Farmers Turn to Perennial Grains as Extreme Weather Takes a Toll

A handful of U.S. farmers are turning to perennial grains as a solution to extreme weather. The grain, such as Kernza, is a type of crop that doesn't require yearly planting and harvesting.

Bryce Black, a fourth-generation farmer in Kansas, has been experimenting with Kernza on his 4,500-acre farm. He planted 100 acres of the crop in 2018 and saw a significant improvement in soil health and reduced fertilizer use.

The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas, is working to develop perennial versions of common annual grains like wheat, sorghum, and rice. The institute's lead soil ecologist, Laura van der Pol, says that incorporating perennials into agriculture seems like the only option for sustainable food production.