Sorghum Molasses and Cover Crop Studies

October was a blessing, giving us just enough warm weather at its outset to finish end-of-season tasks around the farm. Fall foliage at Rieth Village was stunning, as red and silver maples gave way to a burst of color near the north entrance parking lot. And although our Agroecology Summer Intensive students had left, we continued to work with interns Adam Graber Roth and Chad Eckert, both of whom are completing masters degrees and chose to gain practicum experience in sustainable agriculture. We are grateful for their presence and contributions.

One of the blessings of warm weather was that we could still sow cover crops (not always possible in October. Dale Hess and Jon Zirkle worked with Goshen College senior Krystel Pierre on a cover crop study where she documented the progress of three different systems. One study was an examination of how five separate cover crop species (winter rye, oats, field pea, red clover, and daikon radish) performed with planting dates of September 24 and October 1. Another looked at comparing the legumes field pea, clover, and mixtures of the two to see which was most effective in providing ground cover. And the third looked at two different seeding rates of winter rye to see which rate was most economical and effective here on our farm.

The big highlight of October was the successful processing of sweet sorghum canes into molasses! Dale Hess has made molasses in the past, thanks to a sorghum press and maple syrup evaporators acquired by Larry Yoder. This year, Albion farmer Larry Palmer brought his tractor to power our sorghum press. Leaves were stripped and canes were cut with the help of volunteers like Julie Davidson and Janie Beck Kreider (photo). Thank you Larry and all who helped! We look forward to the molasses cookies that will come from the fruits our labor, and hope to grow more sorghum for molasses in 2014.

– Jon Zirkle, Farm Manager