May 2025 - Collab - lists.millets2023.space

Funding for research on millets
by Don Osborn 07 Jun '25

07 Jun '25

Following up on Dipak's mention of funding issues, here are some thoughts and a proposal. Lack of funding for millets research has always been an issue, and that seems to be even more of an issue with US cuts to Federal research funding in general (without getting into the politics of it)./1 In 2023, Prof. James Schnable, Dipak's colleague at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, was quoted as saying: "(Proso millet) is in this weird hole in the federal funding schemes, which is part of why we ended up using private money to start Dryland Genetics. Because it’s a grain, it doesn’t qualify for a lot of the specialty crop grants,"/2 I think that gap is if anything bigger and deeper in the case of other millets (and "alternative crops"). In that same article, Dr. Rob Myers at University of Missouri (who was instrumental in getting us to the Millets Webinars series in 2023) remarked how what might be a relatively minor grant for major crops could be a game changer in the case of millets (my wording)./2 I hear Dipak's mention of it in his recent post as reflecting the recent changes and cuts in ag research funding in the US generally (without getting into the politics of it), and alerting us to a critical need at this point in time that goes beyond the previous dearth of funding for millets. So here's a question: How might we - NAMA and the community of interest in millets - call attention to the need and opportunity for funding ongoing and new research on millets, and the potential costs of not funding such research? Can we and should we in such an effort highlight specific programs such as Dipak's which (if I understand correctly) are at risk? How might such an appeal address a range of public, commercial, and foundation possibilities? Please let me know what you think is possible and realistic (or productively ambitious). Don Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance Notes: 1. I turned up a bevy of articles from around the US in a Google search under "News" on "current state of agriculture research funding" 2. "Millets — ancient drought-resistant grains — could help the Midwest survive climate change," by Eva Tesfaye, Harvest Public Radio, 22 May 2023 https://www.kcur.org/2023-05-17/millets-drought-climate-united-nations

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Is finger millet a "major" or a "minor"/"small" millet? Are there better terms?
by Don Osborn 30 May '25

30 May '25

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana), or "ragi," is sometimes listed among "minor" or "small" millets, and sometimes among "major" millets. But do these categories make sense anymore? Years ago, I was given to understand that sorghum and pearl millet were the "major millets" and that had to do with relative size, and perhaps extent of cultivation worldwide. That distinction also took account of the nature of their seed coverings (i.e., lack of a hull on these grains). By contrast, "minor" or "small" millets were pretty much everything else, and understood to have hulled grains. So, for example, the 2025 book that David posted about - "Minor Millets: Cultivation, Breeding, Genomics and Uses" - considers finger millet among the minor millets. More recently, I've seen reference to finger millet as one of the major millets, based on its seed coat not being a hull (along the lines of sorghum and pearl millet) and, in the Indian context, its level of production (globally, however, finger millet is less widely cultivated than foxtail or proso, which are always listed among the "minor" or "small" millets). So, finger millet is alternatively grouped with other millets that are physically smaller, or with other grains that have no hard hulls ("major millets"). Enter, tiny teff and big adlay (Job's tears), which kind of break this system. Would teff's lack of a hull make it a major millet? Would adlay's being hulled (hard in wild varieties but soft in varieties cultivated for food) place it among the "small millets"? A more useful distinction seems to be that between "hulled grain" and "naked grain" millets (per ICRISAT"s Smart Food initiative). Focusing on this salient, physical aspect - whether or not the grains have inedible hulls that need to be removed before use as food - might be more useful for research and for discussions of processing. Anyway, those are some thoughts on this question. What are yours? Don Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Re: [Collab] Collab Digest, Vol 40, Issue 17
by Gary Wietgrefe 29 May '25

