February 2026 - Collab - lists.millets2023.space

Millets - Prominent World Grains
by Don Osborn 28 Feb '26

28 Feb '26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE by North American Millets Alliance – February 23, 2026 Millets—Prominent World Grains Millets are healthy substitutes for the main cereal grains used in foods and beverages. Millets also make excellent poultry and livestock feeds. This group of small-grain plant species offers crop diversity and water efficiency. The world has become too reliant on three grain crops—corn, wheat and rice. Together they account for 89% of the world grain production planted on 82.4% of all world grain acres. What if a disease devastates one or more of those key grain crops? Economic disruption or even worldwide famine could result. It would take a decade of crop breeding and seed production to produce a crop resistant to such a disease. Meanwhile, many could starve. Excluding corn, rice and wheat, a dozen genetically diverse millets already account for 21.6% of the eleven remaining grains categorized by the United Nations. These millets are potentially critical for global food security. Water is a precious resource. Water means life. Why waste it? Drought tolerant millets are excellent substitutes for water-hungry food and forage crops. Only 1.2% of U.S. proso grain is irrigated; meanwhile 100% of U.S. rice is irrigated. Easy to grow with low input costs, millets are short-season grains that can be rotated with corn, wheat, soybeans or any other grain. North American farmers have proven ability to produce a range of food and feed millets, including proso, pearl, foxtail, Japanese, brown top, and teff. Food processors can access a ready domestic supply of these, particularly proso, for use in a variety of products. Just three U.S. states, Colorado, Nebraska, and South Dakota produce and average of 741 million pounds of proso grain. That is twice the entire world’s quinoa production. Millets offer healthy eating options, and there are opportunities to develop markets for them and their products. On your next visit to your local grocery, health food outlet, or international food market, ask for millet products. North American Millets Alliance: https://millets2023.space/. This release in PDF format: https://millets2023.space/docs/Millets-Prominent-World-Grains-2026Feb23.pdf

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More on little millet
by Don Osborn 28 Feb '26

28 Feb '26

As we close out February 2026, in which little millet is our millet-of-the-month, here are a few more items that were published within the past year. The first two are research articles, on little millets and nutrition. Then follow links to various webpage articles on little millet. (Earlier this month, I posted about an article on the decoding of the little millet genome at https://lists.millets2023.space/archives/list/collab@lists.millets2023.spac… ) ------ Komal G Lakhani, Kirankumar P Suthar, Diwakar Singh, Priyanka Peddi, Nilima Karmakar, and Harshal E Patil. "Nutritional and phytochemical profiling of little millet (Panicum sumatrense Roth. ex Roem & Schult.) genotypes." Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 2026 Jan 30;106(2):854-869. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.70216. Epub 2025 Oct 10. PMID: 41070585. https://scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jsfa.70216 Also at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41070585/ (unfortunately, the full article is paywalled) Abstract- "Background: Little millet (Panicum sumatrense) is an underutilized cereal with the potential to enhance nutritional security, particularly in areas facing malnutrition. Despite its resilience and adaptability, its nutritional profile has not been characterized comprehensively across genotypes. "Results: This study presents the nutritional and phytochemical profiling of little millet genotypes conserved by local farmers and tribal communities in South Gujarat, India. Proximate analysis revealed substantial variation, with mean values for moisture (812 ± 1.1 g kg-1), carbohydrate (681.4 ± 2.9 g kg-1), protein (62.5 ± 0.5 g kg-1), fat (16.9-40.2 ± 0.4 g kg-1), fiber (32.3 ± 0.7 g kg-1), and ash (43.3 ± 0.9 g kg-1). Mineral profiling indicated diverse micronutrient levels: Zn (39.4 ± 1.9 mg kg-1), Fe (48.4 ± 2.7 mg kg-1), Mn (2.5 ± 0.2 mg kg-1), P (1146.4 ± 168.8 mg kg-1), K (2386.7 ± 622.1 mg kg-1), Ca (184.6 ± 11.4 mg kg-1), Cu (50.6 ± 0.9 mg kg-1), and Mg (1331.9 ± 283.2 mg kg-1). Phytochemical profiling showed that total phenol content (1021.9 ± 1.4 mg kg-1) was ~1.5 times higher than that in foxtail millet and was also rich in flavonoids, phytic acid, tannins, cyanide, oxalate, and trypsin inhibitors. High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) identified the WV-151, WV-153, and WV-158 genotypes as rich in essential amino acids. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based metabolomics detected 120 metabolites, including oleic acid and flavonoids with cardiovascular benefits. "Conclusion: Little millet genotypes possess substantial nutritional and phytochemical diversity. These findings emphasize their potential for inclusion in dietary interventions and crop improvement programs aimed at enhancing food and nutritional security." ------ Kumari, Annu, Sadh, Pardeep Kumar, Kamboj, Ajay, Yadav, Babli, Kumar, Anil, Sivakumar, S., Surekha, Saharan, Baljeet Singh, Brar, Basanti, Goyal, Chhaya, Dhull, Sanju Bala, Duhan, and Joginder Singh, "Exploring the Benefits of Nutrition of Little Millet: Unveiling the Effect of Processing Methods on Bioactive Properties," Journal of Food Biochemistry, 2025, 2488816, 25 pages, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1155/jfbc/2488816 Also at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388082262_Exploring_the_Benefits_o… Abstract: "Many terrible illnesses and disorders that modern man is dealing with today were not even known to ancient man. The only factor contributing to this disastrous situation is dietary habits. Thus, by avoiding and controlling them, replacing meals high in empty calories with nutrient-dense millets helps to alleviate the combined burden of contemporary metabolic illnesses and malnutrition. Because millet contains various nutrients, including proteins, minerals, lipids, vitamins, phytochemicals, dietary fiber, and complex carbohydrates, it positively impacts the immune system. Among whole millets, little millet (Panicum sumatrense) is one nutritious millet that contributes significantly to the supply of macro- and micronutrients and bioactive substances, including phenols, tannins, and phytates. However, some processing techniques, such as germination, fermentation, milling, and extrusion, impact little millet’s nutrients and bioactive chemicals by increasing or decreasing these phytochemicals. These nutrients and bioactive substances have physiological and beneficial properties related to health, such as weight management, antioxidants, antidiabetics, anticancer, antiobesity, and cardiovascular disease potential. It is also beneficial in preventing the risk of inflammatory, antirheumatic, and chronic disorders, as it possesses various value-added bioactive compounds such as kaempferol, luteolin, and apigenin. Little millet also contains some antinutrients such as tannins, oxalate, trypsin inhibitors, and phytate. These substances bind to the necessary nutrients, rendering them unavailable or limiting their utilization. The nutrients, processing effects, bioactive compounds, and health advantages of these compounds in little millet are all summarized in this paper." ------ Here are 5 webpage or blog articles on little millet. These tend to follow a similar format, with info on the grain itself, nutrition, benefits, how to prepare & cook, cautions, and sometimes recipes: * "Little Millet: Small Grain, Big Nutrition," Vainatey Organics (brand blog), 20 February 2026 https://vainateyorganics.com/little-millet-small-grain-big-nutrition/ * "Little Millet Benefits And Side Effects: The Must Read Guide," Yummy Valley (brand blog) 21 January 2026 https://yummy-valley.com/blogs/guides/little-millet-benefits * ”Little Millet: Big Benefits for Everyday Health," by Shailja Shukla, ''Prolicious'', 30 Oct 2025 https://prolicious.com/blogs/articles/little-millet-big-benefits-for-everyd… * "Cooking and Storing Little Millet for Nutrition and Taste," True Story (brand blog), 16 July 2025 https://www.truestoryorganics.com/blog/how-to-cook-store-little-millets/ * "Little Millet: Health Benefits, Nutrition & Side Effects You Should Know," Millex (brand blog), 12 April 2025 https://millex.in/blogs/news/little-millet-health-benefits-nutrition-side-e… Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Better names for little millst & other millets (Re: Re: Collab Digest, Vol 49, Issue 4)
by Don Osborn 18 Feb '26

