Farmer perspectives and experiences introducing the novel perennial grain Kernza intermediate wheatgrass in the US Midwest

Abstract

Kernza® intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) is a novel perennial grain and forage crop with the potential to provide multiple ecosystem services, which recently became commercially available to farmers in the USA. The viability and further expansion of this promising crop require understanding how it may fit the needs of farmers’ livelihoods and the structure of their farming systems. However, no prior research has studied the perceptions and experiences of Kernza growers. The goals of this research were to understand why farmers grow Kernza, how Kernza fits into their systems and identify challenges for future research. We conducted in-depth interviews with ten growers in the North Central USA during the summer of 2017, who accounted for a third of the Kernza farmers in the USA at the time. All farmers had a positive attitude toward experimentation and trying new practices, and they were interested in Kernza for its simultaneous ecological and economic benefits. Kernza was marginal in terms of area, quality of fields and resources allocated in the farm systems, which also meant that farmers maintained low costs and risks. Growers utilized and valued Kernza as a dual-use crop (grain and forage), sometimes not harvesting grain but almost always grazing or harvesting hay and straw for bedding. Weeds were perceived as a challenge in some cases, but Kernza was valued as a highly weed-suppressive crop in others. Farmers requested information on optimal establishment practices, assessment of forage nutritive value, how to maintain grain yields over years, weed management, markets and economic assessment of Kernza systems. These results agree with other cases on sustainable practices adoption showing that engaging farmers in the research process from the beginning, identifying knowledge gaps and testing management alternatives are critical for the success and expansion of novel agricultural technologies.

Effective weed suppression in dual‐use intermediate wheatgrass systems

“…In our study the level of nitrogen fertilization did not have an impact on weed productivity, and this may suggest that IWG has a belowground competitive advantage for nutrient resources. Our findings are consistent with the observation by several farmers who noted enhanced weed suppression over time in IWG cropping systems compared to annual cereal cropping systems (Lanker et al., 2019).…”

“…For instance, in another research site at Lancaster, WI, with a land history of pasture and perennial forages, we observed that IWG plots managed for dual use under grazing became invaded by Canada thistle and perennial grasses (data not shown). Farmers who are currently growing IWG observed major changes in weed community composition from annual weed species to predominantly perennial weed species (Lanker et al., 2019). The most commonly observed weed species in IWG cropping systems were Canada thistle, red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.), yellow sweetclover, Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis L.), and other perennial species, as well as the annual species waterhemp [ Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.)…”

“…The treatments were a combination of three factors: weed management, nitrogen rate, and forage harvest schedule (2 × 2 × 4). During the first production year (2016), no weed management was applied in any plot, which is the standard management practice for growers given that there are no herbicides currently registered for spraying IWG grain produced for human consumption (Lanker et al., 2019). In the second (2017) and third (2018) production years, weed management treatments included weedy (no weed management) and weed‐free treatment, where weeds were removed biweekly by hand, carefully avoiding not to step into plots to minimize disturbance.…”

“…In particular, there has not been a characterization of weed community dynamics and suppression in these cropping systems. Furthermore, weed suppression and weed community dynamics over time have been identified by farmers as a major information gap in dual‐use IWG cropping systems (Lanker, Bell, & Picasso, 2019). Increasing our understanding of the weed suppressive characteristics in IWG cropping systems is necessary because herbicides are not an option for weed control in IWG systems.…”

“…Increasing our understanding of the weed suppressive characteristics in IWG cropping systems is necessary because herbicides are not an option for weed control in IWG systems. This is due to two reasons: the demand for Kernza grain is predominantly from organic food consumers, and no herbicide is currently registered for use in IWG grain production (Lanker et al., 2019).…”