29 May '25

When looking for millet sources consider millet seed suppliers including ones that have participated in NAMA webinars this year: --*Foxtail millet*: GreenCover: Zack Louk (zach(a)greencover.com) NAMA's March webinar speaker, YouTube link Foxtail millet, a valuable crop for cover, forage & food. NAMA Millets Webinar, 20 Mar. 2025 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ9PRPYly8c&t=3296s> --*Pearl millet*: AERC, Inc.: Dr. Om P. Dangi (aercom.dangi(a)gmail.com) NAMA's April webinar speaker, YouTube link Pearl millet in North America. NAMA Millets Webinar, 17 Apr. 2025 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtYL3MUquRA&t=13s>. I understand Dr. Om may only have very small quantities of grain pearl millet for 2025 research trials (not commercial grain production). However, perhaps his Canadian farmers or grain merchandizers could supply pearl millet grain this fall for U.S. food processors. Here is a list of other Plains state millet suppliers....Gary Wietgrefe [image: image.png] On Wed, May 28, 2025 at 8:38 AM <collab-request(a)lists.millets2023.space> wrote: > Send Collab mailing list submissions to > collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > collab-request(a)lists.millets2023.space > > You can reach the person managing the list at > collab-owner(a)lists.millets2023.space > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Collab digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: [External Email]Re: Growers need seeds for grain pearl, > finger & foxtail millets (Dipak Santra) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 28 May 2025 14:38:08 +0000 > From: Dipak Santra <dsantra2(a)unl.edu> > To: "Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS" <david.brenner(a)usda.gov>, Don > Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org>, "collab(a)lists.millets2023.space" > <collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> > Subject: Re: [Collab] [External Email]Re: Growers need seeds for grain > pearl, finger & foxtail millets > Message-ID: > < > CY4PR08MB3350A3100BDAF7470DFF99DF9A67A(a)CY4PR08MB3350.namprd08.prod.outlook.com > > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > My short answers (in red) to Don?s e-mail: > > PEARL MILLET > Dipak, please keep us posted on the short duration hybrid you mentioned. > Sure. > > FOXTAIL MILLET > Would German or White Wonder varieties of foxtail be a better bet for food > uses if one had to choose? I understand that the grains of the latter tend > to be larger, if that makes a difference. > I do not see any difference in seed size at my location. In my opinion, > either variety can be used for human food if they are dehulled. In proso > millet, there are no genetic distinction between variety for birdfeed and > variety for human food in proso millet. Same is the case in Foxtail millet. > The issue is the size and shape of the seed which will dictate dehulling. > > FINGER MILLET: What might be the potential of identifying a variety from > India or Africa that might have the potential to work in our > climates/latitudes? And to import seed of that? > PEARL MILLET: If all else fails, what might be the potential of > identifying a variety from India or Africa that might have the potential to > work in our climates/latitudes, and importing seed of that? > > Very likely potential for our climate based on my field notes and > selection of both finger millet and pearl millet germplasm (hybrid and > inbreds) at ICRISAT, India in 2022. I selected several genotypes after > consulting with ICRISAT millet breeders/geneticists and another friend of > mine who is working on millet breeding at an Indian research center located > at high altitude (like the High Plains). I selected several lines for > Little Millet and Barnyard Millet also. Unfortunately, I never pursued > importing those selected germplasm to test in Nebraska. > > My limitation is FUNDING. I am trying my best to keep my proso millet > breeding program alive without any fund (literally). I can?t afford doing > another crop without fund. Therefore, I would be happy to talk with anyone > who can help me securing some fund. Any amount would be better than nothing. > > Thanks, and have a good day! > > Dipak > > > [cid:image001.png@01DBCFAB.D5F96450] > Dipak Santra, Ph.D. > Professor (Alternative Crops Breeding Specialist) > President, International Broomcorn Millet Association > Department of Agronomy and Horticulture > University of Nebraska?Lincoln > Panhandle Research & Extension Center > 4502 Ave I, Scottsbluff, NE 69361 > (308) 632-124<tel:3086321372>4 (work) / (308) 765-2324 (cell) > > > From: Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS <david.brenner(a)usda.gov> > Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 7:44 AM > To: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org>; collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > Cc: Dipak Santra <dsantra2(a)unl.edu>; Joni Kindwall-Moore < > joni(a)snacktivistfoods.com>; Om Dangi <aercom.dangi(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [External Email]Re: [Collab] Growers need seeds for grain > pearl, finger & foxtail millets > > Caution: Non-NU Email > > Regarding foxtail millet: > > I have no information about which foxtail varieties are best for food use. > Within the germplasm collection there are waxy starch types that could have > culinary advantages. > > The foxtail millet I have grown from a pet store source matured grain here > in Ames, Iowa. You would be likely to get a usable grain crop. The heads > may be thinner and less shattering than standard varieties. > > David Brenner > NC7 > > ________________________________ > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org<mailto:don@milletsalliance.org>> > Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 8:29 AM > To: collab(a)lists.millets2023.space<mailto:collab@lists.millets2023.space> > <collab(a)lists.millets2023.space<mailto:collab@lists.millets2023.space>> > Cc: Santra, Dipak - ARS <dsantra2(a)unl.edu<mailto:dsantra2@unl.edu>>; Joni > Kindwall-Moore <joni(a)snacktivistfoods.com<mailto:joni@snacktivistfoods.com>>; > Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS <david.brenner(a)usda.gov<mailto: > david.brenner(a)usda.gov>>; Om Dangi <aercom.dangi(a)gmail.com<mailto: > aercom.dangi(a)gmail.com>> > Subject: [External Email]Re: [Collab] Growers need seeds for grain pearl, > finger & foxtail millets > > [External Email] > If this message comes from an unexpected sender or references a > vague/unexpected topic; > Use caution before clicking links or opening attachments. > Please send any concerns or suspicious messages to: Spam.Abuse(a)usda.gov > <mailto:Spam.Abuse@usda.gov> > Thanks all for your replies,and information. Quick follow up questions. > > PEARL MILLET > > Dipak, please keep us posted on the short duration hybrid you mentioned. > > Om, do you still have seed available for CGPMH-90? > > If all else fails, what might be the potential of identifying a variety > from India or Africa that might have the potential to work in our > climates/latitudes, and importing seed of that? > > FOXTAIL MILLET > > Would German or White Wonder varieties of foxtail be a better bet for food > uses if one had to choose? I understand that the grains of the latter tend > to be larger, if that makes a difference. > > Joni, I thought I remembered you mentioning that you got some locally > produced foxtail millet to try. (Hopefully I'm not doing an AI on this!) > > Om, has the foxtail millet you mention been used to produce grain for > human consumption, to your knowledge? > > David, thanks for your offer of samples of seeds for research. Per your > mention of using foxtail millet "sprays" marketed for caged birds as a > source of seed, how likely do you think it would be to get a usable grain > crop from such seed? > > FINGER MILLET > > What might be the potential of identifying a variety from India or Africa > that might have the potential to work in our climates/latitudes? And to > import seed of that? > > > DO, EL, MI, US > NAMA > > > On Tue, May 27, 2025 at 6:16?PM Dipak Santra <dsantra2(a)unl.edu<mailto: > dsantra2(a)unl.edu>> wrote: > > > > Pearl millet: I am told that a supplier of the TifGrain 102 variety has > left the market, so supply of that may be a problem? AERC in Canada has > their CGPMH-90 variety, but not sure how easy it is to import these days. > Anyone have other info or ideas? > > > I heard of a short duration hybrid from GA which may be suitable for grain > in North America. I am trying to get more info to test in NE. > > > > Finger millet: Does anyone know of any North American source for seed for > this grain? That is, for commercial growing - I know accessions can be > requested from USDA for experimental use. > > > NO to the best of my knowledge. > > > > Foxtail millet: The farm in Maryland is interested in grain foxtail. I > recall Joni saying that a grower closer to her area had harvested foxtail > grain - could we find out what variety? Joni, did he combine the mature > grains? > > > Two commercial varieties available in NE (Golden German and White Wonder) > are both Forage type. Will produce grain BUT may not be for human food > grade quality. > > > > Dipak > > > > [cid:image001.png@01DBCFAB.D5F96450] > > Dipak Santra, Ph.D. > > Professor (Alternative Crops Breeding Specialist) > > President, International Broomcorn Millet Association > > Department of Agronomy and Horticulture > > University of Nebraska?Lincoln > > Panhandle Research & Extension Center > > 4502 Ave I, Scottsbluff, NE 69361 > > (308) 632-124<tel:3086321372>4 (work) / (308) 765-2324 (cell) > > > > > > From: Collab <collab-bounces(a)lists.millets2023.space<mailto: > collab-bounces(a)lists.millets2023.space>> On Behalf Of Joni Kindwall-Moore > via Collab > Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 3:51 PM > To: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org<mailto:don@milletsalliance.org>> > Cc: collab(a)lists.millets2023.space<mailto:collab@lists.millets2023.space> > Subject: Re: [Collab] Growers need seeds for grain pearl, finger & foxtail > millets > > > > Caution: Non-NU Email > > > > Hi Don, > > I know an organic farmer who grows it for forage but not mature grain. I > will see if I can find out more. > > thanks > > > > On Sun, May 25, 2025 at 6:48?PM Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org > <mailto:don@milletsalliance.org>> wrote: > > We're in touch with two different businesses, one in northern California, > the other in southern Maryland, who are trying to grow less-cultivated > grain millets and need good seed. Specifically: > > > > Pearl millet: I am told that a supplier of the TifGrain 102 variety has > left the market, so supply of that may be a problem? AERC in Canada has > their CGPMH-90 variety, but not sure how easy it is to import these days. > Anyone have other info or ideas? > > > > Finger millet: Does anyone know of any North American source for seed for > this grain? That is, for commercial growing - I know accessions can be > requested from USDA for experimental use. > > > > Foxtail millet: The farm in Maryland is interested in grain foxtail. I > recall Joni saying that a grower closer to her area had harvested foxtail > grain - could we find out what variety? Joni, did he combine the mature > grains? > > > > Also need a guide for this crop (seeding to harvest). > > > > Thanks in advance for any info or pointers. > > > > Don > > > > Don Osborn, PhD > > (East Lansing, MI, US) > > North American Millets Alliance > > > -- > Collab mailing list > Collab(a)lists.millets2023.space<mailto:Collab@lists.millets2023.space> > https://lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab< > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo… > > > > > > > This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely > for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message > or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law > and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you > have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete > the email immediately. >