18 Feb '26

Thanks, Gary, for this question and the ideas. I've had an interest in nomenclature for millets for a while, with the idea that the binomial names with "millet" we use for many of them are confusing, and tend to lead to a collapsing of these distinct grains into one amorphous category. I'll come back to that, but first to the issue you raise. "Little millet" (Panicum sumatrense) has to be the least distinguishing combination for one crop species out of many that are known for small grains (i.e., the millets). And potentially confusing as well. One Senegalese friend who's a history professor once asked about the relationship between "little millet" and the grain commonly known in the French of West Africa as "petit mil," which also translates as "little millet." In the parlance of that region, petit mil is pearl millet, and gros mil ( millet) is sorghum. Of course, little millet and pearl millet are different in many ways. It turns out that in French, a name for the former is "petit millet" - that language having in effect two ways to refer to millet: mil (which in my understanding correlates with "major millets"); and "millet" (minor or small millets, and sometimes the whole bunch). That's a different discussion, so will leave it there for now. Sama and variants, as you note, are indeed frequent common names among languages of India. However, there is also an overlap with terminology for Indian barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea)./1 /2 /3 A search on "sama millet" turned up the latter, rather than little millet. So it seems there is a potential for confusion - even if separate names that are similar are involved. There would seem to be a benefit to reviewing the overall millets namespace before assigning names for those millets like little millet that are less well known - or virtually unknown - worldwide. Since little millet is more cultivated and marketed in India, e might look to how it is most referred to in English there, and for comparisons with how barnyard millet is handled. Borrowing and adapting names from other languages is a time-honored tradition. We already have terms from Indian languages adopted into English as used in India: "ragi" (Hindi, Kannada) for finger millet (Eleusine coracana) and "kodo" (Hindi, and variations in Gujarati & Marathi) for kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum). We sometimes see "ragi millet," which is a bit redundant, but the "millet" component is not needed outside perhaps of cases where disambiguation is helpful. We typically see "kodo millet" (altho where it is known as a weed, other names like rice grass are used), but one can easily use just "kodo" where the context is clear. "Ragi" is used alone on the front of packages of grain or flour of finger millet from India, whereas I Proso, as you note, is already used in English. It of course comes from Slavic languages like Ukranian, Polish, and Russian (altho the latter language, at least, also has a different name for the plant). Proso stands alone easily, and we're already using it sometimes in that way. A different case is "adlay," occasionally also seen as "adlay millet," for Job's tears. Adlay comes from Cebuano and/or Tagalog, and is already seen in various contexts - articles and on packaged grains - altho not consistently. Regarding foxtail millet (Setaria italica), * I'm not sure that a different binomial common name would be the best solution. You suggested "Italian millet" based on the specific name, but of course this millet originated in and is most produced for grain in China. Interestingly, as has been mentioned on Collab previously, the term "Chinese millet" has been used to describe foxtail millet as it is being introduced in East Africa (with particular mention of Uganda)./4 * A while back, I suggested using the Chinese "xiaomi" (pronounced shao-me), which applies to the grain (there's another name for the plant)./5 TO be honest, however, I'm not sure how easy it would be to popularize this term in this spelling, or even another spelling. * Spanish has "panizo," and Italian "panico," which refer to foxtail millet, but as common names, they have had other applications as well. And other binomial terms are used more currently to apply to this grain. Confusingly, the root for panizo and panico is the Latin panus, which is also the root for the Panicum genus. So this is also probably a non-starter. (It almost seems that the references of the Latin "pānus" and "milium" flipped between * There are various names in the languages of India * One might also look at Slavic languages, where "chumiza" (or variants) is used for this grain in distinction from proso. Returning to little millet, we might ask the authors of the article I just cited to ask what ideas they have. Then too, freinds of NAMA who are familiar with this grain and marketing of it in India. The questions would benefit from the comparison with names for barnyard millets as mentioned above. In general, I think there is an advantage to having single unique names for millets - such as we already have for sorghum (a.k.a. milo), teff, and fonio, and are emerging for proso, ragi, kodo, and adlay. They confer a clearer identity, and can be moe useful in marketing. It's likely a long process, but good to get it underway. Thanks for raising the question All the best, Don Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance Notes: 1. https://www.secondrecipe.com/millets-pictures-with-names/ 2. https://aaraliving.com/millets-of-india/ 3. https://pammiskitchen.weebly.com/names-of-millets-in-different-languages.ht… 4. https://lists.millets2023.space/archives/list/collab@lists.millets2023.spac… 5. https://donosborn.org/blog/2015/four-millets-3-foxtail-millet-or-xiaomi/ 6. It almost seems that the references of the original Latin "pānus" and "milium" flipped between proso and foxtail over the course of evolution of West European languages. Not in a position to argue the case at this time, however. On Mon, Feb 16, 2026 at 10:04 AM Gary Wietgrefe via Collab < collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> wrote: > What do you think we should call "little" millet? > > Thank you Don for alerting us to new genetic developments of little millet. > Outside this correspondence community, "little" millet discussions can be > extremely confusing. Foxtail millet seeds are a third the size of proso, > and proso is considered a small seed. "Little" millet has even smaller > seed than foxtail. > > We need nomenclature so the public can identify different millets. Proso, > although an odd word, seems appropriate. Foxtail millets, I suggest, we > should refer to as "Italian" millets taken from the Latin name, Setaria > italica. (German R is a commonly planted variety, but calling foxtail > millet "German" millet would be even more confusing.) > > Since "little" millets have at least nine different names, in various > languages seven begin with "S." They are Shavan, > Sama, Saamai, Samalu, Sava, Suan, Saame, and I might as well throw in the > Malayalam "Chama" (which could sound like and "S"). > > Therefore, I propose we standardize an English name for "little" millet > beginning with the letter "S." Topic is open to all. > > What do you think we should call "little" millet?....Gary Wietgrefe > > On Sun, Feb 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM <collab-request(a)lists.millets2023.space> > wrote: > > > Send Collab mailing list submissions to > > collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > > > > To subscribe or unsubscribe 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. Mapping little millet's genome - recent milestone (Don Osborn) > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > Message: 1 > > Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2026 12:38:12 -0500 > > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > > Subject: [Collab] Mapping little millet's genome - recent milestone > > To: "NAMA's Collab list" <collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> > > Message-ID: > > <CA+RHibUHYRkzweJ_5cVd= > > 0u_cgfPP_+XqpjDig3J0FoEwhsKSA(a)mail.gmail.com> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > > > A near-complete genome of little millet (Panicum sumatrense) has been > > decoded by an Indo-Canadian team led by the ICAR - Indian Institute of > > Millets Research's Global Centre of Excellence on Millets. > > > > Little millet is an allotetraploid, like its cousin, proso or broomcorn > > millet (P. miliaceum), meaning that it has two sets of chromosomes. That > > evolution would have long predated its domestication, which occurred > prior > > to the Early Harappan period in the Indus valley region some 5000 years > > ago. > > > > Here are links to two descriptions of the little millet genome work, and > to > > the research article on which they are based: > > * "Genome map of little millet paves way for nutrient-rich > > climate-resilient crops," Nature India, 30 Nov. 2025 > > https://www.nature.com/articles/d44151-025-00224-w > > * "ICAR with International Collaboration Releases First Chromosome-Scale > > Genome of Little Millet, Unlocking New Era in Climate-Smart Millet > > Improvement," ICAR, n.d., > > > > > https://icar.org.in/en/icar-international-collaboration-releases-first-chro… > > * Gali, K.K., Koh, K.C., Satyavathi, T.C., et al. "Little millet genome > > reveals evolutionary insights into tetraploid structure and genetic basis > > of micronutrient density." Nature Communications17, 74 (2026). > > https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-66716-6 > > > > Abstract from the research article: > > > > "Little millet is a hardy and nutrient-rich cereal which improves food > and > > nutritional security in marginal environments. Despite its importance, > > genomic resources for this orphan crop have been limited. Here, we > report a > > high quality, chromosome-scale genome assembly of little millet > comprising > > 18 chromosomes and 59,045 genes. Eleven chromosomes are assembled from > > telomere to telomere, revealing an 850 Mb tetraploid genome that closely > > resembles broomcorn millet. Comparative analyses indicate early stages of > > diploidization, characterized by gene loss and subgenome-specific > > expression biases that vary across genes and tissues. Resequencing of 300 > > accessions uncovers extensive genetic diversity, including > > single-nucleotide polymorphism and structural variants. Genome-wide > > association studies identify genetic loci linked to grain micronutrient > > traits, including several associated with high iron content. These > genomic > > and phenotypic resources provide a foundation for molecular breeding and > > marker-assisted selection, enabling the improvement of little millet as a > > climate-resilient crop to support global food and nutritional security." > > > > Other institutional partners in the research include University of > > Saskatchewan, National Research Council Canada / Conseil national de > > recherches Canada, and University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. > > > > The full list of contributing authors to the research article: > > Krishna Kishore Gali, Kevin C. Koh, Tara Chellapilla Satyavathi, > Ganapathy > > Kuyyamudi Nanaiah, K. B. Palanna, Morgan W. Kirzinger, Sandeep > Nanjundappa, > > Sampath Perumal, Deekshitha Bomireddy, H. B. Mahesh, Harshal Eknath > Patil, > > Raju Chaudhary, Loveleen Kaur Dhillon, Venkat Bandi, V. B. Reddy > Lachagari, > > Surya Teja Veeramachaneni, Renuka Malipatil, Peng Gao, Shankar Pahari, > > Andrew G. Sharpe, Thomas D. Warkentin, Raju Soolanayakanahally, M. K. > > Prasannakumar, Nepolean Thirunavukkarasu & Sateesh Kagale > > > > Little millet is NAMA's millet-of-the-month in February. > > > > > > Don Osborn, PhD > > (East Lansing, MI, US) > > North American Millets Alliance > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > Subject: Digest Footer > > > > > > > > -- > > Collab mailing list -- collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > End of Collab Digest, Vol 49, Issue 4 > > ************************************* > > > > > -- > Author, Gary W. Wietgrefe, > https://www.RelatingtoAncients.com/ > Enjoy Wietgrefe's (pronounced "wit' grif") dozen books, patents, and > international research on millets, agronomy, cultural changes, travel > adventure, poetry, and history. > > > -- > Collab mailing list -- collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > To unsubscribe send an email to collab-leave(a)lists.millets2023.space >

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Re: Collab Digest, Vol 49, Issue 4
by Gary Wietgrefe 16 Feb '26

