- Collab - lists.millets2023.space

Millets vs. the water crisis. NAMA Millets Webinar, 14 Apr. 2026
by Don Osborn 17 Apr '26

17 Apr '26

Long-term aquifer depletion, lower than normal snowpack levels, and effects of high temperatures raise concerns about water availability for cereal crops in the Plains and other drier parts of North America. What role can millets play in assuring sustainable food production and farm survival in 2026 and beyond? What are some of the issues that stand in the way of more planting of these resilient small grains? Or of developing consumer demand for them? These are some of the questions discussed by NAMA board members Gary Wietgrefe, Joni Kindwall-Moore, and Don Osborn in this latest of the NAMA Millets Webinars (14 Apr. 2026). Also considered was the potential for millets in other regions of the continent - millets are diverse crops with various potential in diverse agro-climatic zones. https://youtu.be/seuxQbVsc68 Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Pinterest boards on millets & products made with them
by Don Osborn 12 Apr '26

12 Apr '26

About a decade ago, I started "parking" some photos of packaged millets products on a personal Pinterest site, beginning with a board titled "Millets, Plural." I organized it in a way that illustrated the multiple different grains that we referred to with the name "millet.Later, I added other related boards, while intermittently adding more "pins" to each. Since I haven't mentioned this effort in a while, it seemed like a good moment to bring it back to your attention. The relevant boards and sections are listed below. (This is not to promote Pinterest, but the sections seem to display better if one is subscribed, which is free.) Millets, Plural https://www.pinterest.com/drdonosborn/millets-plural/ * Pearl millet / Bajri * Foxtail millet / Xiaomi * Proso millet / Proso * Finger millet / Ragi * Kodo millet * Barnyard millet [both species] * Little millet * Browntop millet * Millets, side-by-side * Millets, combined in products * Uncertain * "Millet," singular, in lists of grains Fonio & teff: Africa's tiniest millets https://www.pinterest.com/drdonosborn/fonio-teff-africas-tiniest-millets/ * Fonio / Acha ["acha" is a term is commonly used in eastern West Africa] * Fonio brewing & beers * Teff * Teff hay & pellets Andropogon millets: Sorghum, adlay & TOM https://www.pinterest.com/drdonosborn/andropogon-millets-sorghum-adlay-tom/ * Sorghum * Sorghum syrup * Adlay / Job's tears * Taiwan oil millet [TOM] Millets in charts & diagrams https://www.pinterest.com/drdonosborn/millets-in-charts-diagrams/ * Characteristics * Food processing * Taxonomies * Taxonomies with "pseudo-millets" * The "millets triangle" Any observations, suggestions, or questions are welcome. In a tangentially related item, we are considering developing a guide or meta-guide to images for educational and journalistic purposes - we are still seeing photos of one kind of millet in articles about one or more other types, which only confuses people more. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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More on proso millet in late Bronze Age Europe
by Don Osborn 09 Apr '26

09 Apr '26

Here's yet another research item mentioning proso or broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum) in the Bronze Age. First, an article about the research article: "Rare Remains Provide Insights Into Bronze Age Burials, Diet, and Society," by R.J. Mackenzie, Discover, Mar 5, 2026 https://www.discovermagazine.com/rare-remains-provide-insights-into-bronze-… Through analysis of "ancient DNA molecules, strontium and oxygen isotopes, and information from buried skeletons" from 36 late Bronze Age burial sites in central Germany, the research shed light on ancient dietary patterns. Among those, people began eating broomcorn millet - "a recent arrival from China" - in response to economic or environmental change. This research was in a different area of central Europe than that reported in an article I posted about in January./1 (The photo accompanying the article looks like sorghum and not proso/broomcorn millet.) The research article & its abstract Orfanou, E., Ghalichi, A., Rohrlach, A.B. et al. "Reconstruction of the lifeways of Central European Late Bronze Age communities using ancient DNA, isotope and osteoarchaeological analyses." Nature Communications 17, 1992 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-69895-y /2 Abstract (NB- while this abstract does not mention any millet, the article has numerous references to "millet," contextualized by specification that this is "broomcorn millet" [aka proso]): "The Late Bronze Age (ca. 1300–800 BCE) of Central Europe is often characterised as a period of increasing mobility, socioeconomic transformation, environmental fluctuations, and expanding cultural networks. However, reconstructing the demographic aspects of these changes has been hindered by cremation being the dominant mortuary practice, limiting biomolecular approaches. Here, we integrate ancient DNA, oxygen and strontium isotope analyses, and osteoarchaeology to examine rare inhumation burials from Kuckenburg and Esperstedt in Central Germany (n = 36) and compare them to contemporaneous inhumations from the neighbouring regions of South Germany, Bohemia (Czechia) and Southwest/Central Poland (n = 33). Genome-wide data show genetic continuity with preceding Early Bronze Age populations, alongside gradual increases in Early European Farmer-related ancestry, albeit with regionally different timing and extent, reflecting a nuanced pattern of mobility and admixture. Oxygen and strontium isotope data from Central Germany indicate that most individuals match the local isotope signal, including those who were cremated or had a different diet, and with only a few isotopic outliers, suggesting that mobility was present but not extensive. Overall, our findings suggest that the diverse inhumation practices at Kuckenburg and Esperstedt were culturally motivated, reflecting local traditions and ongoing regional interconnectedness rather than the influx of new genetic groups or non-local individuals." Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance Notes: 1. "Proso millet improved life in late Bronze Age Europe" (31 Jan 2026) https://lists.millets2023.space/archives/list/collab@lists.millets2023.spac… 2. The complete list of authors: Eleftheria Orfanou, Ayshin Ghalichi, Adam B. Rohrlach, Enrico Paust, Aida Andrades Valtueña, Michal Ernée, Mirosław Furmanek, Agata Hałuszko, Taylor Hermes, Marie Himmel, Jana Ilgner, Johannes Krause, Mario Küßner, Thiseas Christos Lamnidis, Mary Lucas, Drahomíra Adámková Malyková, Harald Meller, Gunnar U. Neumann, Luka Papac, Sandra Penske, Maike Salinger, Sarah A. Schrader, Torsten Schunke, Lena Semerau, Lubor Smejtek, Luca Traverso, Barbara Zach, Robert Spengler, Philipp W. Stockhammer, Joachim Wahl, Christophe Snoeck, Peter Ettel, Florian N. Schneider, Patrick Roberts & Wolfgang Haak