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WSJ: "Move Over, Quinoa. There’s a New ‘It’ Crop in Town" (sorghum)
by Don Osborn 29 May '25

29 May '25

The Wall Street Journal ran a feature article last month on sorghum, in light of changes in food tastes and disruptions to grain export markets occasioned by tariffs. Also attention to the issue of its name. Sharing text and link of the article here for educational and discussion purposes only. If you have access through subscription (personal, organization, or school), please share, if you like, using your subscription. (See disclaimer at end) --------------------------------------------- "Move Over, Quinoa. There’s a New ‘It’ Crop in Town: As the trade war strands sorghum in Kansas, the state’s farmers hope to push the tiny grain with an uncool name onto dinner plates," by Joe Barrett, Wall Street Journal, April 27, 2025 https://www.wsj.com/business/move-over-quinoa-theres-a-new-it-crop-in-town-… MANHATTAN, Kan.—The dishes, starring what some are calling the next super food, rolled out of the kitchen of a Kansas State University gastropub: a cold plate of veggies with the tiny grain drizzled in honey-lemon vinaigrette; a ginger-soy vegan stir fry; and a creamy pudding. Rice? Quinoa? Couscous? Try sorghum—a high protein, non-GMO, gluten-free grain. It’s what’s for dinner. Or it could be—if only it had a cooler name. “The ‘sor’ is fine, but the ‘ghum’ implies maybe chewing gum,” said Claib Harris, the pub’s head chef. “Maybe we could rebrand it into something else.” Getting more people to eat sorghum is taking on new urgency for Kansas farmers caught in the middle of the global trade war. They grow the most sorghum in the U.S., the largest producer of the world’s fifth-biggest grain crop. In recent years, China has been buying more than half the U.S. crop to feed hogs and produce baijiu, among the world’s most-consumed liquors. But China canceled some purchases and mostly pulled back from the market in January, expecting stiff new tariffs under the second Trump administration. Now, storage facilities across the western half of the Sunflower State are packed to the rafters with sorghum as operators struggle to find domestic buyers ahead of next fall’s harvest. Most U.S. grain sorghum is used for animal feed and ethanol. A small but growing share, about 5%, up from 2% over the past decade, ends up in things such as gluten-free baked goods, grain bowls and baby foods, according to Lanier Dabruzzi, director of nutrition and food innovation for the National Sorghum Producers. It is now in 1,677 items at the grocery store, up from 800 in 2017, she said. [Image AltText] Plate of jerk chicken, sorghum, roasted vegetables and spinach. [Image Caption] A cold plate of veggies and jerk chicken with sorghum drizzled in honey-lemon vinaigrette. Some of the sorghum is dyed red with beetroot juice. Photo: JOE BARRETT/WSJ That has some dreaming of sorghum becoming the next quinoa. “We do see sorghum as kind of that ‘it’ crop for domestic food,” said Adam York, chief executive of Kansas Sorghum Producers, an industry group. Sorghum has twice the protein of quinoa and four times that of rice or corn, said Sarah Sexton-Bowser, managing director of the Center for Sorghum Improvement at Kansas State. The Sorghum Checkoff, a farmer-funded marketing group, touts the cereal as a super grain and “pro-planet protein source that’s packed full of nutrients.” Its website features recipes for waffles, cheeseburger bowls, sorghum-breaded chicken tenders and more. Sorghum can be popped like popcorn and brewed in beer or tea. The plant can also be used to make sorghum syrup. The National Sorghum Producers say sorghum’s unusual name could be an advantage. “We’ve definitely heard the chatter over the years,” Dabruzzi said. “We like to think of sorghum as that under-the-radar rock star with a quirky name, just like açaí, chai or kombucha.” Still, even in Kansas, sorghum, or milo, as it is called in the state, is far from a staple. The recipes sampled at the Kansas State gastropub are rarely on the regular menu, Harris said. “Because so many of us were raised on farms, there is that barrier of, ‘Oh, I filled a lot of 5- gallon buckets of milo and fed it to the hogs and cattle, and they’re serving it here?’ ” said Missy Schrader, a dietitian who oversees food services at a Kansas State dining hall. West of Manhattan, where Kansas turns flat and dry and drought-resistant sorghum thrives, elevator operators have been working nonstop to unload the grain since China largely pulled out of the market. Kim Barnes, chief financial officer of the Pawnee County Cooperative Association in Larned, Kan., points to a chalkboard diagram showing most of his elevator units are still full of sorghum, although he has finally been able to sell it off to ethanol plants and livestock feed businesses. He lost about 40 cents a bushel on all 1.4 million bushels that would have gone overseas, he said. “I just kept turning over rocks and boulders until I found a place to go with it,” he said. [Image AltText] Man pointing at chalkboard diagram showing sorghum storage levels. [Image Caption] Kim Barnes, finance chief of the Pawnee County Cooperative in Larned, Kan., uses a chalk diagram to point out that most of his grain elevators are full of sorghum, or milo, as farmers call it in Kansas. Photo: JOE BARRETT/WSJ [Image AltText] Pawnee County Cooperative Association grain elevators. [Image Caption] Grain elevators at the Pawnee County Cooperative. Photo: JOE BARRETT/WSJ John Dryden, a grain farmer who is part of Barnes’s co-op, stood in a hot dry field on a recent day and explained that he was planting corn on some acres where he would normally plant sorghum because of the uncertainty over tariffs. He is a Trump supporter, he said, but isn’t sure the president has a solid plan on tariffs. “I hope they have a big plan. It looks like they’re flying by the seat of their pants,” he said. “We’re a small fish out here, so all we can do is kind of roll with the punches.” A couple of hours farther west in Scott City, the loss of China as an export partner is less of a worry for Earl Roemer, founder of Nu Life Market, a sorghum mill that sells popped sorghum, sorghum flour and other ingredients to consumer-product companies. He expects 15% growth this year and 30% next year based on current contracts. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS Have you tried sorghum? If so, what did you think? Join the conversation below. Sorghum’s benefits, such as being gluten-free and non-GMO, have helped it overcome many obstacles, including its name, Roemer said. “Sorghum is not an attractive name, like quinoa is cool,” he said. He said he explored with a consumer-products company the possibility of relaunching the ancient grain with a new name. “It became too late,” he said. “It was already recognized on labels. So the decision was made: It’s fine.” Sorghum has had brief moments in the national spotlight. In one episode of the television show “Cheers,” harried bar owner Sam Malone mistakenly ordered a truckload of sorghum. “I said I wanted some more gum,” he says. “I hate voicemail.” Several years ago, chef and entertainer George Duran, who lives in the other Manhattan, the one in New York, was paid by the Sorghum Checkoff to demonstrate sorghum’s versatility in a TV appearance. He has since adopted the high-protein grain as a staple at home as he tries to get his children to eat healthier. “If we could just market it as maybe, like, ‘The Miracle Grain’ or something, I think it can really go pretty far,” he said. Write to Joe Barrett at Joseph.Barrett(at)wsj.com Copyright ©2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8 Appeared in the April 28, 2025, print edition as 'The New ‘It’ Crop Has a Brand Problem'. *************************** Disclaimer ******************************* Copyright: In accordance with Title 17, United States Code Section 107, this material is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material posted to this list for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. *********************************************************************** Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Growers need seeds for grain pearl, finger & foxtail millets
by Don Osborn 28 May '25

