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Re: [Collab] Collab Digest, Vol 34, Issue 13
by Gary Wietgrefe 02 Dec '24

02 Dec '24

Processing to remove the pericarp (hull) of millets and sorghum vary depending on the type, seed size, and even variety of millet or sorghum. For example, proso has a loose or detached pericarp that removes quite easily compared to sorghum with an attached pericarp and is similar to wheat. Some varieties of proso are easier to hull mechanically than others. Also, hulling equipment must be set based on seed size because foxtail millets have 220,000 t0 240,000 seeds per pound, proso about 80,000 seeds/pound, and sorghum seed can range from 9,000 to 22,000 seeds per pound. Obviously, seed coat removal of the husk, hull, bran, pericarp, mesocarp, testa, palea, lemma, and etcetera outside the endosperm of each seed type varies. On proso, we simply call it "hulling" or "dehulling" which is the same. Whereas the S. Shobana, et al. article states "dehusking" and "debranning" as quoted: "Results: *Debranning* resulted in decrease in protein (except for little and barnyard millets), dietary fibre, fat, mineral and phytate content in all the millets while enhanced available carbohydrates and amylose content. The cooking times for *dehusked* millets were significantly higher ...." These articles (including the last from Easterly, Jones-Diamond, Dryland Genetics) tie into some of my 2005 private testing on U.of Nebraska's (then) newly released glutinous (waxy/sticky) variety Plateau vs. common white proso. Our research proximate analysis showed hull removal decreased ash, and fiber, while increasing protein, fat, and starch of Plateau and regular white proso. To me it made sense. Proso's hull is fibrous and holds field-residue dust and when removed increases the endosperm protein and starch and germ fat percentage.....Gary Wietgrefe On Mon, Nov 25, 2024 at 5:00 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. Two articles on processing of millets (Don Osborn) > 2. Article on the 2024 sorghum harvest in the US (Don Osborn) > 3. UNL-CSU proso millet testing in 2nd year (Don Osborn) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2024 22:21:48 -0500 > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > To: collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > Subject: [Collab] Two articles on processing of millets > Message-ID: > < > CA+RHibVD4htW0csx_ZXKNYAe8+Pn-AX0Fu5geVuLW-BuOiM3qA(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Two items to share related to millets processing: > > 1. Jayasree Joshi, Sivaranjani Shanmuga Kumar, Rahul Kumar Rout, and > Pavuluri Srinivasa Rao, 2025, "*Millet processing: prospects for > climate-smart agriculture and transition from food security to nutritional > security*," Journal of Future Foods, 5(5): 470-479. > https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfutfo.2024.08.004 > (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772566924000582) > Abstract: Millets, which are small-seeded grains, are classified under the > Poaceae family and are known for their high nutritive content. Millets are > a viable option for the global population in light of growing concerns > about climate change due to their exceptional tolerance to a variety of > abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, light, and heat. They have > short growing periods and can be sustained in adverse weather conditions > with less irrigation requirements. They encompass morpho-physiological, > molecular, and biochemical characteristics that confer superior resilience > to environmental stress. The millet grains have the potential to contribute > to health and nutrition, rural employment, household incomes, rural and > national economies, and sustainable environmental management. They are a > rich source of both macro and micro nutrients. They contain a significant > amount of bioactive substances, along with minerals such as iron, calcium, > phosphorus, and zinc. Millets need to be processed for consumption and > preparation to improve its nutritional and sensory properties. The major > challenge in millet processing is due to the lack of proper processing > machineries, presence of antinutritional factors and the poor shelf life of > the flour due to high lipase activity. This limitation can be mitigated by > using the appropriate processing methods. This article gives an insight > into millet processing and value addition and its role in ensuring > nutritional security through climate-smart agriculture. > Keywords: Millets; Climate resilient crops; Smart agriculture; Food > security; Value addition > > (Thanks to Hikmet Boyacioglu for posting this on LinkedIn. NB- The year in > the citation is indeed 2025. One surprise for me was the discussion of > electrical pulses as part of processing.) > > > 2. Shobana, S., Mohanraj, K., Malleshi, N.G. et al. "Impact of debranning > on the nutritional, cooking, microstructural characteristics of five Indian > small millets." Discover Food 4, 136 (2024). > https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-024-00209-1 > Abstract: > Background: Millets are underutilized grains rich in nutrients. This study > aimed to investigate the impact of debranning on the nutritional, cooking, > and microstructural properties of five Indian millets namely foxtail, > little, kodo, barnyard, and proso millet. > > Methods: The proximate composition, mineral content, cooking properties > (cooking time, solid loss, water uptake, alkali score), Fourier Transform > Infra Red (FTIR) spectra, X ray Diffraction (XRD) and microstructural > characteristics (Scanning Electron Microscopy) of dehusked and debranned > millet samples were examined and analysed. > > Results: Debranning resulted in decrease in protein (except for little and > barnyard millets), dietary fibre, fat, mineral and phytate content in all > the millets while enhanced available carbohydrates and amylose content. The > cooking times for dehusked millets were significantly higher while the > solid loss and water uptake during cooking of debranned millets were > higher. On debranning, Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) spectra showed > changes in the pattern with increase in the intensity of amide II (1363 to > 1367 cm?1) and amide III (1215 to 1231 cm?1) bands in the debranned > foxtail, little, and kodo millets. The X-ray diffractogram (XRD) showed > decrease in relative crystallinity on debranning. Scanning Electron > Microscopic (SEM) examination revealed that debranning resulted in the loss > of seed coat, aleurone layer and partial loss of germ in the millets. > > Conclusion: Dehusked millets are nutritious and should be promoted in > Indian diets to improve diet quality, debranned millets are nutritionally > inferior, can increase the glycemic load of Indian diets. > > (This is a topic I've personally wondered about. In some approaches to > processing are we losing some of the benefits of millets that we are > touting?) > > > Don Osborn, PhD > (East Lansing, MI, US) > North American Millets Alliance >

