- Collab - lists.millets2023.space

Pearl millet in Mexico
by Don Osborn 28 Apr '25

28 Apr '25

So far this month, we've discussed pearl millet in the US and Canada. This crop also appears to be becoming more important in Mexico. Here are some English language and Spanish language sources - a deeper dive would involve more Spanish materials of course. There is a particular attention here, like north of its border, to forage uses of this crop. Pearl millet's advantages are seen as: high nutritional content for livestock, efficient water use, adaptation to high temperatures, tolerance to salinity, and capacity for production in multiple cuts. It is also recognized as a multipurpose crop, including for grain. 1. The most recent I have is from early last year, and gives a good overview (altho it gets confused in the second mention of the origin of pearl millet late in the article): "Sustainable Pearl Millet Farming Could Combat Drought," Mexico Business News, 01/30/2024 https://mexicobusiness.news/agribusiness/news/sustainable-pearl-millet-farm… The article focuses on forage uses, and mentions research on that, as well as implications for the food system. 2. An official blog of the Mexican National Institute of Forestry, Agriculture, and Livestock Research (INIFAP) has some similar and some complementary information to the above: "Mijo perla, una opción para forraje: Con tolerancia a la sequía y con un alto rendimiento de forraje," Gobierno de México, INIFAP, 2023-02-09 https://www.gob.mx/inifap/articulos/mijo-perla-una-opcion-para-forraje >From nos. 1 & 2, we can note that regions in which research is ongoing include the Central Plateau, San Luis Potosi, and the Huasteca plains. Also, the Mexican (governmental) and international agencies involved in research include: * Secretaría de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural (SADER) = Secretariat for Agriculture and Rural Development * Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP) * CIMMYT * ICRISAT (as seed source) 3. This one came up in English as "Forage production of pearl millet and maize at the mexican potosinan highland," but the actual article, accessible free online, is in Spanish. The English abstract is at: https://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?pid=S0187-73802018000400477&script=sci… Original article citation: Velázquez-Martínez Mauricio, Mendoza-Guzmán Samuel, Hernández-Guzmán Filogonio J., Landa-Salgado Patricia, Nieto-Aquino Rafael, Mata-Espinosa Miguel A.. Producción forrajera de mijo perla y maíz en el altiplano potosino de México. Rev. fitotec. mex [revista en la Internet]. 2018 Dic [citado 2025 Abr 26] ; 41( 4 ): 477-482. Disponible en: http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0187-7380201800…. Epub 30-Sep-2020. https://doi.org/10.35196/rfm.2018.4.477-482 Research was conducted during 2013 in Charcas and Matehuala, in the state of San Luis Potosi. Google translate of the final paragraph in article: "This study highlights that pearl millet is a good alternative forage crop in Mexico's semi-arid rainfed conditions, allowing for an average of 16.5% forage regrowth, and that the outstanding varieties are MDP13 and MF13." 4. An older article in English: Ratikanta Maiti and Humberto González Rodríguez, 2010, "Pearl Millet: Potential Alternative for Grain and Forage for Livestock in Semi-arid Regions of Mexico," International Journal of Bio-resource and Stress Management, 1(1): 45-47 https://ojs.pphouse.org/index.php/IJBSM/article/view/49/32 "Researches undertaken on the introduction and evaluation of some tropical pearl millet germplasms (91) and cultivars (15) revealed that tropical pearl millet could be apotential crop for production of fodder and grains for livestock/poultry in semi-aridnorth-east of Mexico. Crops were well adapted in semi-arid regions of north-east Mexico, and gave high yield of fodder and grain with good nutritional values." Specific locations of research were in Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, and Zacatecas states. 5. A 2002 overview that includes mention of pearl millet: Williams-Alanís, Héctor, "Sorghum and Millet in Mexico," Chap. 75 (pp. 457-463) in John F. Leslie, ed. Sorghum and Millets Diseases (Iowa State Press, 2002) https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470384923.ch75 There are not a lot of specifics on pearl millet, but some of the brief discussion of forage value of "millet" aligns with findings in articles above. Earliest research on millets in Mexico, according to the article was in 1967. Back in Dec. 2022, I did a summary of this piece on this list at https://lists.millets2023.space/pipermail/collab/2022-December/000117.html (the offer to share further info on the chapter itself is still open). Summary: Pearl millet - and millets generally (aside from sorghum, which is widely grown) - appear to be consistently in the margins of ag & food research in Mexico. Do the recent items above (1&2) reflect a potential increased use of pearl millet for forage in practice? Don Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Re: [Collab] Collab Digest, Vol 39, Issue 14
by Gary Wietgrefe 27 Apr '25