16 Feb '26

What do you think we should call "little" millet? Thank you Don for alerting us to new genetic developments of little millet. Outside this correspondence community, "little" millet discussions can be extremely confusing. Foxtail millet seeds are a third the size of proso, and proso is considered a small seed. "Little" millet has even smaller seed than foxtail. We need nomenclature so the public can identify different millets. Proso, although an odd word, seems appropriate. Foxtail millets, I suggest, we should refer to as "Italian" millets taken from the Latin name, Setaria italica. (German R is a commonly planted variety, but calling foxtail millet "German" millet would be even more confusing.) Since "little" millets have at least nine different names, in various languages seven begin with "S." They are Shavan, Sama, Saamai, Samalu, Sava, Suan, Saame, and I might as well throw in the Malayalam "Chama" (which could sound like and "S"). Therefore, I propose we standardize an English name for "little" millet beginning with the letter "S." Topic is open to all. What do you think we should call "little" millet?....Gary Wietgrefe On Sun, Feb 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM <collab-request(a)lists.millets2023.space> wrote: > Send Collab mailing list submissions to > collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > > To subscribe or unsubscribe 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. Mapping little millet's genome - recent milestone (Don Osborn) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2026 12:38:12 -0500 > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > Subject: [Collab] Mapping little millet's genome - recent milestone > To: "NAMA's Collab list" <collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> > Message-ID: > <CA+RHibUHYRkzweJ_5cVd= > 0u_cgfPP_+XqpjDig3J0FoEwhsKSA(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > A near-complete genome of little millet (Panicum sumatrense) has been > decoded by an Indo-Canadian team led by the ICAR - Indian Institute of > Millets Research's Global Centre of Excellence on Millets. > > Little millet is an allotetraploid, like its cousin, proso or broomcorn > millet (P. miliaceum), meaning that it has two sets of chromosomes. That > evolution would have long predated its domestication, which occurred prior > to the Early Harappan period in the Indus valley region some 5000 years > ago. > > Here are links to two descriptions of the little millet genome work, and to > the research article on which they are based: > * "Genome map of little millet paves way for nutrient-rich > climate-resilient crops," Nature India, 30 Nov. 2025 > https://www.nature.com/articles/d44151-025-00224-w > * "ICAR with International Collaboration Releases First Chromosome-Scale > Genome of Little Millet, Unlocking New Era in Climate-Smart Millet > Improvement," ICAR, n.d., > > https://icar.org.in/en/icar-international-collaboration-releases-first-chro… > * Gali, K.K., Koh, K.C., Satyavathi, T.C., et al. "Little millet genome > reveals evolutionary insights into tetraploid structure and genetic basis > of micronutrient density." Nature Communications17, 74 (2026). > https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-66716-6 > > Abstract from the research article: > > "Little millet is a hardy and nutrient-rich cereal which improves food and > nutritional security in marginal environments. Despite its importance, > genomic resources for this orphan crop have been limited. Here, we report a > high quality, chromosome-scale genome assembly of little millet comprising > 18 chromosomes and 59,045 genes. Eleven chromosomes are assembled from > telomere to telomere, revealing an 850 Mb tetraploid genome that closely > resembles broomcorn millet. Comparative analyses indicate early stages of > diploidization, characterized by gene loss and subgenome-specific > expression biases that vary across genes and tissues. Resequencing of 300 > accessions uncovers extensive genetic diversity, including > single-nucleotide polymorphism and structural variants. Genome-wide > association studies identify genetic loci linked to grain micronutrient > traits, including several associated with high iron content. These genomic > and phenotypic resources provide a foundation for molecular breeding and > marker-assisted selection, enabling the improvement of little millet as a > climate-resilient crop to support global food and nutritional security." > > Other institutional partners in the research include University of > Saskatchewan, National Research Council Canada / Conseil national de > recherches Canada, and University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. > > The full list of contributing authors to the research article: > Krishna Kishore Gali, Kevin C. Koh, Tara Chellapilla Satyavathi, Ganapathy > Kuyyamudi Nanaiah, K. B. Palanna, Morgan W. Kirzinger, Sandeep Nanjundappa, > Sampath Perumal, Deekshitha Bomireddy, H. B. Mahesh, Harshal Eknath Patil, > Raju Chaudhary, Loveleen Kaur Dhillon, Venkat Bandi, V. B. Reddy Lachagari, > Surya Teja Veeramachaneni, Renuka Malipatil, Peng Gao, Shankar Pahari, > Andrew G. Sharpe, Thomas D. Warkentin, Raju Soolanayakanahally, M. K. > Prasannakumar, Nepolean Thirunavukkarasu & Sateesh Kagale > > Little millet is NAMA's millet-of-the-month in February. > > > Don Osborn, PhD > (East Lansing, MI, US) > North American Millets Alliance > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > > > -- > Collab mailing list -- collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > To unsubscribe send an email to collab-leave(a)lists.millets2023.space > > > ------------------------------ > > End of Collab Digest, Vol 49, Issue 4 > ************************************* > -- Author, Gary W. Wietgrefe, https://www.RelatingtoAncients.com/ Enjoy Wietgrefe's (pronounced "wit' grif") dozen books, patents, and international research on millets, agronomy, cultural changes, travel adventure, poetry, and history.

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Mapping little millet's genome - recent milestone
by Don Osborn 15 Feb '26

15 Feb '26

A near-complete genome of little millet (Panicum sumatrense) has been decoded by an Indo-Canadian team led by the ICAR - Indian Institute of Millets Research's Global Centre of Excellence on Millets. Little millet is an allotetraploid, like its cousin, proso or broomcorn millet (P. miliaceum), meaning that it has two sets of chromosomes. That evolution would have long predated its domestication, which occurred prior to the Early Harappan period in the Indus valley region some 5000 years ago. Here are links to two descriptions of the little millet genome work, and to the research article on which they are based: * "Genome map of little millet paves way for nutrient-rich climate-resilient crops," Nature India, 30 Nov. 2025 https://www.nature.com/articles/d44151-025-00224-w * "ICAR with International Collaboration Releases First Chromosome-Scale Genome of Little Millet, Unlocking New Era in Climate-Smart Millet Improvement," ICAR, n.d., https://icar.org.in/en/icar-international-collaboration-releases-first-chro… * Gali, K.K., Koh, K.C., Satyavathi, T.C., et al. "Little millet genome reveals evolutionary insights into tetraploid structure and genetic basis of micronutrient density." Nature Communications17, 74 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-66716-6 Abstract from the research article: "Little millet is a hardy and nutrient-rich cereal which improves food and nutritional security in marginal environments. Despite its importance, genomic resources for this orphan crop have been limited. Here, we report a high quality, chromosome-scale genome assembly of little millet comprising 18 chromosomes and 59,045 genes. Eleven chromosomes are assembled from telomere to telomere, revealing an 850 Mb tetraploid genome that closely resembles broomcorn millet. Comparative analyses indicate early stages of diploidization, characterized by gene loss and subgenome-specific expression biases that vary across genes and tissues. Resequencing of 300 accessions uncovers extensive genetic diversity, including single-nucleotide polymorphism and structural variants. Genome-wide association studies identify genetic loci linked to grain micronutrient traits, including several associated with high iron content. These genomic and phenotypic resources provide a foundation for molecular breeding and marker-assisted selection, enabling the improvement of little millet as a climate-resilient crop to support global food and nutritional security." Other institutional partners in the research include University of Saskatchewan, National Research Council Canada / Conseil national de recherches Canada, and University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. The full list of contributing authors to the research article: Krishna Kishore Gali, Kevin C. Koh, Tara Chellapilla Satyavathi, Ganapathy Kuyyamudi Nanaiah, K. B. Palanna, Morgan W. Kirzinger, Sandeep Nanjundappa, Sampath Perumal, Deekshitha Bomireddy, H. B. Mahesh, Harshal Eknath Patil, Raju Chaudhary, Loveleen Kaur Dhillon, Venkat Bandi, V. B. Reddy Lachagari, Surya Teja Veeramachaneni, Renuka Malipatil, Peng Gao, Shankar Pahari, Andrew G. Sharpe, Thomas D. Warkentin, Raju Soolanayakanahally, M. K. Prasannakumar, Nepolean Thirunavukkarasu & Sateesh Kagale Little millet is NAMA's millet-of-the-month in February. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Japanese barnyard millet precursor as "resurrection millet"
by Don Osborn 10 Feb '26