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Three items on pearl millet
by Don Osborn 02 Dec '24

02 Dec '24

Three recent items on pearl millet to share, including a special magazine section & two significant edited volumes: 1. "Pearl Millet: The Cereal of the Future?: A New Book and Crop Science Special Section Highlights the Grain," by Tess Joosse, CSA News, 16 Oct. 2024 https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/csan.21408 2. Ramasamy Perumal, P.V. Vara Prasad, c. Tara Satyavathi, Mahalingam Govindaraj, and Abdou Tenkouano (editors), *Pearl Millet: A Resilient Cereal Crop for Food, Nutrition, and Climate Security*, Wiley, 2024 https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Pearl+Millet%3A+A+Resilient+Cereal+Crop+for+Foo… Description: "*Pearl millet*, a warm-season, dryland cereal crop, is a staple food for over 90 million people in Africa and Asia. Its nutritional superiority relative to other cereal crops, such as rice, wheat, maize, and sorghum, and its hardiness and adaptability to harsh environments and poor soils make it a potentially life-saving resource for poor populations and/or areas hit by damaging climatic conditions. With climate change Placing an ever-greater strain on global agrifood systems, pearl millet has never been a more important crop in the fight against poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. "*Pearl Millet* offers a thorough introduction to this potentially vital grain. Coming on the heels of a 2023 United Nations declaration of the “International Year of Millets,” it is a crucial intervention in an essential humanitarian project. It is the first comprehensive book on the subject to appear in print. "Key Features: * Analysis of a potential lead crop for climate-change-affected areas * Detailed coverage of all pearl millet’s unique features, such as inherent genetic diversity, gluten free applications, and suitability for double cropping * An author team with vast research and crop development experience "*Pearl Millet* is ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, certified and practicing professionals, as well as industry and academic researchers." 3. Vilas A. Tonapi, Nepolean Thirunavukkarasu, SK Gupta, Prakash I Gangashetty, and OP Yadav (editors), *Pearl Millet in the 21st Century: Food-Nutrition-Climate resilience-Improved livelihoods*, Springer Nature, Singapore, 2024. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-99-5890-0 "This book documents the global pearl millet research for achieving the sustainable development goals in the eve of the International Year of Millets in 2023 by FAO. This book offers perspectives on the recent advances in the field of genomics, next-generation breeding approaches, hybrid development, crop production and protection technologies of pearl millets. Pearl millet is the world’s most important millet grown in the hot, semi-arid ecologies of Asia and Africa with versatile end uses. Of all the world’s cereals, pearl millet ranks the sixth most important crop after rice, wheat, maize, barley and sorghum. In the changing climatic condition, it can be pitched as a strategic crop for food and nutritional security owing to its ability to survive in harsh ecologies and the higher micro-nutrients grain content. This book focuses on nutritional importance, climate resilience, seed systems, value-addition and market policies to enhance the genetic gain of pearl millets under marginal and favorable ecologies, and way forward for a food and nutrition secure world. It is a useful reading material for researchers and professionals working on small grains, millets and their cultivation and nutrition related aspects." The two books appear to be projects prompted by the IYM2023, but in any event, they offer a wealth of information about research on pearl millet, and hopefully will boost further work with this crop. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US - +1 202-621-3911) North American Millets Alliance