27 Apr '25

With drought prospects this spring and summer from Texas through western North Dakota, and cattle prices at record highs, this is the time to have ranchers plant pearl millet as options for grazing and haying. Commercial forage producers, or where winter wheat fails or is pulled off by early July, pearl millet would be an excellent second crop forage option, especially if lightly irrigated where that is an option in Nebraska and south. To prolong fall grazing to save winter cattle and dairy feed, pearl millet can be grazed through early frosts because pearl millet does not produce prussic acid like forage sorghums do when frosted. Local seed companies, especially local farm service cooperatives have access to several grazing, haying and chopped pearl millets through Croplan Genetics. See crop_sg25_masterchart_foragesorghum_v3.pdf <https://storwukentico03pd.blob.core.windows.net/croplanmedia/croplan/media/…> On Fri, Apr 25, 2025 at 6:29 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: Pearl millet as "ruminant rocket fuel"? (Joni Kindwall-Moore) > 2. Re: Pearl millet as "ruminant rocket fuel"? (Om Dangi) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2025 11:49:36 -0700 > From: Joni Kindwall-Moore <joni(a)snacktivistfoods.com> > To: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > Cc: collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > Subject: Re: [Collab] Pearl millet as "ruminant rocket fuel"? > Message-ID: > <CAHVJML+h6wB7mi+=JQV+=C5eTEDmDbobnRTytQk5Y_5W56o= > zw(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Hundred percent agree!! > > > On Thu, Apr 24, 2025 at 11:45?AM Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > wrote: > > > Thanks, Joni. What strikes me about what we see with regard to pearl > > millet in North America, as related in our 4/17 Millets Webinar, the > recent > > research on pearl millet in breads, and this piece about this crop as > > forage, is that we might be looking at some significant increase > > inattention to this crop overall. > > > > Lots happening with millets generally, but thinking about this one today. > > > > Don > > > > DO, EL, MI, US > > NAMA > > > > > > On Thu, Apr 24, 2025 at 12:32?PM Joni Kindwall-Moore < > > joni(a)snacktivistfoods.com> wrote: > > > >> Wow, fantastic insight Don > >> > >> On Thu, Apr 24, 2025 at 8:36?AM Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > >> wrote: > >> > >>> On the topic of pearl millet for animal forage here is a > >>> video conversation from last year on hybrid pearl millet for forage > that > >>> gets deep into specifics. > >>> * "Hybrid Pearl Millet... What are you missing? Chris Leach and Jeff > >>> Jackson," 29 Mar 2024 (short version, 23:42) > >>> https://youtu.be/x8H-WTDrTQI > >>> * "Pearl Millet Full Version...making #COWCHOW" (long version, 1:21:42) > >>> https://youtu.be/tZeghVwD0Bw > >>> The phrase "ruminant rocket fuel" came up in the discussion, reflecting > >>> the nutritional profile of pearl millet as livestock forage. The > parameters > >>> mentioned are high crude protein and NDSB levels (the latter > apparently has > >>> to do with digestibility), in addition to the crop being able to > succeed in > >>> diverse climates (when soil and air temperatures are high enough). > >>> > >>> One of the two participants in this video, Chris Leach (whose bio or > >>> affiliation I've not been able to find) suggests, beginning at the > 02:44 > >>> mark in the shorter video (9:50, long version), that decline of levels > in > >>> the Oglala aquifer may lead to more use of pearl millet in dairy > operations > >>> in the western US. He further suggests a pearl millet system could be a > >>> "game changer" in the next 5 years. > >>> > >>> The other participant and evidently the host, Jay Jackson (affiliated > >>> with Croplan, a seed company owned by Land-O-Lakes, Inc.), has a high > >>> profile on YouTube, including this earlier short video on pearl millet > for > >>> forage. Some readers may prefer to start with this short description > before > >>> getting into either of the longer versions. > >>> "Ruminant rocket fuel: Pearl Millets might be the next answer?" 27 > March > >>> 2020 (04:52) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRojP1mgWGQ > >>> > >>> Is pearl millet poised to become more important as a forage crop in > >>> North America? > >>> > >>> Don Osborn, PhD > >>> (East Lansing, MI, US - +1 202-621-3911) > >>> North American Millets Alliance > >>> > >>> > >>> -- > >>> Collab mailing list > >>> Collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > >>> https://lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab > >>> > >> >