28 May '25

We're in touch with two different businesses, one in northern California, the other in southern Maryland, who are trying to grow less-cultivated grain millets and need good seed. Specifically: Pearl millet: I am told that a supplier of the TifGrain 102 variety has left the market, so supply of that may be a problem? AERC in Canada has their CGPMH-90 variety, but not sure how easy it is to import these days. Anyone have other info or ideas? Finger millet: Does anyone know of any North American source for seed for this grain? That is, for commercial growing - I know accessions can be requested from USDA for experimental use. Foxtail millet: The farm in Maryland is interested in grain foxtail. I recall Joni saying that a grower closer to her area had harvested foxtail grain - could we find out what variety? Joni, did he combine the mature grains? Also need a guide for this crop (seeding to harvest). Thanks in advance for any info or pointers. Don Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Ready-to-eat Indian millets for Canada; millets in Japanese matcha supplement
by Don Osborn 25 May '25

25 May '25

Two very recent items of possible interest: "Sangrur farmer to export ready-to-eat millets for health-conscious Canadians," by Victor Mohan, The Times of India, 18 May 2025 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/sangrur-farmer-to-expor… Dilpret Singh, a grower in Sangrur, Punjab, India, is shipping a "new consignment of ready-to-eat millets" to Canada, targeting the Punjabi diaspora there. The article discusses the techniques and challenges he faces, and his approach to marketing. He has previously begun exporting to Australia. Millets mentioned include finger millet, sorghum, pearl millet, and browntop millet. These are sourced not only from Sangrur, but also other regions in India. "Matcha in a capsule: Japanese firm formulates superfood supplement," by Tingmin Koe, NutraIngredients Asia, 22 May 2025 https://www.nutraingredients-asia.com/Article/2025/05/22/japanese-firm-form… Vicella Laboratory is producing a dietary supplement based on matcha green tea along with several grains including Japanese barnyard millet and "glutinous millet" (may be waxy proso?)' Vicella CEO Kawahara Takeshi is quoted as saying: "Matcha and millet go well together, making it an ideal combination to complement nutrition and functionality. The antioxidant power of green tea and nutrient density of millet makes it ideal for beautiful skin, intestinal activity and metabolic support, etc." Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Two items on global crop & nutrition research on millets
by Don Osborn 25 May '25