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Two articles on processing of millets
by Don Osborn 25 Nov '24

25 Nov '24

Two items to share related to millets processing: 1. Jayasree Joshi, Sivaranjani Shanmuga Kumar, Rahul Kumar Rout, and Pavuluri Srinivasa Rao, 2025, "*Millet processing: prospects for climate-smart agriculture and transition from food security to nutritional security*," Journal of Future Foods, 5(5): 470-479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfutfo.2024.08.004 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772566924000582) Abstract: Millets, which are small-seeded grains, are classified under the Poaceae family and are known for their high nutritive content. Millets are a viable option for the global population in light of growing concerns about climate change due to their exceptional tolerance to a variety of abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, light, and heat. They have short growing periods and can be sustained in adverse weather conditions with less irrigation requirements. They encompass morpho-physiological, molecular, and biochemical characteristics that confer superior resilience to environmental stress. The millet grains have the potential to contribute to health and nutrition, rural employment, household incomes, rural and national economies, and sustainable environmental management. They are a rich source of both macro and micro nutrients. They contain a significant amount of bioactive substances, along with minerals such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, and zinc. Millets need to be processed for consumption and preparation to improve its nutritional and sensory properties. The major challenge in millet processing is due to the lack of proper processing machineries, presence of antinutritional factors and the poor shelf life of the flour due to high lipase activity. This limitation can be mitigated by using the appropriate processing methods. This article gives an insight into millet processing and value addition and its role in ensuring nutritional security through climate-smart agriculture. Keywords: Millets; Climate resilient crops; Smart agriculture; Food security; Value addition (Thanks to Hikmet Boyacioglu for posting this on LinkedIn. NB- The year in the citation is indeed 2025. One surprise for me was the discussion of electrical pulses as part of processing.) 2. Shobana, S., Mohanraj, K., Malleshi, N.G. et al. "Impact of debranning on the nutritional, cooking, microstructural characteristics of five Indian small millets." Discover Food 4, 136 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-024-00209-1 Abstract: Background: Millets are underutilized grains rich in nutrients. This study aimed to investigate the impact of debranning on the nutritional, cooking, and microstructural properties of five Indian millets namely foxtail, little, kodo, barnyard, and proso millet. Methods: The proximate composition, mineral content, cooking properties (cooking time, solid loss, water uptake, alkali score), Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) spectra, X ray Diffraction (XRD) and microstructural characteristics (Scanning Electron Microscopy) of dehusked and debranned millet samples were examined and analysed. Results: Debranning resulted in decrease in protein (except for little and barnyard millets), dietary fibre, fat, mineral and phytate content in all the millets while enhanced available carbohydrates and amylose content. The cooking times for dehusked millets were significantly higher while the solid loss and water uptake during cooking of debranned millets were higher. On debranning, Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) spectra showed changes in the pattern with increase in the intensity of amide II (1363 to 1367 cm−1) and amide III (1215 to 1231 cm−1) bands in the debranned foxtail, little, and kodo millets. The X-ray diffractogram (XRD) showed decrease in relative crystallinity on debranning. Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) examination revealed that debranning resulted in the loss of seed coat, aleurone layer and partial loss of germ in the millets. Conclusion: Dehusked millets are nutritious and should be promoted in Indian diets to improve diet quality, debranned millets are nutritionally inferior, can increase the glycemic load of Indian diets. (This is a topic I've personally wondered about. In some approaches to processing are we losing some of the benefits of millets that we are touting?) Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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UNL-CSU proso millet testing in 2nd year
by Don Osborn 24 Nov '24