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Pearl millet as "ruminant rocket fuel"?
by Don Osborn 24 Apr '25

24 Apr '25

On the topic of pearl millet for animal forage here is a video conversation from last year on hybrid pearl millet for forage that gets deep into s pecifics. * "Hybrid Pearl Millet... What are you missing? Chris Leach and Jeff Jackson," 29 Mar 2024 (short version, 23:42) https://youtu.be/x8H-WTDrTQI * "Pearl Millet Full Version...making #COWCHOW" (long version, 1:21:42) https://youtu.be/tZeghVwD0Bw The phrase "ruminant rocket fuel" came up in the discussion, reflecting the nutritional profile of pearl millet as livestock forage. The parameters mentioned are high crude protein and NDSB levels (the latter apparently has to do with digestibility), in addition to the crop being able to succeed in diverse climates (when soil and air temperatures are high enough). One of the two participants in this video, Chris Leach (whose bio or affiliation I've not been able to find) suggests, beginning at the 02:44 mark in the shorter video (9:50, long version), that decline of levels in the Oglala aquifer may lead to more use of pearl millet in dairy operations in the western US. He further suggests a pearl millet system could be a "game changer" in the next 5 years. The other participant and evidently the host, Jay Jackson (affiliated with Croplan, a seed company owned by Land-O-Lakes, Inc.), has a high profile on YouTube, including this earlier short video on pearl millet for forage. Some readers may prefer to start with this short description before getting into either of the longer versions. "Ruminant rocket fuel: Pearl Millets might be the next answer?" 27 March 2020 (04:52) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRojP1mgWGQ Is pearl millet poised to become more important as a forage crop in North America? Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US - +1 202-621-3911) North American Millets Alliance

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Study on US consumer reception of pearl millet flour in breads
by Don Osborn 24 Apr '25

24 Apr '25

Pearl millet - our April millet-of-the-month - is not widely known as a food in North America, so this recent research article on US consumer reaction to the grain in breads breaks new ground. Thanks to Gary for bringing it to my attention:: Cheung, May, Lauren Miller, Jonathan Deutsch, Rachel Sherman, Solomon H Katz, and Paul Wise. 2025. "Sensory Properties and Acceptability of Fermented Pearl Millet, a Climate-Resistant and Nutritious Grain, Among Consumers in the United States—A Pilot Study" Foods 14, no. 5: 871. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14050871 The study gave participants breads made with varying levels of pearl millet flour (from either fermented or unfermented grains) substituted for wheat flour, under different conditions. A flatbread was first tried, then a whole-grain sandwich bread. The choice of pearl millet was based on its nutritional qualities as well as its resilience as a crop. Fermentation was a focus of the study, since that reduces phytic acid, an anti-nutrient present in whole-grain pearl millet and other whole grains. (Sourdough is an example of fermented grain, altho the breads in this study were not described with that term.) The study found that "[r]eplacing up to 20% of wheat with fermented or unfermented pearl millet had no measurable effect on liking or purchase intent." However, liking tended to decrease at higher levels of substitution. The study raises interesting possibilities as well as questions. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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"Pearl Millet: The Drought Resistant Grain" (blog & video)
by Don Osborn 21 Apr '25