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AI for identifying & distinguishing among millets (2 articles)
by Don Osborn 05 Apr '26

05 Apr '26

While I like to think that I've gotten pretty good at distinguishing among certain millets (and similar sized seeds), there are cases where I'm not so sure or have to look very closely. Sometimes this is at home, where I once almost mistook a jar of little millet for one of amaranth. From a distance, proso and foxtail millets are fairly obvious, but a jar with couscous (not even grain, of course) actually resembles the latter - until you get close. I've recently been experimenting with barnyard millet (likely Indian barnyard, imported from India) and browntop millet side-by-side in jars, they look quite similar. I'll return to this particular comparison another time, but the point is that reliably identifying small millets - out of the hull as I have them, or even in the hulls, can be a challenge even on an individual level. How much more complicated might this be if one had volumes of different millets in a storage or processing facility where they have to be maintained separately So it is of interest to note two recent articles discussing techniques for using AI / deep learning to automatically identify millet grains as well as plants: ----- Ravichandran, M., K. Jagan Mohan, and S. Sivasankaran, "A Comprehensive Review on Various Deep Learning Techniques for Identification and Classification of Millets," Proceedings of the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Secure Data Analytics (ICAISDA 2025), Atlantis Press, 2026. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-616-6_38 Abstract "Millets, including pearl, finger, foxtail, proso, kodo, and little millet, are small-grained cereals known for their climate resilience. These crops require enhanced digital tools for species and cultivar recognition, disease detection, and origin and quality assessment. ML techniques based on neural networks, such as CNNs or combined models, have helped in millet classification from diverse data sources, including leaf and seed images, hyperspectral scans, and field-level imagery. This review elaborates on findings made between 2020 and 2025 while contrasting model families, datasets, and reported metrics across the modalities, pointing out key challenges such as diversity in datasets, environmental variability, explainability, and edge deployment." ------ Baisakh, B., P.K. Sethy, R. Gupta, et al, "A hybrid machine vision and handcrafted features fusion based approach for fine-grained millet classification," Scientific Repports 16, 2578 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-32311-4 Abstract: "Millets are increasingly recognized as climate-resilient, nutrient-rich grains essential for food and nutritional security. However, the limited availability of annotated datasets and the visual similarities among millet varieties such as Barnyard Millet, Little Millet, and Proso Millet pose significant challenges in their accurate identification and classification. To address these issues, this study proposes two novel hybrid frameworks that leverage both handcrafted and deep learning paradigms. A key component shared by both frameworks is the incorporation of a custom-designed handcrafted feature extraction process. The first framework introduces a Stacked Ensemble Machine Learning approach, that integrates handcrafted techniques and machine learning classifiers as Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) classifiers using a multinomial logistic regression meta-learner. The second framework adopts a bidirectional deep learning architecture; wherein handcrafted feature vectors are fused with the pretrained VGG19 model to achieve effective classification of different millet varieties. The stacked ensemble hybrid model achieved the 97% classification accuracy where as the second model achieved the highest accuracy of 96.7%, an F1-score of 0.967, and a ROC-AUC of 0.995, while maintaining excellent tradeoff between training and inference times." Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Helping Next Step Produce recovery
by Don Osborn 05 Apr '26