24 Nov '24

Numerous varieties of proso millet are being evaluated by researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Colorado State University in a joint effort. An update entitled "Cooperative Proso Millet Testing in Second Year" is presented by Amanda Easterly (Research Asst. Prof. at UNL) and Sally Jones-Diamond (Dir., Crops Testing Prog., CSU) on UNL's Cropwatch site (6 Nov. 2024) https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2024/cooperative-proso-millet-testing-second-year "Together with CSU Crops Testing, the UNL Crops Testing Team just wrapped up its second year of cooperative variety testing, aimed at providing growers and breeders with multi-location and multi-year yield and quality estimates. In this initiative, proso millet varieties that have been in use for decades, such as Earlybird and Huntsman, are tested against newer commercially available varieties such as Plateau and DLG 240. Also included are experimental varieties developed by UNL Alternative Crops Breeder [Prof.] Dipak Santra and the company Dryland Genetics, whose breeder Santosh Rajput, PhD. is a UNL graduate." Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Article on the 2024 sorghum harvest in the US
by Don Osborn 24 Nov '24

24 Nov '24

Farm Progress featured a positive report on the 2024 US grain hashtag#sorghum crop, after concerns about drought earlier in the year. "Southwest sorghum rated good to excellent," by Ron Smith & Shelley E. Huguley (Farm Progress, 14 Oct. 2024) https://www.farmprogress.com/sorghum/southwest-sorghum-rated-good-to-excell… The article quotes Brent Bean of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program as saying: "Overall, the grain sorghum crop is good; in some places, it’s excellent." Dr. Bean also discussed some management issues and new initiatives. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Teff as forage for cattle & horses
by Don Osborn 16 Nov '24

16 Nov '24

While most of our attention goes to millets grown for food, these plants are as versatile as they are resilient. The same goes for our November millet-of-the-month, teff, which has found use as animal forage in diverse regions of North America. Progressive Forage recently featured a balanced account of how teff is working as a beef cattle feed in several parts of the US: "Does teff live up to the hype as beef cattle feed?" by John O'Meara (11 Nov. 2024) https://www.agproud.com/articles/60506-does-teff-live-up-to-the-hype-as-bee… No single forage source, any more than any one food crop, can meet all needs at all times, but it is remarkable how teff has spread to perhaps half of the US states and parts of Canada as a forage option. A particular forage use of teff is as hay for horses. Mad Barn recently updated an article discussing this use: "Teff Hay for Horses: Nutrition Overview & Feeding Guide," by Jaime Thomas (2022 & 2024) https://madbarn.com/teff-hay-for-horses/ Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US - +1 202-621-3911) North American Millets Alliance

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Proso millet harvest data in the US (Re: Collab Digest, Vol 34, Issue 8)
by Don Osborn 11 Nov '24