21 Apr '25

A webpage and video on pearl millet by Regenerative Farmers of America offers a nice introduction to this grain: "Pearl Millet: The Drought Resistant Grain" (article & embedded video, 9:40), 9 July 2024, https://www.regenerativefarmersofamerica.com/regenerative-farmers-of-americ… All-in-all an enthusiastic presentation with an international focus, that notes several of the strong points and limitations of this millet, as well as mentioning its ancient spread. However, it does not get into its uses in North America. Definitely recommended, but with attention to some details. For example, the focus on southern Africa as pearl millet's "forever home" might have been complemented by noting that Sahelian West Africa still produces more pearl millet than any other part of the continent. (The video rightly mentions India's pre-eminence globally in production of this millet.) Also, the discussion of growing the crop in colder climates (Russia) might also have pointed to Canada. The video has a good pace. However, occasional interspersed images of other plants and grains where they aren't part of the narrative might be confusing to viewers just learning about pearl millet. (For me, these were like visual off-notes.) For example, in the field, panicles of: foxtail millet (3:20); wheat (3:22 & 7:19); and sorghum (5:33 & 7:21) . And in grain form: what looks more like wheat (0:51 & 7:43); what appears to be proso millet (2:01, with flour); white rice (2:05, when mentioning riced pearl millet); and what resembles orange lentils (3:27). Plus an image of finger millet (3:49, when discussing water requirements). All that said, the video does have a nice range of photos of pearl millet grain (loose & in pots) and grain heads (in fields & also cut). Viewers learning about millets might find it useful to contrast the non-pearl millet images discussed above with those of pearl millet to get a better appreciation of the latter's characteristics. The video embedded in the article (link above) is also accessible directly on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/ajYsOyh0Y0Q Regenerative Farmers of America, according to their website at https://www.regenerativefarmersofamerica.com/about-regenerative-farmers-of-… , "is run by Lauren Lovejoy & Eric Conrad," who are farmers in Virginia. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US - +1 202-621-3911) North American Millets Alliance

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Video of Millets Webinar on pearl millet, 17 Apr. 2025
by Don Osborn 20 Apr '25

20 Apr '25

The recording of our Apr. 17, 2025 Millets Webinar on pearl millet is now available at https://youtu.be/MtYL3MUquRA . Thanks again to Dr. Om Dangi of Agriculture Environmental Renewal Canada (AERC) and Gary Wietgrefe of NAMA for sharing their expertise on this versatile crop that most of us in Canada and the US don't yet know much about. Thanks also to other participants who joined us and contributed, notably Dr. SK Gupta and Dr. Dr. Roopa Banerjee, senior scientists at ICRISAT. Two big takeaways are how far north pearl millet can be productively grown (i.e., well into Canada), and how widely this crop is grown, particularly in the US (altho not so much for grain, yet). After the introductions, Dr. Om Dangi's presentation begins at 03:21 (he is "aerco" onscreen), and is followed by a number of questions and comments. Gary Wietgrefe's presentation starts after 46:50 (he first responds to a question from Joni Kindwall-Moore, who was moderating). Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US - +1 202-621-3911) North American Millets Alliance

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NAMA Millets Webinar on pearl millet - TOMORROW 4/17!
by Don Osborn 16 Apr '25