25 May '25

FYI... Mesías M, Morales FJ, Gupta OP, Kaur Oberoi H and Ganapathy KN (2024) "Editorial: Advances in cereals and millets nutrition research." Frontiers in Nutrition 11:1349757. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1349757 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1… Excerpts: "During the last decade, there has been a renewed commitment to improve the nutritional value of major cereals and millets. This involves a comprehensive approach that includes an enhanced understanding of genetic diversity for grain nutrients in the germplasm collections, crop improvement efforts such as biofortification using conventional and advanced genomic approaches, advancements in food processing, value addition, considerations of nutrient bioavailability, and rigorous testing for food safety and quality." ... "In conclusion, the exploration of cereals and millets as essential and important sources of nutrients is critical in addressing global challenges such as food insecurity and hidden hunger. The studies featured in this Research Topic underscore the importance of biofortification and genetic enhancement to elevate the nutritional value of grains like pearl millet/sorghum/small millets." "Plant Production and Protection: Global efforts to harness science and partnerships to transform millets," FAO News, 24/04/2025 https://www.fao.org/plant-production-protection/news-and-events/news/news-d… Discusses the ongoing Coordinated Research Project (CRP) of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture that is entitled "Accelerated Genetic Improvement of Key Dryland Millets for Climate Change Adaptation." Article written following a Research Coordination Meeting for the project on 7–11 April 2025 in Vienna, Austria. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Fwd: Current proso prices
by Don Osborn 19 May '25

19 May '25

Gary shared this last week and gave me permission to pass it on. Apologies for the slow execution. Note his suggestion based on prices that something big is happening in the proso millet market, and that prices for forage millets (esp. foxtail millet) will be high. DO, EL, MI, US NAMA ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Gary Wietgrefe Date: Sat, May 10, 2025 at 8:58 AM Subject: Current proso prices Today's price of proso millet at South Dakota's largest grain terminal is 10 cents/lb compared to spring wheat at 9.1 cents/lb, winter wheat 7.0 cents/lb, cash corn 6.7 cents/lb, new crop corn 6.6 cents/lb and cash proso millet at 10 cents/lb. Given depressed grain prices in general suppressed by export demand makes proso grain production look quite promising (>50% higher than new crop corn). Spring wheat is all planted. Winter wheat is currently being questioned due to some winter kill and poor stands due to drought which could suppress corn plantings in opening the window for sunflower and proso. Important to note is that sunflower seed and proso millet are 95+% used domestically. See table below for Oahe Grain, Onida, SD this mornings prices. (Note: Birdseed in table below is black oilseed sunflowers.) [image: image.png] Current South Dakota prices compared to USDA's tracking of Colorado and Nebraska makes one question proso availability on farm. South Dakota prices runnig 25-30% higher than Nebraska and Colorado indicates that something big is happening in the proso millet market. I also suspect that seed prices for forage millets (foxtail especially) will be quite high this spring....Gary [image: image.png] -- Author, Gary W. Wietgrefe, https://www.RelatingtoAncients.com/ *Destination North Pole--5,000 km by bicycle* is an exciting, endearing, humorous, dangerous and sometimes quirky travel adventure. Hardcover, paperback and e-books are available on Amazon or other on-line retailers. My other books tie education, school system, parenting, technology, and business with 21st century culture and learning.