11 Nov '24

Thank you, Gary, for these insights. The video explanation is very good, but I’ll have to listen to it again. It could also be featured on the NAMA LinkedIn page, which is followed now by over a thousand people, for additional exposure. It seems this is another policy area, in addition to the grain standards issue for proso, that about which we might put out a brief? Don DO, EL, MI, US NAMA On Sun, Nov 10, 2024 at 1:11 PM Gary Wietgrefe via Collab < collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> wrote: > Regarding Item 4: Proso millet harvest data. 2025 Proso harvest data will > not come out until the second Friday in January 2025. I would be extremely > surprised if the 2024 proso planting numbers are even close to USDA June > 2024 estimates. Since 2020 when there is an increasing planting trend, USDA > overestimates June plantings by 20%; whereas when there is decreased proso > planting trend, USDA underestimates by 8.7%. Why? Very little proso is > planted when the annual June survey is estimated. > > Secondly, to make up for the drastically wrong estimates for June's > current year proso planting estimate, it is corrected the following year. > Meaning, the following year changes the previous year's June estimate. To > me that's unethical. For example, June 2020 estimated 2020 proso > planting at 511,000 acres. In the June 2021 proso planting estimate, the > June 2020 planting was changed to 609,000 acres. In June 2021 proso > plantings were estimated at 600,000 acres, but in the June 2022 report it > changed 2021 planting to 725,000. Every year it changes! > > Oversupply of other grains have driven down proso prices. Expect millets > worldwide to be suppressed. When proso is high and out of line with other > grains (as in 2020 until spring 2023) expect proso plantings to exceed > demand. For review, see my proso pricing YouTube video > https://youtu.be/pVQclIw5Rbw?si=4wwVL5pkSdCR0KHh .....Gary Wietgrefe > [image: image.png] > > On Sun, Nov 10, 2024 at 5:00 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. CSA News article on finger millet, & a conf. presentation >> (Don Osborn) >> 2. Article on the 2024 teff harvest in the US (Don Osborn) >> 3. NYTImes on proso, teff & sorghum (Don Osborn) >> 4. Proso millet harvest for 2024 in US & Canada? (Don Osborn) >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> [ . . . ] >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Message: 4 >> Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2024 06:57:51 -0500 >> From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> >> To: "collab(a)lists.millets2023.space" <collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> >> Subject: [Collab] Proso millet harvest for 2024 in US & Canada? >> Message-ID: >> < >> CA+RHibX2-ZOBQfMY8O-diOkcbrArAS22PFUXJrYppW9HH3pywg(a)mail.gmail.com> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" >> >> In looking for any news on the proso millet harvest this year, I did not >> see any news items. >> >> The US National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Colorado Field >> Service put out a release on 1 June 2024 on the acreage planted in >> Colorado >> of several crops including proso. That reported a decline in acreage >> planted. See: >> >> https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Colorado/Publications/News_Re… >> >> A global forecast for production of millets also shows a decline (of 4%), >> due to "large stocks and low demand." Using here the Mundus Agri site >> (Germany), which references data from China and cites the USDA, at >> >> https://www.mundus-agri.eu/news/millet-global-production-decline-4-20232024… >> . Unfortunately the statistics lump together all millets under the single >> heading of "millet." China and Niger, for example, are not growing the >> same >> type of plants. >> >> Any further information or perspectives on the proso harvest in North >> America, and prospects for 2025, would be appreciated. >> >> >> Don Osborn, PhD >> (East Lansing, MI, US) >> North American Millets Alliance >>

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NYTImes on proso, teff & sorghum
by Don Osborn 11 Nov '24

11 Nov '24

The New York Times cooking section last month featured an article highlighting teff, sorghum, and "millet," by which I presume is meant proso. "5 Nutritious Grains Experts Want You to Try: These lesser-known options are nutritional powerhouses — and delicious, too," by Robin Catalano, 17 Oct. 2024 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/17/well/eat/healthy-whole-grains.html The "five grains" in the article also include the pseudo-cereals, buckwheat and amaranth. If anyone has a subscription to the NYT, could they "gift" this article to the list? That would be most appreciated, Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Re: [Collab] Collab Digest, Vol 34, Issue 8
by Gary Wietgrefe 10 Nov '24

