Demonstrating the dual-use potential - grain and forage production - of intermediate wheat grass (Thinopyrum intermedium) grown in northeastern Saskatchewan
Intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) Thinopyrum intermedium is a cool-season grass with a deep, fibrous root system, thriving in high-lime soils and forming a durable sod. Introduced to the U.S.A. from Siberia around 1907, it was first cultivated in Canada in 1937, with seed production in Saskatchewan starting in the 1960s. This research project aims to demonstrate the seed production of IWG under conventional and organic farming systems in northeastern Saskatchewan. We will focus on a unique variety developed at the University of Manitoba, known as Kernza® when grown under organic conditions. While there are challenges with establishment in organic systems, the crop shows promise as a dual-purpose crop for sustainable agriculture systems.