Buckwheat: A Hazard for Montana’s Export Markets
As farmers finalize spring planting, remember the importance of keeping Montana grain exports free from buckwheat contamination. Food safety is an important factor for purchasers of Montana’s wheat. Montana exports most of its wheat to Asian countries in the Pacific Rim. Human populations in Asian countries have buckwheat allergies that are more common than in other parts of the world.
Buckwheat seed has the potential to contaminate commodity wheat crops when grown prior or adjacent to wheat, which causes major issues for wheat exports to Japan and other Asian countries. These concerns about wheat contaminated by buckwheat affect producers in Montana and several other states and efforts are being made to eliminate this risk. Japan has strict labeling laws that require buckwheat to be listed as an ingredient when present because some people are susceptible to buckwheat allergies, similar to peanut allergies in the U.S. There is zero tolerance for export elevator deliveries exposed to buckwheat. Following detection of contamination, grain elevators may refuse future deliveries from certain producers. It is crucial that producers do not subject their wheat operation to inappropriately grown buckwheat in any form.
The NRCS recommends buckwheat should not be planted in rotation with or adjacent to commodity wheat production in Montana and other wheat producing states. Specifically, use of buckwheat must be excluded from cover crop mixes, and in pollinator plantings in rotation with or adjacent to fields currently planted or that will be planted to commodity wheat within 2 calendar years. For the purposes of the exclusion, ‘adjacent’ is defined as 30 feet or less. Conservation planners should be aware of this issue and the guidance and criteria for buckwheat exclusion. NRCS is committed to ensuring buckwheat is not planted inappropriately. Thus, wheat growers who also produce buckwheat honey - or wish to enhance potential pollination of pulses or oilseeds using buckwheat - need to carefully consider this exclusion in both current and future planting plans.
Contributors to this article are Tim Seipel (MSU Agronomist), Samuel S. Anderson (Montana Wheat and Barley Committee), David K. Weaver (MSU Entomologist) and Kale Gullett (USDA-NRCS in Bozeman).
Montana State University, US. Department of Agriculture and Montana Counties Cooperating. MSU Extension is an equal opportunity/affirmative action provider of educational outreach.
