Wyatt Muse, Clarkson Grain Co. merchandiser, Cerro Gerdo, has worked in the grain industry for 12 years and the organic and food-grade market for eight years. Muse’s experience working with niche markets in his day job led him to explore opportunities on his own farm in central Illinois. In 2018, he will harvest his first certified-organic crop. By 2019, 10% of his acres will be certified organic.

Trying to decide if niche markets are for you? Muse offers six factors and tips to consider:

1. Storage capacity. Separate, on-farm storage for a specialty crop is key for identity preservation, Muse advises.

IS A NEW CROP RIGHT FOR YOUR FARM? Wyatt Muse, a Clarkson Grain merchandiser and a farmer, says there are several factors to consider in specialty crop production.

2. Cleanup detail. Equipment such as augers and belts can be shared, but it must be thoroughly cleaned before using it for the specialty crop. Do you have the patience and attention to detail to make that happen?

3. Equipment precision. “Is your equipment set up to maintain quality, or will grain be damaged?” Muse asks. Premium niche markets demand high-quality grain.

4. Crop care. Muse says crop care considerations will vary greatly depending on the crop. For example, non-GMO production requires a different herbicide program. Organic production requires more significant changes, such as fertility programs and weed control. Do you have access to manure? Where can you source organic fertilizer? Plus, be prepared to organize and supervise manual labor for weed control, if needed. Muse says high school students are one good source for bean walkers — a practice many farmers remember from the pre-Roundup Ready days.

5. Proximity to a receiving and processing facility. “The more rare the product is, the further it will travel,” Muse says. Non-GMO grain stays fairly local. Food-grade products may travel a little farther. Organic production may travel across state lines or even international borders, but you have to deliver it somewhere nearby.

6. Good resources. Muse says Joel Gruver, Western Illinois University, conducts extensive studies on organic production on an 80-acre research farm just outside of Macomb. Other resources include the Rodale Institute, a nonprofit research group that focuses on organic production.