16 Apr '25

NAMA's next webinar is on pearl millet in North America, tomorrow, Thursday, April 17, at 11 am EDT/8 am PDT. (The rhythm of these Millets Webinars is every third Thursday of the month.) Speakers: * Dr. Om Dangi, president & CEO of Agriculture Environmental Renewal Canada, Inc. (AERC) will join us for perspectives on pearl millet in Canada, and the work of AERC in developing varieties of this crop * NAMA's Gary Wietgrefe, author and retired agronomist, will share info on pearl millet in the US, including his analysis suggesting a higher area planted in millets, including pearl millet, than official statistics show. Pearl millet is the sixth most cultivated grain crop in the world, but unlike in areas of Africa and Asia where it is a staple food, it is mostly grown in North America as a cover crop, for forage, and in some cases in rotation with other crops for pest control. In the US, it is more common in the southeast, but is well suited for hotter and drier regions to the west. Varieties have been developed for northerly latitudes, extending the productive range of this important crop into Canada. The next frontier is varieties producing food quality grain for this part of the world. Pearl millet is NAMA's millet-of-the-month in April. Please join us to learn about these and related topics. Topic: NAMA Monthly Webinar Session Time: Thurs., 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 DO, EL, MI, US NAMA

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Millets webinar on pearl millet, 4/17
by Don Osborn 13 Apr '25

13 Apr '25

Our Millets Webinar this Thursday, April 17 will focus on pearl millet. We'll review the range of uses of this crop in North America and hear from Dr. Om Dangi of Agriculture Environmental Renewal Canada (AERC) about his work with this crop. Pearl millet is the sixth most cultivated grain crop in the world. But in contrast with parts of Asia and Africa where it is a staple food, it is grown in North America mainly as a cover crop and for animal forage, as well as other uses. What do we have to look forward to with this resilient crop? AERC has developed pearl millet hybrids, including one grown for grain, as well as seeds for other crops. The webinar will be at 11 am EDT / 8 am PDT on April 17. Connection details forthcoming. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Fwd: Spring 2025 millet considerations
by Don Osborn 12 Apr '25