10 Feb '26

A research article published this past summer examined the capability of Echinochloa crus-galli (barnyard grass) to recover after severe water deprivation. This species is considered to be the wild precursor of E. esculenta, a cultivated millet known in the US as Japanese millet, and also as Japanese barnyard millet. This plant is apparently able to reverse "embolism," which is an intracellular condition induced in plants experiencing severe water deprivation. An article about the research summarizes this dynamic and research on it: "Resurrection Millet - A Plant that Revives After Severe Drought," USDA Agricultural Research Service Research news, 3 June 2025 https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2025/resurrection-m… Here's a link to the research article itself followed by its statement on the significance of the study reported: J.J. Stewart, B.S. Allen, S.K. Polutchko, T.W. Ocheltree, & S.M. Gleason, "Xylem embolism refilling revealed in stems of a weedy grass," *Proceedings of the. National Academy of Sciences* (U.S.A.) 122 (13) e2420618122, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2420618122 (2025). "Significance "Water transport through the xylem tissue of plants is critical for supporting growth and, consequently, terrestrial primary productivity. This process can fail due to the formation of gas bubbles, or embolism, which can be caused by extreme stress events. Xylem functionality is thought to be restored by the active removal of these gas bubbles, or “refilling,” but the existence of this process has been debated for decades. We provide evidence of complete and functional xylem embolism refilling in intact plants through direct and repeated observation. These results highlight a need to study this phenomenon in other species and identify underlying mechanisms, which could be leveraged to increase agricultural productivity and food security in the face of climate change." FYI, additional notes and Collab archive references: E. crus-galli is generally considered a weed, and is noted in rice fields. However, varieties of it apparently were cultivated among at least two Native American communities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. See (in reverse chronological order): * Echinochloa spp., rice-farming, & provenance of what the Mojave & Yuma grew. (31 Aug 2025) https://lists.millets2023.space/archives/list/collab@lists.millets2023.spac… (the broken links to old Collab archive urls are to posts in the thread linked below) * Ankee or 'anki, a Mojave barnyard millet? (13 Jul 2024; thread) https://lists.millets2023.space/archives/list/collab@lists.millets2023.spac… Don Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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"Teff, Ethiopia’s National Grain, Finds New Home In Sacramento"
by Don Osborn 04 Feb '26

04 Feb '26

Article from last October about Zion Taddese's efforts to grow teff in northern California. She is the owner of Queen Sheba restaurant in Sacramento, and established Sheba Farm for growing teff. "Teff, Ethiopia’s National Grain, Finds New Home In Sacramento," by Williamena Kwapo, The Sacramento Observer, October 2, 2025 https://sacobserver.com/2025/10/ethiopian-grain-teff-california/ Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Re: Collab Digest, Vol 48, Issue 5
by Gary Wietgrefe 04 Feb '26