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Video of Millets Webinar on finger millet, 15 May 2025
by Don Osborn 17 May '25

17 May '25

The recording of our May 15, 2025 Millets Webinar on finger millet is now available at https://youtu.be/zfnoaIlUen4 Thanks again to Juan Ignacio Di Salvo and Srikanth Panthulugiri, for sharing their research and findings on finger millet at Iowa State University. Thank you also to Prof. Asheesh Singh, who was able to join us from a previously scheduled engagement. Among the notable aspects of this project is its having begun with a very large number of different accessions (varieties) of finger millet, to then continue with more promising ones. The presentations, in tandem, covered several topics, followed by discussion: * Introduction to finger millet & the research at ISU * Can we successfully grow finger millet in the US Midwest? * Growth & development stages of finger millet for farmers & researchers * Initiation of breeding program - crossing parents to develop varieties * Bringing useful genetic variation through mutation breeding * Conclusion & future research For previous Millets Webinars in our 2025 series, see https://www.youtube.com/@MilletsAlliance Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Millets Webinar, Thu. 15 May 2025, on finger millet
by Don Osborn 14 May '25

14 May '25

Here is more info on the upcoming Millets Webinar on finger millet (Thursday, May 15, at 11 am EDT/8 am PDT), including presenter bios and Zoom details. Juan Di Salvo and Srikanth Panthulugiri, doctoral students in plant breeding, will discuss their research and findings on finger millet at Iowa State University, where they work in Prof. Asheesh Singh's lab. Finger millet, or "ragi" (Eleusine coracana), is not widely known or researched in the US or its neighbors, nor is it grown in this part of the world at any scale. It originated in East Africa, and is a staple in parts of Africa and Asia. Globally, India is the largest producer (and exporter) of this grain. What could be the future of finger millet in North America? What does research in Iowa tell us? Presenter bios: * Juan Di Salvo is a PhD Student in Plant Breeding under Dr. Asheesh Singh at Iowa State University. He holds a B.S. in Agronomy from Universidad Nacional de Rosario and a MSc. in Integrated Crop and Soil Sciences from University of Kentucky and MSc in Plant Breeding at Iowa State University. During his Master's Juan worked in the description and identification of current finger millet accessions in the USDA germplasm collection for cultivation in the Midwest U.S. region and selection of parental candidates to develop new finger millet varieties. He also used the standardized BBCH chart as the baseline, to describe eight main stages of development and provided a simplified and user-friendly phenological growth staging scale for finger millet. * Srikanth Panthulugiri is a Ph.D. student in plant breeding at Iowa State University working in Dr. Asheesh Singh’s lab. Srikanth’s research focuses on mutation breeding in finger and proso millets to generate genetic variation and select superior mutants suited for Iowa and the Midwest. He is also exploring various emasculation techniques to make crosses in Finger millet. Prior to his Ph.D., he worked as a Research Fellow in the finger millet breeding program at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) from 2021 to 2022, where he contributed to the development of breeding and mutant populations. Topic: NAMA Monthly Webinar Session Time: Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 11 am EDT/8 am PDT Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86716347793?pwd=Fbp5YT9KNYKcum7obg94cExifEXrDE.1 Meeting ID: 867 1634 7793 Passcode: 340314 --- One tap mobile +19292056099,,86716347793#,,,,*340314# US (New York) +13017158592,,86716347793#,,,,*340314# US (Washington DC) --- Dial by your location • +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) • +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) • +1 305 224 1968 US • +1 309 205 3325 US • +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) • +1 646 931 3860 US • +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) • +1 360 209 5623 US • +1 386 347 5053 US • +1 507 473 4847 US • +1 564 217 2000 US • +1 669 444 9171 US • +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) • +1 689 278 1000 US • +1 719 359 4580 US • +1 253 205 0468 US • +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) Meeting ID: 867 1634 7793 Passcode: 340314 Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/keg1tuTYWl -- Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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