12 Apr '25

Forwarding Gary's analysis of millets in the 2025 planting season, with permission. Very interesting points (note, for example, increases in price of proso millet). DO, EL, MI, US NAMA ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Gary Wietgrefe Date: Fri, Apr 11, 2025 at 9:58 PM Subject: Spring 2025 millet considerations To: Don Osborn Cc: Joni Kindwall-Moore *What is the status and opportunities for millets going into 2025 planting season*? Of course, the answer will vary depending on the type of millet and intended uses. Here's a brief look at grain/seed and forage millet opportunities. *Grain/seed:* *Proso millet*: Prices of proso grain have gradually creeped up from the low 2024 harvest price into spring. Why? 1.) *Proso pricing*: *There is a wide spread between locations in USDA's April 11, 2025 white proso prices* (ams_2887.pdf <https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/ams_2887.pdf>) from 6.0 cents/lb. to 8.5 cents/lb. That is roughly a 40% spread--meaning it is far more than freight basis. It appears to indicate some locations have millet on hand and others appear to be bidding up farm prices to pull out from on-farm storage before full-fledged spring planting begins. 2.) *Proso uses*: *Proso prices are increasing* to levels not seen in a couple years after excessive supplies after the 2023 harvest through the 2024/2025 winter held prices down. 75-85% of U.S. produced proso millet annually goes into bird food mixes which dominates proso pricing. Yes, new domestic markets are building for proso going into gluten free foods and beverages.That is why the North American Millet Alliance (NAMA) introduced new proso millet grading standards. (See https://youtu.be/lquS2H3XC5Y?si=W6MGDOd6DVhNGyBC.) 3.) *Proso prospects 2025*? Since 2023 and 2024 proso supplies seem to be getting used up, even with average yields, the U.S. may need to harvest at least 500,000 acres of proso in 2025. 4.) *What happened to bird feed proso*? 2024-2025 winter bird feed use of white proso appears to have rebounded. Why? For several years going into the 2023 harvest, proso prices were so much higher than other grains that wild birdseed retail mixes decreased white proso and increased other grains. In doing so, it made birdfeed appear darker from other grains (sorghum, cracked corn, and wheat). Some packagers even changed to non-transparent bags so backyard wild bird hobbyists would not notice the decreased white proso. Therefore, backyard feeding likely dropped. That changed in 2024-2025 with proso priced quite low which increased use. Alternatives, like sunflower seed, tightened due to below average sunflower planting in 2024. 5.) *Sunflower impact on proso*: In the same USDA April 11 price chart ( ams_2887.pdf <https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/ams_2887.pdf>) birdseed sunflower prices are high and rising. Backyard bird hobbyists seem to prefer a mix of white and black. As birdseed sunflower prices rise, white proso at 25-30% of the price of sunflowers means price-conscious buyers will tend to buy and feed more proso. High spring 2025 bird feed sunflower prices will drive growers to plant more sunflowers for bird feed this year. Until more sunflowers are available, proso use in bird feeds should remain firm. *Forage Millets*: *Forage millet seed*: Foxtail, pearl, teff, Japanese, and brown top millets' seed seems to be adequate going into the forage, game plot, and cover crop mixes this spring. Forage demand will determine millet seed use, but also may affect forage millet seed yields. *Expected 2025 forage millet demand*: Winter wheat conditions are a good indicator of summer demand for forages. If winter wheat moving from dormancy to heading is in poor condition, it usually indicates drought which means less pasture grass, lower forage yields, increased fall/winter usage, longer (non-pasture) feeding, and more demand for millets which are the most drought-hardy crop. *Winter wheat condition report*: Not good. Drought. USDA's April 7, 2025 winter wheat crop conditions reported Texas had 40% of their winter wheat rated poor to very poor. Nebraska was at 33% poor to very poor and South Dakota was at 38%. See Rough Start for Winter Wheat: First 2025 Crop Data Released <https://www.agriculture.com/rough-start-for-winter-wheat-first-2025-crop-da…> . *US Drought Monitor Map*: Those selling millet forage seed should keep abreast of drought prospects. Notice the drought conditions in the hard red winter wheat area (see link attached). Look for seed-selling opportunities in the Plains states which will likely need more drought tolerant forage millets this year. Current Map | U.S. Drought Monitor <https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap.aspx> *Pearl millet does not have prussic acid* if grazing fall forage or cover crops. Growers, needing large tonnage cut forage and alternatively want regrowth for grazing, should consider pearl millet. Pearl millet can be grazed before and after frost without worrying about prussic acid poisoning as cautioned with forage sorghum crosses. Other forage millets do not have the regrowth for multiple cuttings or fall grazing like pearl millet. *Cover crops are becoming increasingly important* to produce forage, grazing, build organic matter, and reduce wind and water erosion. Most summer cover crops should have warm-season, drought-tolerant millet in the mix. Post-winter wheat summer cover crops for forage should include foxtail millets. Those winter wheat acres intended to be grazed may want to include pearl millet which regrows and produces high tonnage into fall. NAMA's March webinar on foxtail millets has excellent suggestions for forage and cover crops uses. See https://youtu.be/nQ9PRPYly8c?si=bDWQCCRC5fdVQTl0, and Cover crop champions (2024–2025) | National Agricultural Library <https://www.nal.usda.gov/research-tools/food-safety-research-projects/cover…> *Domestic uses for millets*: The millions of acres of proso and forage millets produced in the U.S. each year do NOT rely on foreign markets like other grains. 2025 is a good year to grow domestic demand for grain and forage millets.

