Farmers Turn to Perennial Grains as Extreme Weather Solution

A growing number of US farmers are turning to perennial grains as a solution to extreme weather events. Bryce Black, a fourth-generation farmer from Kansas, has been experimenting with Kernza, a perennial grain similar to native grasses found in Europe and western Asia.

Black's farm was severely affected by drought last year, but he is optimistic about the potential of perennial grains. He believes that planting these crops once every few years could save him money, labor, and resources, making it an attractive option for farmers like himself.

The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas, has been working with researchers and farmers around the world to develop perennial versions of wheat, rice, sorghum, and other grain and oil seeds. Kernza is one of several perennial grains under development, and it was first harvested on a farm in 2010.

While perennial crops have lower yields than annual crops, they offer several benefits, including better resilience to extreme weather events, reduced soil erosion, and increased carbon sequestration. According to the United Nations, soil degradation could cause over $20 trillion in losses to the global economy by 2050 if left unchecked.