenience and are more widespread, but risk heat stress during blooming.

White Proso Millet (Panicum miliaceum) - Proso millet is one of the most drought tolerant and cost effective warm season annual grasses that produces large amounts of grain. It is the shortest growing millet and works best in grazing mixes the northern US. Proso millet is an excellent seed producing making it is a great plant for game bird or other wildlife mixes. It performs well in mixes for wildlife cover and is popular for dove, quail, turkey and duck fields. It is also sued as feed for cattle or forage for deer and rabbits.

Proso millet is also a gluten-free, drought-tolerant ancient grain used for human food and birdseed. Known for its mild, nutty flavor and quick cooking time. It's rich in protein, fiber, and minerals, making it a nutritious alternative to rice or quinoa, suitable for dishes like porridge, pilafs, and salads, and it thrives in warm, dry climates where other crops struggle.

Another great use of proso millet is as a cover crop. It is a fast-growing ideal as a short-term summer cover crop (60 – 90 days) for soil protection, weed suppression, and erosion control. It thrives in dry conditions, requiring low moisture to grow 3 - 6 feet tall, and is an excellent option for breaking up crop rotations to improve soil health.

• Application or Use: Cover Crop, Erosion Control, Cattle Forage, Livestock Grazing, Food Plot
• Germination Time: 5 - 7 days, under optimal conditions
• Growing Locations: Warm Season, Transition Zone, Cool Season
• Height: 3 - 6 feet
• Sunlight Requirements: 8+ hours, full sun for best results
• Advantages: Increased drought tolerance; high seed producer under hot, dry conditions.
• When to Plant: Recommend planting time is spring and summer when night time temperatures are consistently 65+ degrees.
• Maturity: 60 - 90 days
• Seeding Rate: 20 lbs per acre

Lentils (Lens culinaris) - Spring Lentils (planted early spring, matured by fall) are cool season annual vegetables in the legume family. Grown across the world for human consumption they are high in protein and low in fat. They also are able to deposit nitrogen into the soil making this a great cover crop to include in your rotation. Individual plants may vary from single stems to vigorous, bushy forms in dense or sparse stands that normally reach 12 - 18 inches tall. Flowers are small, less than 1/2 inch long, and white, pale purple, or purple black. Lentils prefer cool weather, full sun, and a well-drained soil pH from 6 - 8. You can also grow these in drought-prone areas however, the yields will likely be reduced. Plant with potatoes, cucumbers, and summer savor. Avoid planting with onions or garlic.

Lentils compete poorly with weeds for light, water, and nutrients. During early stages of vegetative growth and in cool weather, lentil growth rates are slow and weeds can quickly overgrow the crop.  A seeding depth of 1.5 - 2 inches is optimal for germination and growth, even though deeper plantings may have better access to soil moisture and improved protection from frost.  Planting can occur any time after ground temperature sustains 40 - 45F.

Difference between Winter and Spring Lentils:

• Planting Time: Spring lentils are sown as soon as soil hits 40F - 45F, usually April – May. Winter lentils are sown in late September or early October, settling in before winter.
• Harvest and Maturity: Winter lentils reach maturity 3 – 4 weeks earlier than spring-sown varieties, allowing them to avoid late-summer drought conditions.
• Yields: Winter lentils typically produce higher yields and more pods than spring varieties due to a longer growing season and better moisture utilization.
• Hardiness: Spring lentils can withstand light frost (down to 21F). Winter lentils are highly hardy, able to survive temperatures below -25F (Zone 5b).
• Production Area: While spring lentils are common, winter lentils are highly valued in the U.S. Pacific Northwest for reducing erosion in conservation tillage systems.
• Winter Lentils: Offer better weed control (better competition), improve rotation with winter cereals, and increase yields.
• Spring Lentils: Offer immediate convenience and are more widespread, but risk heat stress during blooming.

Common Flax (Linum usitatissimum) - Also known as linseed. It is a flowering, short-lived, annual subshrub. In its native habitat, it can be grown as a perennial, but it is not cold tolerant. The thin, wiry stems that support the flower buds appear delicate, but are difficult to break.  It produces pale blue flowers on slender, but strong, stems in late spring into mid-summer. Flax is a plant known historically for fiber production. The seed is used to produce edible oils and also oils for wood finishing products.

Common flax prefers moist, well-drained, mildly acid, neutral and mildly alkaline soils. It does best in full sun and cannot grow in the shade. The plant tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure. It will tolerate drought and dry or rocky soil, but clay soils can cause the plant to root shallowly that will cause problems for the plant in cold weather. 

It is a versatile cover crop used for soil conditioning, especially effective at fighting compaction and increasing mycorrhizal fungi activity. It is best used in mixes (e.g., with oats, vetch, or peas) to build soil health, as it is non-competitive and can be easily seeded at 20 - 30 lbs/acre.  Its fibrous roots improve soil structure and its flowers attract pollinators and beneficial insects.  As a cover crop, flax helps to mobilize phosphorus in the soil and add organic matter. Plant early Spring or late Summer.