04 Feb '26

Bronze age European millets article was extremely interesting because millet introduction appeared to enhance civilization, likely by adding more nutrients and diversifying soil use. Any agricultural system used year-after-year, century-after-century depletes available nutrients. Benefits from crop rotation had been well understood since ancient Rome when Cato the Elder published De agri cultura - Wikipedia <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_agri_cultura>. As a millet agronomist, here are some basic reasons why millets should be rotated with other crops: *Soil structural changes*: Millets have a fine root system exploring soil and extracting minerals and moisture trapped where large roots from other crops, like corn, have no access. After millet is harvested, its fine roots die allowing soil organisms and angleworms to invade those dead roots. Worms and soil bioenvironment to further break down millets small soil clumps into nutrient and moisture havens for the next crop to access through reduced soil compaction. Millets are shallow rooted which work well in rotation with deep rooted crops like corn and alfalfa and legume crops like soybeans and field peas. Deep rooted crops access nutrients unavailable to millets. After the deep-rooted crops die, their roots also provide worms and soil’s biodiversity to go deeper into the soil profile for water and nutrients while stalks, stems and leaves converted to soil cover get destroyed through biodegradation at the surface where millet can access those previously untapped nutrients. Legumes, like deep-rooted alfalfa, and medium rooted soybeans and field peas convert atmospheric nitrogen to leaf and seed protein and deposit more root and seed nitrogen for subsequent crops. Planting the same crop or two crops (bi-crop monoculture e.g. corn/soybean) creates a system of gradually decreasing grain nutrients because they constantly use the same soil profile while allowing pests to get comfortable in that cycle. *Soil Compaction*: Flooded soils are compacted as air is removed from natural soil composition. Crops like rice (100% irrigated in the U.S.), and irrigated corn, especially flood irrigated, cause soil compaction. Machinery tracks over water-logged soils compact the soil even more. Rather than using mechanical deep tillage to break some of that man-made compaction, millets and legumes should be rotated with rice and irrigated corn to use plant roots to naturally disrupt compaction from previous crops. *Disrupt pests*: Weeds are pest and naturally look for environments to grown and produce seed. Corn’s slow-growing seedlings in wide rows allow cool season grasses and broadleaf weeks an opportunity to germinate. Hence, billions-of-dollars-per-year are spent on purchasing, applying and ever-expanding research to find new pre and post emergent herbicides to combat weed pests cycles that can be managed through crop rotation. An example could be cool-season field peas planted and harvested early followed by warm-season millets planted as a second crop rather than just one corn crop. Soybeans could be planted the second year followed by corn in a four-crop/three-year rotation. Fungi and nematode pests are somewhat crop specific. For example, soybean cyst nematodes attack soybeans and decrease soybean yields. That is why soybeans are never continuously planted year-after-year-after-year. Millets are not susceptible to soybean cyst nematodes—in fact millet disrupt the cyst cycle and decrease soybean cyst populations. Likewise, fungi causing sudden death syndrome in soybeans (possibly stimulated by soybean cyst nematode) is not a problem in millets. *Change row spacing*: Corn performs best in wide rows (usually 30 inch rows) with some hybrids yielding best in 20 or 15 inch rows. Corn farmers that rotate with soybeans almost always use the same planter. Consequently, soybeans get planted at the same row width. Small-seeded grain millets, like proso and foxtail, perform best in narrow rows (6-10 inch spacing). Rotating crops with various row spacings and deep and shallow root systems access nutrients and moisture in the full soil profile. *Crop rotation = Agronomic diversity*: Rotating crops of different crop species with wide and narrow rows benefit all the categories above: · more nutrient and micronutrient availability; · access to more nutrients and moisture in the full soil profile; · keep a specific pest from overwhelming the intended crop; · increase soil biodiversity; · reducing human-caused compaction; and · decreasing pest pressures (weeds, insects, fungi, nematodes, etc.). On Sat, Jan 31, 2026 at 8:52 PM <collab-request(a)lists.millets2023.space> wrote: > Send Collab mailing list submissions to > collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > > To subscribe or unsubscribe 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. Additional webinar segment & links (Re: Jan. 15 Millets Webinar: A > discussion with Leon Kriesel on proso & more) > (Don Osborn) > 2. Proso millet improved life in late Bronze Age Europe (Don Osborn) > 3. "Water Shortage Cure--Millets," article by Gary Wietgrefe > (Don Osborn) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2026 22:22:54 -0500 > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > Subject: [Collab] Additional webinar segment & links (Re: Jan. 15 > Millets Webinar: A discussion with Leon Kriesel on proso & more) > To: "NAMA's Collab list" <collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> > Message-ID: > < > CA+RHibWkmVta3G8d4y9ubk3a87qF2zs9BS8XivTLzfDoELrvrQ(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > Here's the link to another 16 minutes of conversation on millets - and > particularly proso - with Leon Kriesel. This was recorded after the formal > webinar itself was completed, so is kind of a bonus. Thanks to Leon for > staying with us for this: > > https://youtu.be/8j7t0pi3IIA > > Also, two links of interest relating to this webinar production. First a > link to the Kriesel Certified Seed website: www.krieselcertifiedseed.com > > ... and second, an article discussing UNL's waxy proso millet variety that > Leon grows: "Waxy millet varieties may tap new human food markets," by Curt > Arens, Farm Progress, 8 Dec. 2023 > > https://www.farmprogress.com/crops/waxy-millet-varieties-may-tap-new-human-… > > > DO, EL, MI, US > NAMA > > > On Tue, Jan 20, 2026 at 12:38 AM Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > wrote: > > > For our first webinar of 2026, we've taken a different approach - shorter > > and without audience. > > > > Our guest, Leon Kriesel of Kriesel Certified Seed in western (panhandle) > > Nebraska, gave a short presentation on his operation - which produces > > quality seed for small grained crops, including millets, as well as grain > > proso for food. One of the varieties of proso that they produce is a waxy > > (or "sticky") grained type that has markets in Asia, but is also > attracting > > attention for food applications in other regions. > > > > "Waxy proso & other millets: Growing, processing & marketing" - NAMA > > Millets Webinar, 15 Jan. 2026 https://youtu.be/WrGEzzV3gcM (45:01) > > > > Discussion, led by Gary Wietgrefe, touched on various aspects of Leon's > > operation, which includes processing of seed and grain that they grow. In > > addition to proso millet, they also produce seed for foxtail and pearl > > millets, as well as some other small grains. > > > > This webinar is a shorter length than our previous ones, and it did not > > involve an audience. We are experimenting with our format. As it turned > out > > in this case, however, we continued the discussion for an additional > > segment after the one linked above, and we'll share that soon. > > > > All together, we covered a lot of interesting ground mainly about proso > > millet, and giving insights into an established farming and processing > > business that focuses on small grains. > > > > Our video productions can be accessed at > > https://www.youtube.com/@MilletsAlliance . > > > > Don Osborn, PhD > > (East Lansing, MI, US) > > North American Millets Alliance > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2026 22:41:58 -0500 > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > Subject: [Collab] Proso millet improved life in late Bronze Age Europe > To: "NAMA's Collab list" <collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> > Message-ID: > < > CA+RHibWt9bN3xSbAeFVaP5eMbmCmX0KLAOYMNBsGL60_PZokTg(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > Interesting recent research using new archeological techniques found that > introduction of proso millet (aka broomcorn millet) in Central Europe in > the Late Bronze Age appeared to have led to more sedentary culture, > improved diets, and reduced inequality. > > An article about the research: > "Millet farming marked a turning point in life during the Bronze Age," > bySanjana Gajbhiye, Earth.com, 06-08-2025 > > https://www.earth.com/news/millet-farming-marked-a-turning-point-in-life-du… > > The