Kernza, a perennial grain

[rcjordan]

https://www.thenation.com/article/the-grain-that-tastes-like-wheat-but-grows-like-a-prairie-grass/

[Brad]

Good article. Good find.

[littleman]

Interesting topic.  I've read buzz about perennial grain over the years, it is nice to see something actually happening on this front.

https://landinstitute.org/our-work/perennial-crops/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perennial_grain

[Brad]

It's good if farmers have more crop choices. What strikes me here in the Midwest is how dependent we are are on only two crops: corn (maize) and soybeans.  We need more good crop choices.

[grnidone]

When I was in college at K-State, I worked for Stan Cox (who started the Land Institute in Little's article above) in the greenhouses and helped harvest new wheats he was breeding.  

I don't say this for many people, but that man is a genius.  (Also, strange as they come, but a nice guy.)

Stan Cox will feed the world with the work he is doing.  I sincerely believe that.

[grnidone]

>What strikes me here in the Midwest is how dependent we are are on only two crops: corn (maize) and soybeans. 

People grow where they make money.  In the upper midwest states, there is plenty of rain and good soil to grow corn and soy.  They have kept the same farming patterns from 50 years ago because frankly, they don't need to change.  (Hey, they've got plenty of soil moisture and what they grow makes money so...)

Here in the Central States, where we have to do all we can to save soil moisture, there are many farmers using no-till techniques and different cover crop mixes to save and enrich the soil.  Dad has had great luck using oats and radishes in the farming mix to take out Palmer Amaranth without nearly as much herbicide.

Iowa will get there, I believe, but they are a good 20 years behind.