Old grains find new life again

ANCIENT GRAIN GOING MODERN

By Jonathan Knutson | Agweek Staff Writer

Courtesy photo / The Land Institute A farmer can sow Kernza perennial grain in August of one year and the crop is ready for harvest in the August of the following year. Here, the perennial is close to waist-high in July. There is no need to sow again because the cycle continues.

One of the world’s oldest grains has found new life. for livestock. More recently, intermediate wheatgrass was Now, a new $10 million grant aims to further boost identified as a good candidate to become a perennial commercial use of Kernza. grain crop. It features relatively large seed size and a deep

Informally known as the Kernza Cap, the five-year root system that helps it tolerate drought. And because program, which began Sept. 1, seeks to promote the it isn’t planted every year, it also can help farmers avoid production, awareness and commercialization of Kernza, planting difficulties in wet springs. which supporters say is the first commercial perennial Kernza itself isn’t new. The Land Institute, a nonprofit grain in the United States. agricultural research organization in Salina, Kan., began

“This project will simultaneously advance the genetics researching and developing it nearly two decades ago. of Kernza, guide farmers on how to grow it, and partner What’s new is that the project, formally called “Developing with companies on how to use and market it. We and Deploying a Perennial Grain Crop Enterprise to envision this collaborative approach will ensure that Improve Environmental Quality and Rural Prosperity,” Kernza is agronomically sound, economically viable and brings together academic and non-academic experts environmentally sustainable,” said Dr. Jacob Jungers, from 10 universities and 24 nonprofit and farm and assistant professor in the Department of Agronomy and food organizations. Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota’s College of “This grant is built on years of active collaboration Food, Agricultural, and a leader in the project. among the stakeholders and is an exciting step toward

Unlike regular wheat — an annual plant that must be our vision for Kernza and other future perennial grains planted every year — Kernza is planted just once and being developed at The Land Institute and partner comes back year after year. institutions globally.” said Rachel Stroer, acting president

Kernza is the trademark name for the perennial grain of The Land Institute, a partner in the project. harvested from new varieties of intermediate wheatgrass. The grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of The latter originated in Europe and Asia but was Agriculture’s Sustainable Agricultural Systems Program. introduced into the U.S. decades ago to provide forage More information: kernza.org/kernzacap. West Central Tribune – November 2020 – Page 35