research article & its abstract: > Cavazzuti, C., Horváth, A., Gémes, A. et al. "Isotope and archaeobotanical > analysis reveal radical changes in mobility, diet and inequalities around > 1500 BCE at the core of Europe." Sci Rep 15, 17494 (2025). > https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01113-z > > Abstract: > "The transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age (around 1500 BCE) in > the Carpathian Basin was parallel by drastic cultural changes in > Central-Europe, which strongly influenced the dynamic of prehistoric > Europe. The cultural fragmentation of the Middle Bronze Age (2000 − 1500 > BCE) Carpathian Basin was followed by a more homogeneous development at the > beginning of the Late Bronze Age (1500 − 1300 BCE), with the appearance of > the Tumulus culture. In the beginning of this period, the long-used > tell-settlements were abandoned, furthermore new pottery styles and metal > types appeared. Whether these changes were caused by immigration, or a > local adaptation to external influxes, has long been a matter of debate. > Our study investigates this transition from the point of view of diet and > mobility from several key-sites of Hungary. Our results show (1) low > migration rates and a shift of migration trajectories; that (2) the > beginning of the systematic consumption of Panicum miliaceum was from 1540 > − 1480 BCE; that (3) the decrease of average animal protein intake was > parallel by an increase of cereal consumption and a tendency to less > unequal diet. Overall, our results shed new light on the dynamics of > complex change in Bronze Age Europe." > > > Don Osborn, PhD > (East Lansing, MI, US) > North American Millets Alliance > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2026 22:51:57 -0500 > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > Subject: [Collab] "Water Shortage Cure--Millets," article by Gary > Wietgrefe > To: "NAMA's Collab list" <collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> > Message-ID: > <CA+RHibX75Dbpcn4Zsg8Gn+YAA=tWoHy=- > aeehh2tLzx96naePw(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > Agronomist and NAMA board member Gary Wietgrefe wrote an article > spotlighting the roles that water-efficient hashtag#millets can play in > agriculture in the wake of drier conditions and depleted aquifers. Millets > are a group of small-grained "ancient" crops grown for food, forage, and > other uses, which need less irrigation than that needed by major crops (or > none at all). It was posted on LinkedIn at > > https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/water-shortage-cure-millets-gary-wietgrefe-y… > > Below is the text of the article for your reference: > > > *"Water Shortage Cure--Millets"* > Gary Wietgrefe > Author at GWW Books > January 26, 2026 > > *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Editorial by Gary W. Wietgrefe January 26, 2026* > > Never in human history have so many lived in water-limited environments. > Never in human history has water waste been concentrated on such few crops. > > Transition to drought tolerant millets is not only prudent—ancient people > considered it necessary. > > Why were drought tolerant millets developed on several continents over ten > thousand years ago? > > Food. > > Tired of foraging daily, our ancestors selected and collected the best > grassy seed heads of millets to store and eat when no other food was > available. > > Their results? > > Based on necessity, extremely healthy grains which grew and matured in a > narrow rain-fed season were easily stored for travel or winter. Millets > produced seed even during droughts. > > Anticipation of famine, drought hardy millets placed in pottery or grain > storage remained viable for decades. > > Millets are gaining attention in the U.S. food industry and > health-conscious consumers. Farmers and ranchers are looking for grains and > forages to produce on ever-shrinking water supplies[ii]. > > Changing cropping systems can save far more water than a toilet flushing > every other use. > > Two world studies found food production used 87.1 percent of global water > use; industries used 9.6 percent and domestic use only 3.4 percent[iii]. > > Where do we need to conserve water? Agriculture. > > Proso millet cooked, baked and processed, for example, can substitute for > rice. Proso has a better dietary portfolio and twice the protein while > using the same rice cooker. Plus, there are a million acres of various > millets already produced annually in the U.S.—most used as wild bird food > and forages. Birds and cattle know what’s good for them and humans. > > Rice uses about three hundred gallons of water per pound of grain produced. > Proso millet uses only about 127 gallons per pound of grain. Rice needs > irrigation. Proso does not. > > One hundred percent of U.S. rice production is irrigated but only 1.2% of > U.S. proso millet grown for seed and grain is irrigated. > > Slight crop rotation shifts can half water use, and possibly save > humanity’s dietary foolishness. > > About 400,000 acres of proso are grown annually for grain in three states, > Colorado, Nebraska and South Dakota[iv]. Millions of wheat and corn acres > can be rotated with proso millet in most states. > > For 2026, the North American Millets Alliance announced two proso varieties > specifically for the food industry. A University of Nebraska—Scottsbluff > waxy (amylose-free starch) proso and a conventional variety, DLG317, has > been food-tested and released by Dryland Genetics. > > Shallow rooted proso only needs about four inches of precipitation to > generate its first pound of grain. Wheat needs five inches whereas corn > needs about nine inches[v]. > > The U.S. Department of Agriculture identified millets’ low water > requirements in 1913 when the Bureau of Plant Industry published bulletin > 284[vi]. “Of the crops which produce grain, millet and sorghum consume > about one-half the amount of water required by oats, barley and wheat….” > > America's drought-prone, water-short southwest irrigates about a million > acres of alfalfa a year. > > Can forage millets replace alfalfa forage? Absolutely. > > When water is limited, is it ludicrous to irrigate alfalfa for forage? > > Five U.S. southwest states’ (AZ, CA, NM, NV and UT) ground water, natural > lakes, and dammed rivers are drying up. Some consider that area to be in a > thousand-year drought. Yet, they irrigate about a million acres of alfalfa > annually. > > Alfalfa, a perennial, needs moisture year around to survive in the U.S. > southwest. Whereas millets, like high protein, leafy pearl millet, can be > planted each year and cut multiple times only when moisture or irrigation > water is available with millet forage easily stored for later feed use. > > The same 1913 USDA publication stated, “…Millet produces almost four times > as much dry matter with the same amount of water as alfalfa….” > > Can we afford to waste water on water-hungry forages, like alfalfa? > > When can water-wasting rice and alfalfa be exchanged for consumer-healthy > millets? In 2026. > > ************* > > Gary W. Wietgrefe has been involved with millets, primarily proso, most of > his life. For thirty years, he has been a certified (CCA) agronomist, > researched proso millet in the U.S., Mongolia, and Turkey, and has written > two books on millets. Previously Wietgrefe was a USDA certified grain > grader and certified millet seed conditioner. He is a board member of the > North American Millets Alliance. Wietgrefe has six patents, degrees in > agricultural business and economics, and has authored eleven books. > > [i] North American Millets Alliance: https://millets2023.space/. > > [ii] Severe Water Deficiency during the Mid-Vegetative and Reproductive > Phase has Little Effect on Proso Millet Performance: > https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/11/10/2155. > > [iii] How much water does rice use: > > https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bas-Bouman-2/publication/281474989_How… > . > > [iv] U.S. Grain Production: https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/. > > [v] EC08-137 Producing and Marketing Proso Millet in the Great Plains: > > https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5806&context=ext… > . > > [vi] Water requirements of plants: > > https://books.google.com.mx/books?hl=en&lr=&id=rkIZAAAAYAAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA5&d… > . > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > > > -- > Collab mailing list -- collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > To unsubscribe send an email to collab-leave(a)lists.millets2023.space > > > ------------------------------ > > End of Collab Digest, Vol 48, Issue 5 > ************************************* > -- Author, Gary W. Wietgrefe, https://www.RelatingtoAncients.com/ Enjoy Wietgrefe's (pronounced "wit' grif") dozen books, patents, and international research on millets, agronomy, cultural changes, travel adventure, poetry, and history.

