Water contamination: In Minnesota, we must reconsider which crops we plant
The news in the Jan. 14 issue of the Star Tribune that 1 in 8 Minnesotans are drinking nitrate-tainted water and that fertilizer escaping from row-crop fields is a main…
US: Novel Wheatgrass Provides Perennial Forage, Grain
A novel perennial crop aims to provide a more sustainable forage for livestock production along with a grain cash crop while reducing soil erosion and protecting water quality, says researcher….
Perennial grain Kernza taking root in Minnesota
GOODHUE COUNTY, Minn. — If humans want to continue eating we need to continue farming. But many farming practices that have become common in the 21st century result in pollution…
Large crowd shows interest in eco-friendly perennial grain crop
A standing room only crowd of about 150 gathered at Imminent Brewing Dec. 11 to hear University of Minnesota Agronomy Professor Jake Jungers’ present “The Power of Perennials & Kernza’s…
The Seed Multiplier
Doug Brands is the water supervisor for the city of Edgerton charged with taking care of the city’s drinking water wells and its ion exchange water treatment plant that filters…
How a New Grain Could Help Combat Climate Change
Scientists in Minnesota and Kansas are developing a grain called Kernza, which, unlike most of our food crops, is a perennial plant with a whole host of environmental benefits. While…
Birchwood Cafe’s Pancake Recipe With Kernza, a Greener Grain
During a recent visit to the Birchwood Cafe in Minneapolis, chef and author Beth Dooley showed PBS NewsHour Weekend how to cook Kernza pancakes. The cafe, a local institution known…
Local Water Quality Protection Efforts Attract Attention
Laura DeBeer found herself doing some unusual but welcome things during mid-October. First, the Minnesota Department of Health (DOH) came to Pipestone County specifically to film DeBeer doing her job….
Wheatgrass helping to keep Chatfield’s water clean
Excerpt: City officials are finding that perennial crop cover wheatgrass may just be the way to improve water quality in Chatfield. “We have nitrate levels of 0.4 to 0, and…
Innovative crop researcher captures sustainability award
From the Government of Manitoba news release: 2018 Manitoba Excellence in Sustainability Award – Innovation and Research for Sustainability Dr. Doug Cattani has engaged in developing major research advancements on intermediate…
Intermediate Wheatgrass Studied at Kellogg Farm
Intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum Intermedium) is a perennial cool-season grass that was introduced to the United States in the early 1900s, and has been used as a forage grass (pastures and…
Kernza Has a Foot in the Door at Major Food Companies, and a Toehold in the MonDak, Too
There is just one food-grade Kernza line in the United States presently, and it just so happens to be from a facility in North Dakota. Healthy Food Ingredients, which specializes…