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Re: [Collab] Collab Digest, Vol 39, Issue 6
by Gary Wietgrefe 09 Apr '25

09 Apr '25

Birds, especially migratory, are a pest for many food and field crops especially sunflowers. Millets, especially pearl with very long upright heads, as they reach maturity are very tempting to birds searching for energy foods as they migrate often thousands of miles. *Starlings and blackbirds*: Back in the late 1970s when I was working for the South Dakota Dept. of Agriculture I fielded calls about migrating birds, notably starlings, blackbirds, and geese. Starlings and blackbirds with flocks in the thousands would sit on mature sunflower heads that were drying down for harvest. It was not unusual for birds to completely clean off the top half of the head. An adequate stand of sunflowers may have 25,000 heads per acre compared to nearby proso millet fields with 1.5 million seed heads. Loss was much more substantial on sunflowers. I will address solutions below, but as a side note, since my job in the Dept. of Ag was marketing, one fall when massive flocks of migrating starlings made worldwide news, I received a telex from a Japanese company wanting quotes on 40-foot containers (40,000 lbs.) of dressed and frozen starling breasts. It was a fleeting market beyond our interest. *Geese*: Snow, blue, Canada geese, and sandhill cranes move through the Central Plains by the thousands in spring and fall. Snow and blue geese tend to not bother crops that are often not planted when they move north in early spring and tend to feed on harvested wheat, barley, millet fields when they move south in late fall. Sandhill cranes also move through in the spring and can destroy much of a field of freshly planted corn before they continue their journey to northern Canada. Canada geese however separate in small flocks and pairs as they move north and settle where water and grains are available all summer. Canada geese, sandhill cranes, and (non-migratory) pheasants are very pesky to corn and sunflower fields shortly after planting as the birds would walk down rows of corn and sunflowers picking out the germinating seed and seedlings. At about a half-cent for each seed, and an uncompensatable stand loss can devastate yields which farmers continually seed solutions. *Solutions*: 1.) Don't plant corn or sunflowers next to sloughs (especially in the Prairie Pothole Region of the Dakotas). 2.) Timed explosive and noise devices are commercially available to scare bird pests. See Bird-X Quad Blaster® Ultrasonic Bird Deterrent Device - QB-4 <https://www.globalindustrial.com/p/bird-x-quad-blaster-174-ultrasonic-bird-…>, and 3.) Very small fields and gardens may effectively use bird scare tactics, repellents, and electronic devices. See Bird Bangers - Exempt (15mm 100 Rounds) | Wildlife Control Supplies | Product Code: NWS15MMBB <https://www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com/animal/NWS15MMBB.html>, and BIRD-X, Outdoor Use, Orange, Visual Bird Repellers - 1DGW8|T-EYES+ - Grainger <https://www.grainger.com/product/BIRD-X-Visual-Bird-Repellers-Outdoor-1DGW8…>, and Amazon.com: Bird-X <https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bird-X/page/B55D26A1-3E8E-4041-9364-817E01B43…> . 4.) Repellants, like Avipel, when eaten, force birds to announce warning calls. Avipel has been commercially available for decades. See Bird Repellent Seed Corn Treatment | Increase Crop Yield | Avipel <https://avipel.com/>. Lastly, Don mentioned an article by Iowa State University that fields 40 acres or more have lower bird damage. Actually, I suggest that any field less than 40 acres may have less total loss than larger fields which can attract larger flocks over a longer migration pause. Furthermore, pearl millet fields less than 40 acres are generally not intended to be harvested for grain on a commercial and fungible basis....Gary Wietgrefe On Wed, Apr 9, 2025 at 6:02 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: Grain pearl millet hybrids in North America for food? > (Don Osborn) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2025 12:14:12 -0400 > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > To: collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > Subject: Re: [Collab] Grain pearl millet hybrids in North America for > food? > Message-ID: > <CA+RHibWH+N_94enFg9C0t20UrZj= > W4TvhcFfVUDxK2Cy2QVitw(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > More items on grain pearl millet in North America. First on an older hybrid > grain pearl millet, and second on birds: > > 1. Here's mention of an old grain pearl millet hybrid in the US, HGM 100. > I'll reproduce below the relevant text on that and TifGrain 102 from an > older USDA ARS page I came across at > > https://www.ars.usda.gov/southeast-area/tifton-ga/crop-genetics-and-breedin… > : > > "HGM 