Buckwheat Varieties
Choosing
buckwheat varieties is easy because the variety is determined by the processor. Most buyers specify the variety they need in the contract. Many also supply (or sell) the seed to contracted growers.
Koto
Koto became available to growers in the Northeast for the first time in 2002. It was developed in a joint project between Cornell University and Kade Research, and funded by Birkett Mills. Koto was in commercial trials in New York annually from 1999 through 2001. It has outyielded Manisoba by 13% on average and is more stress tolerant.
Manisoba
Manisoba has outperformed Manor by about 10% in New York trials since 1995, and has been contracted since 2000. While 200 was a terrible year to introduce a new variety, it is a superior variety that is the mainstay of Northeast production.
Manor
Manor was the dominant variety through the 1990s. It has large seeds that are required by customers making whole groats or soba noodles. It meets the international market grade.
Common
Common buckwheat is smaller seeded and is used by mills to make flour and pancake mix. It is also grown for cover crop seed.
Keukett
Keukett is a new variety licensed to Birkett Mills, for which seed is being bulked up to perform commercial trials.
Our tests have shown that some varieties that have excellent yields in the Plains do poorly here. These varieties include Koban and Springfield.