Often it only makes economic sense to grow rye on less fertile and sandy soils. However, even on better sandy or marginal sites (up to 40 soil points, German soil classification) the question arises again and again in regard to which winter cereal might be the most profitable one.
Rye is not only the most withstanding and stress tolerant cereal but as hybrid variety is even able to keep up with wheat on loam soils in terms of yield and profitability. Apart from using rye in human nutrition it is also utilised as a feedstuff, in bioenergy and ethanol production. Nevertheless, since the year 2013 the production of rye has been decreasing continuously. Due to a more intense crop production various production advantages of rye seem to be forgotten about by many farmers in the past years. The production area has increased for the first time again since sowing in the year 2018.