100 was released in the early 1990s. Substantial acreage was planted > and most farmers were successful, even though it was a new crop. In the > time HGM 100 was grown we learned many things about harvesting and pricing. > This hybrid is no longer available on the market. > > "TifGrain 102 represents a new generation of pearl millet hybrids for > grain. This hybrid is shorter, earlier maturing, and has slightly larger > grain and greater ease of combining. In addition, it has resistance to > southern and peanut root knot nematodes and better rust resistance. Hybrid > seed was available to farmers on a limited basis beginning in 2002. This > new hybrid can produce high quality grain without irrigation in Georgia and > throughout the southern Coastal Plain and into the Great Plains states." > > It would be interesting to know of other pearl millet varieties in North > America grown for grain. beyond these two and CGPMH-90. > > 2. Birds are a risk for grain pearl millet in the field, given the very > exposed seeds of the cattail-like panicum. Heard of farmers trying it in > Colorado recently, but encountering this issue. Also came across mention > specifically of blackbirds "feasting" on it in an old Georgia outdoors > forum https://forum.gon.com/threads/pearl-millet.524742/ . An Iowa State > University extension page noted the case of birds cleaning off all seed > from small plots of pearl millet in Missouri > https://www.extension.iastate.edu/alternativeag/pearl-millet > > However, predation by birds is obviously not a showstopper in regions where > pearl millet is a major crop, so what's happening? Curiously, in West > Africa, I didn't come across a great deal of discussion of birds and pearl > millet (or for that matter, sorghum, which is also tall and with > differently exposed seeds). Some farmers thought trees in/near fields would > facilitate bird activity, yet some trees are favored in fields (notably the > "reverse season" Acacia albida). I did occasionally see measures to keep > birds out of some plots, including gardens (strung up tape from old > cassette tapes back in the day, used to spook some birds). > > That same ISU extension page cited above suggests that in fields of pearl > millet over 40 acres, loss to birds is "typically less than 5-10%." I > suppose the logic is that birds are not locusts, but what are acceptable > loss levels (of any grain)? > > ISU again suggests that keeping pearl millet away from treelines might > reduce potential loss from birds (see above mention of farmers in West > Africa). A University of Georgia extension brief on TifGrain 102 suggests > "planting in May so fields can be harvested before migratory birds pass > through in September and October." > > https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/60481000/Pearlmilletforgrain,RevisedG… > . So attention to types of birds in a locality and patterns of behavior > that may include migratory species would seem to be essential parts of > addressing this potential issue. > > Anyway, those are some thoughts. > > Don > > DO, EL, MI, US > NAMA > > > On Sat, Apr 5, 2025 at 1:04?PM Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> wrote: > > > Should have caught this earlier, but I just cross-indexed the pearl > millet > > grain source used in the Cheung et al's experimentation with pearl millet > > flour in breads/1 /2 with the University of Georgia's hybrid feed grain > > variety, TifGrain 102, which was developed at Tifton, Georgia./3 > > > > Dr. Cheung and her colleagues sourced grain of this variety from Kansas > > State University. I don't recall hearing / reading about its being used > for > > food before. > > > > So, there are a few questions: > > * How good are the grains from TifGrain 102 for culinary uses? Not > > suggesting any problem, but how would it compare with common varieties > in > > countries where pearl millet is a staple? > > * How would it compare in multiple respects with CGPMH-90, a grain pearl > > millet variety developed by AERC in Ontario?/4 > > * How many grain pearl millet varieties are currently available in North > > America? > > > > For the latter question, I'll write Melanie Harrison of USDA in Griffin, > > Georgia, in hopes she'll be able to help. > > > > Don Osborn, PhD > > (East Lansing, MI, US) > > North American Millets Alliance > > > > Notes: > > 1. https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/5/871 > > 2. I posted to Collab about this a few days ago: > > https://lists.millets2023.space/pipermail/collab/2025-April/000781.html > > 3. > > > https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1216&title=pearl… > > 4. https://www.aerc.ca/product/canadian-grain-pearl-millet-hybrid-90/ > > > > >

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