10 Nov '24

Regarding Item 4: Proso millet harvest data. 2025 Proso harvest data will not come out until the second Friday in January 2025. I would be extremely surprised if the 2024 proso planting numbers are even close to USDA June 2024 estimates. Since 2020 when there is an increasing planting trend, USDA overestimates June plantings by 20%; whereas when there is decreased proso planting trend, USDA underestimates by 8.7%. Why? Very little proso is planted when the annual June survey is estimated. Secondly, to make up for the drastically wrong estimates for June's current year proso planting estimate, it is corrected the following year. Meaning, the following year changes the previous year's June estimate. To me that's unethical. For example, June 2020 estimated 2020 proso planting at 511,000 acres. In the June 2021 proso planting estimate, the June 2020 planting was changed to 609,000 acres. In June 2021 proso plantings were estimated at 600,000 acres, but in the June 2022 report it changed 2021 planting to 725,000. Every year it changes! Oversupply of other grains have driven down proso prices. Expect millets worldwide to be suppressed. When proso is high and out of line with other grains (as in 2020 until spring 2023) expect proso plantings to exceed demand. For review, see my proso pricing YouTube video https://youtu.be/pVQclIw5Rbw?si=4wwVL5pkSdCR0KHh .....Gary Wietgrefe [image: image.png] On Sun, Nov 10, 2024 at 5:00 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. CSA News article on finger millet, & a conf. presentation > (Don Osborn) > 2. Article on the 2024 teff harvest in the US (Don Osborn) > 3. NYTImes on proso, teff & sorghum (Don Osborn) > 4. Proso millet harvest for 2024 in US & Canada? (Don Osborn) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2024 12:25:42 -0500 > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > To: "collab(a)lists.millets2023.space" <collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> > Subject: [Collab] CSA News article on finger millet, & a conf. > presentation > Message-ID: > < > CA+RHibWw5+1y5fbGcgrW25DbXirueessuNuKGAvucKJHvJxKjQ(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Finger millet is virtually unknown in US agriculture, but two researchers > at Mississippi State University - Mohan K Bista and Raju Bheemanahalli > Rangappa - consider it to be "a potential game-changer for an uncertain > future." > > Their article in CSA News (Oct. 2024, pp. 52-56, > https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/csan.21404 ) > discusses the agronomy of finger millet, the nutritional qualities of the > grain (including a high calcium content), and its potential as a new crop > in the US. The article does not get into culinary qualities or uses. > > Mr. Bista, the lead author and a PhD student in Plant and Soil Sciences at > Mississippi State will be presenting on finger millet's > morpho-physiological resilience to drought stress at the 2024 ASA CSSA SSSA > International Meeting in in San Antonio, TX (which starts tomorrow!), in > the C02 Crop Physiology and Metabolism Division on Nov 12 from 2:50 p.m. to > 3:05 p.m. > > The conference website is > https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2024am/meetingapp.cgi/Home/0 (there > appears to be a virtual component to this conference, but it's not clear to > me if this presentation would be accessible in that mode). > > Thanks to Gary Wietgrefe for the pointer to this article. The info on the > presentation was seen on LinkedIn. > > Don Osborn, PhD > (East Lansing, MI, US) > North American Millets Alliance >

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Proso millet harvest for 2024 in US & Canada?
by Don Osborn 10 Nov '24

10 Nov '24

In looking for any news on the proso millet harvest this year, I did not see any news items. The US National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Colorado Field Service put out a release on 1 June 2024 on the acreage planted in Colorado of several crops including proso. That reported a decline in acreage planted. See: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Colorado/Publications/News_Re… A global forecast for production of millets also shows a decline (of 4%), due to "large stocks and low demand." Using here the Mundus Agri site (Germany), which references data from China and cites the USDA, at https://www.mundus-agri.eu/news/millet-global-production-decline-4-20232024… . Unfortunately the statistics lump together all millets under the single heading of "millet." China and Niger, for example, are not growing the same type of plants. Any further information or perspectives on the proso harvest in North America, and prospects for 2025, would be appreciated. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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