Perennial Grains Gain Ground Amid Rising Extreme Weather Risks
Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe, causing challenges for farmers who rely on annual crops. A small number of farmers are turning to perennial grains as a solution to build resilience against drought and intense rainfall.
Bryce Black, a fourth-generation farmer in Kansas, experienced one such event when his 1,800 acres of winter wheat were battered by intense drought. He harvested about 1,500 acres but the yield was the lowest he had seen since taking over his family's farm in 2017.
Black is intrigued by perennial grains, which don't require yearly planting and harvesting. They have deeper root systems that can access water deeper in the ground, making them more drought-resistant.
The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas, is developing perennial versions of wheat, rice, sorghum, and other grain crops. Kernza, a perennial grain similar to native grasses found in parts of Europe and western Asia, has been successfully grown on 3,511 acres in the US last year.
However, researchers face challenges such as low yields, difficulty in harvesting, and limited market demand. Lee DeHaan, who leads The Land Institute's Kernza domestication program, notes that Kernza farmers are getting yields of about 20 to 40 percent of what they might get from a wheat crop.