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"Water Shortage Cure--Millets," article by Gary Wietgrefe
by Don Osborn 01 Feb '26

01 Feb '26

Agronomist and NAMA board member Gary Wietgrefe wrote an article spotlighting the roles that water-efficient hashtag#millets can play in agriculture in the wake of drier conditions and depleted aquifers. Millets are a group of small-grained "ancient" crops grown for food, forage, and other uses, which need less irrigation than that needed by major crops (or none at all). It was posted on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/water-shortage-cure-millets-gary-wietgrefe-y… Below is the text of the article for your reference: *"Water Shortage Cure--Millets"* Gary Wietgrefe Author at GWW Books January 26, 2026 *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Editorial by Gary W. Wietgrefe January 26, 2026* Never in human history have so many lived in water-limited environments. Never in human history has water waste been concentrated on such few crops. Transition to drought tolerant millets is not only prudent—ancient people considered it necessary. Why were drought tolerant millets developed on several continents over ten thousand years ago? Food. Tired of foraging daily, our ancestors selected and collected the best grassy seed heads of millets to store and eat when no other food was available. Their results? Based on necessity, extremely healthy grains which grew and matured in a narrow rain-fed season were easily stored for travel or winter. Millets produced seed even during droughts. Anticipation of famine, drought hardy millets placed in pottery or grain storage remained viable for decades. Millets are gaining attention in the U.S. food industry and health-conscious consumers. Farmers and ranchers are looking for grains and forages to produce on ever-shrinking water supplies[ii]. Changing cropping systems can save far more water than a toilet flushing every other use. Two world studies found food production used 87.1 percent of global water use; industries used 9.6 percent and domestic use only 3.4 percent[iii]. Where do we need to conserve water? Agriculture. Proso millet cooked, baked and processed, for example, can substitute for rice. Proso has a better dietary portfolio and twice the protein while using the same rice cooker. Plus, there are a million acres of various millets already produced annually in the U.S.—most used as wild bird food and forages. Birds and cattle know what’s good for them and humans. Rice uses about three hundred gallons of water per pound of grain produced. Proso millet uses only about 127 gallons per pound of grain. Rice needs irrigation. Proso does not. One hundred percent of U.S. rice production is irrigated but only 1.2% of U.S. proso millet grown for seed and grain is irrigated. Slight crop rotation shifts can half water use, and possibly save humanity’s dietary foolishness. About 400,000 acres of proso are grown annually for grain in three states, Colorado, Nebraska and South Dakota[iv]. Millions of wheat and corn acres can be rotated with proso millet in most states. For 2026, the North American Millets Alliance announced two proso varieties specifically for the food industry. A University of Nebraska—Scottsbluff waxy (amylose-free starch) proso and a conventional variety, DLG317, has been food-tested and released by Dryland Genetics. Shallow rooted proso only needs about four inches of precipitation to generate its first pound of grain. Wheat needs five inches whereas corn needs about nine inches[v]. The U.S. Department of Agriculture identified millets’ low water requirements in 1913 when the Bureau of Plant Industry published bulletin 284[vi]. “Of the crops which produce grain, millet and sorghum consume about one-half the amount of water required by oats, barley and wheat….” America's drought-prone, water-short southwest irrigates about a million acres of alfalfa a year. Can forage millets replace alfalfa forage? Absolutely. When water is limited, is it ludicrous to irrigate alfalfa for forage? Five U.S. southwest states’ (AZ, CA, NM, NV and UT) ground water, natural lakes, and dammed rivers are drying up. Some consider that area to be in a thousand-year drought. Yet, they irrigate about a million acres of alfalfa annually. Alfalfa, a perennial, needs moisture year around to survive in the U.S. southwest. Whereas millets, like high protein, leafy pearl millet, can be planted each year and cut multiple times only when moisture or irrigation water is available with millet forage easily stored for later feed use. The same 1913 USDA publication stated, “…Millet produces almost four times as much dry matter with the same amount of water as alfalfa….” Can we afford to waste water on water-hungry forages, like alfalfa? When can water-wasting rice and alfalfa be exchanged for consumer-healthy millets? In 2026. ************* Gary W. Wietgrefe has been involved with millets, primarily proso, most of his life. For thirty years, he has been a certified (CCA) agronomist, researched proso millet in the U.S., Mongolia, and Turkey, and has written two books on millets. Previously Wietgrefe was a USDA certified grain grader and certified millet seed conditioner. He is a board member of the North American Millets Alliance. Wietgrefe has six patents, degrees in agricultural business and economics, and has authored eleven books. [i] North American Millets Alliance: https://millets2023.space/. [ii] Severe Water Deficiency during the Mid-Vegetative and Reproductive Phase has Little Effect on Proso Millet Performance: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/11/10/2155. [iii] How much water does rice use: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bas-Bouman-2/publication/281474989_How… . [iv] U.S. Grain Production: https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/. [v] EC08-137 Producing and Marketing Proso Millet in the Great Plains: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5806&context=ext… . [vi] Water requirements of plants: https://books.google.com.mx/books?hl=en&lr=&id=rkIZAAAAYAAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA5&d… .

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Proso millet improved life in late Bronze Age Europe
by Don Osborn 01 Feb '26

01 Feb '26

Interesting recent research using new archeological techniques found that introduction of proso millet (aka broomcorn millet) in Central Europe in the Late Bronze Age appeared to have led to more sedentary culture, improved diets, and reduced inequality. An article about the research: "Millet farming marked a turning point in life during the Bronze Age," bySanjana Gajbhiye, Earth.com, 06-08-2025 https://www.earth.com/news/millet-farming-marked-a-turning-point-in-life-du… The research article & its abstract: Cavazzuti, C., Horváth, A., Gémes, A. et al. "Isotope and archaeobotanical analysis reveal radical changes in mobility, diet and inequalities around 1500 BCE at the core of Europe." Sci Rep 15, 17494 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01113-z Abstract: "The transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age (around 1500 BCE) in the Carpathian Basin was parallel by drastic cultural changes in Central-Europe, which strongly influenced the dynamic of prehistoric Europe. The cultural fragmentation of the Middle Bronze Age (2000 − 1500 BCE) Carpathian Basin was followed by a more homogeneous development at the beginning of the Late Bronze Age (1500 − 1300 BCE), with the appearance of the Tumulus culture. In the beginning of this period, the long-used tell-settlements were abandoned, furthermore new pottery styles and metal types appeared. Whether these changes were caused by immigration, or a local adaptation to external influxes, has long been a matter of debate. Our study investigates this transition from the point of view of diet and mobility from several key-sites of Hungary. Our results show (1) low migration rates and a shift of migration trajectories; that (2) the beginning of the systematic consumption of Panicum miliaceum was from 1540 − 1480 BCE; that (3) the decrease of average animal protein intake was parallel by an increase of cereal consumption and a tendency to less unequal diet. Overall, our results shed new light on the dynamics of complex change in Bronze Age Europe." Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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