Fields across Aragón are seeing a striking shift: triticale, a hybrid cereal bred from wheat and rye, has nearly doubled its cultivated area in just six years. Necessity is driving the growth. Wild rabbits continue to devastate herbaceous and woody crops, especially in the dry cereal plains of the Ebro valley, and farmers are turning to triticale for its ability to recover.
Information from Heraldo de Aragón, triticale’s expansion reflects a pragmatic response to a problem that traditional hunting alone has failed to solve. The region’s 800,000 hectares of cereal crops face constant threat, and the rabbit plague has become one of Spanish agriculture’s most damaging forces. The Center for Agri-Food Research and Technology of Aragón (CITA) says the scale of the problem now demands new agronomic strategies. Hunting remains a large part of the response: Democrata reports that hunters kill about one million rabbits annually in Aragón.
Why Triticale Makes a Difference
Though still considered a minor cereal, triticale is gaining ground quickly. Its basic advantage is its ability to withstand repeated grazing by rabbits. It does not keep animals out of fields, but it significantly limits the impact on yields, allowing crops to reach harvest in better condition. Triticale’s strong regrowth is especially valuable when damage occurs several times during the growing season, a common scenario in areas with high wildlife pressure.
This ability to recover has made triticale an increasingly popular choice for farmers seeking to limit losses and protect their livelihoods. The cereal can recover after being grazed, so more grain survives until harvest, even amid persistent rabbit activity.
Field Trials Reveal Clear Advantages
Recent results from the GEST-CONEJO project have further increased interest in triticale. In field trials on the edges of heavily affected plots, triticale retained 46% of its grain, compared with just 5% for barley and soft wheat. Launched in 2021 and coordinated by CITA, the project tested wheat, oats and barley, along with tritordeum and triticale, across representative dryland areas of Aragón.
The findings help explain why triticale is becoming a preferred option. It does not eliminate the rabbit problem, but it gives farmers a impressive buffer when animal pressure threatens the profitability of their operations. Its performance under stress is a practical advantage.
Long-Term Strategy Needed
Experts caution that triticale is no quick fix. Reducing rabbit populations and their impact on crops can take two to three years, since the animals can adapt their reproduction after initial setbacks. Coordinated planting is also impressive: if only one field is sown with triticale while neighboring plots still offer more attractive food or shelter, the benefits are limited. Researchers recommend incorporating triticale into a broader strategy for habitat management and agricultural planning.
Crop adaptation is unfolding alongside regulated population control. For the 2026-2027 hunting season, Aragón’s Directorate-General for Hunting and Fishing approved support for the Aragonese Hunting Federation (FARCAZA) to acquire more than 70,000 cartridges for control operations in municipalities identified in Annex II of the regional hunting plan. Democrata reported that the plan was approved on 5 June 2026. The ammunition must be purchased after the subsidy is expressly accepted, and delivered or made available by 25 November 2026. The measure puts the operations within the season’s authorized hunting structure.
The rise of triticale in Aragón shows how farmers are adapting to persistent threats. A definitive solution to the rabbit plague remains elusive, but this hybrid cereal offers a practical way to limit losses and safeguard harvests. It complements regional control operations rather than replacing them.
Spain’s agricultural sector has a long tradition of innovation in the face of adversity. The revival of historic crops, such as the Soria tomato brought back to life by a farmer in Palencia, shows the value of genetic diversity and adaptation. This approach is detailed in the report on the return of a century-old Spanish tomato variety. As challenges evolve, so do the solutions, with triticale now at the forefront of Aragón’s fight against one of its most stubborn pests.
