A perpetual state of farming
US looks to double-cropping as way to help meet global food demand amid shortages
DES MOINES, Iowa — There is only so much farmland in the United States, so when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the spring prompted worries that people would go hungry as wheat remained stuck in blockaded ports, there was little U.S. farmers could do to meet the new demand. But that may be changing.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has instituted new policies to encourage American farmers to begin growing two crops on one piece of land, one after the other, a practice known as double-cropping. By changing insurance rules to lessen the risk of growing two crops, the USDA hopes to significantly increase the amount of wheat that U.S. farmers could grow every year, lessening the reliance on big wheat producers like Ukraine and Russia and eliminating bottlenecks.
The idea is an intriguing development from the war in Ukraine that hasn’t received widespread attention. It’s unclear how many farmers will actually try the new system, but some who already grow two crops say it should be considered.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Illinois farmer Jeff O’Connor, who has doublecropped for years and hosted President Joe Biden in May to promote efforts to increase food production. “How successful it will be, I don’t know.”
Agriculture groups are hoping for new ways of meeting a growing global demand for food while generating more profit for farmers amid high fertilizer and fuel costs. As Andrew Larson with the Illinois Soybean Association put it, “It removes some of the hurdles and provides a lot more flexibility.”
In 2020, the U.S. exported wheat valued at $6.3 billion. The U.S., along with Russia, Australia and Canada, usually lead the world in wheat exports. Ukraine, which is a leading supplier of wheat to Africa and the Middle East, is typically ranked fifth, though its shipments will drop this year due to the war.
Double-cropping isn’t new in parts of the South and Midwest, which have the key advantage of longer growing seasons. Those warmer temperatures let farmers squeeze in a fall planting of one crop — usually winter wheat — that is dormant over the winter and then grows and can be harvested in late spring, just as farmers plant a second crop — typically soybeans.
The problem comes when cool weather delays the spring harvest of wheat, which in turn delays the planting of soybeans. And that’s where the USDA’s new effort could ease the risk of a costly planting backup.
The USDA’s Risk Management Agency would streamline crop insurance approvals for farmers planting a second crop in more than 1,500 counties where double-cropping seems viable. The agency also would work with crop insurers and farm groups to promote a greater availability of coverage in other counties.
In announcing its effort, the USDA said it was aiming to “stabilize food prices and feed Americans and the world amidst continuing challenges such as the COVID19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.”
After the invasion, wheat prices nearly doubled to over $12 a bushel, though since then prices have dropped as supply concerns eased, in part because of agreements that have allowed for the export of some Ukrainian wheat.