05 Apr '26

Last year I mentioned having been in touch with a grower in southern Maryland who was growing and processing grain pearl millet as well as a number of other crops. This was Heinz Thomet of Next Step Produce https://nextstepproduce.com I just checked out their site and learned that a fire last October destroyed their barn, stores, and equipment. If you'd like to learn more and how you can help, please see https://nextstepproduce.com/about/ . This is a small operation, characterized on their website as a "small family farm." However they have had a wider impact than their size might lead one to expect, including supplying pearl millet to a popular bakery in Washington, DC, and to a noted research project on palatability of breads made with that grain, as well as playing a role in the local food movement in their region. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Opportunities for Millets, 2026-27
by Don Osborn 29 Mar '26

29 Mar '26

*Opportunities for Millets 2026-2027* *Source: North American Millets Alliance (NAMA) Immediate Release: March 16, 2026* *Supply status of various millets for 2026:* Processors who want to incorporate a specific millet into their product lines need to know what millets are available in North America.[1] <#_edn1> Except for field run (a.k.a. bin run) proso, it is highly recommended that processors and users contract supplies from reliable seed suppliers by May 2026 and schedule deliveries by September 2026.[2] <#_edn2> Since various millets will be harvested throughout North America in the fall of 2026, food and beverage processors and non-seed users should commit to pounds intended to be used before seed is treated for planting. To ensure high quality food products, it is highly recommended to also use NAMA’s Proso Millet Grading Standards-- https://millets2023.space/ProsoStandards.html and https://youtu.be/AbLGbhi1g3g?si=0bTUwOoOJ3nHSSKT. (Note: Grain and seed millets are produced and stored the same way, except for hybrid pearl millet. Consequently, seed millets can be processed for edible consumption before any storage or seed treatments have been applied.) *North American Millets Availability, 2026-27* Contact seed suppliers for high quality grains *Scientific name** & commonly used name* *Varieties* *Food marketing names [3] <#_edn3>* *Spring 2026* *Fall 2026-27 expected supplies* *2026-27 Recommendations* *Panicum miliaceum* *proso millet* proso (bin) proso Plentiful Plentiful Contract 2026 production helpful but not mandatory waxy/ Plateau proso waxy proso Limited Available if contracted Available if contracted food grade DLG317 proso proso Limited Available if contracted Available if contracted *Setaria italica* *foxtail millet* Italian millet, xiaomi, or kangni [4] <#_edn4> Expect high demand, some varieties limited Expect shortages some varieties Contract supplies by May 2026 for fall/winter 2026-27 *Pennisetum glaucum* (*Cenchrus americanus*) *pearl millet* pearl millet, or bajra [5] <#_edn5> hybrid seed adequate, grain very limited Very limited grain availability Contract supplies by May 2026 for fall/winter 2026-27 *Echinochloa esculenta * *Japanese millet* Japanese millet, or barnyard millet [6] <#_edn6> Limited Expect shortages Contract supplies by May 2026 for fall/winter 2026-27 *Urochloa ramosa*, (*Brachiaria ramosa*) *brown top millet* Limited Expect shortages in some local markets Contract supplies by May 2026 for fall/winter 2026-27 *Eragrostis tef* *teff* teff Limited Expect shortages Contract supplies by May 2026 for fall/winter 2026-27 *Other millets: **Eleusine coracana*, also known as finger millet or Ragi, is in experimental stage development in the U.S. *Digitaria exilis* also known as Fonio, *Panicum sumatrense* better known as Little millet, and *Paspalum scrobiculatum* often referred to as Kodo are not produced in North America. ------------------------------ [1] <#_ednref1> “Millet” is a generic term similar to “grain,” and is applied to as many as 20 separate crop species. The six presented in this table are significant crops in North America. Sorghum is often included among the millets, but its much more widely grown with numerous varieties, and as such it is better analyzed separately. [2] <#_ednref2> Always contract using the trade name. Scientific name is recommended with a millet like Japanese that has more than one species or to eliminate species confusion [3] <#_ednref3> These suggested trade names are based on the commonly used English name, or suggested as more suitable for optimal marketing purposes. It is anticipated that some of these may change. [4] <#_ednref4> The term “foxtail” is problematic in American agriculture, as it also refers to a weedy grass. “Italian millet” is an established, but less commonly used name for *Setaria italica* (despite the name, the grain has ancient roots in China, which today produces more of it than any other country). “Xiaomi” (Mandarin Chinese) is familiar in the Chinese-American community, which Is a significant market for this grain, and “kangni” is a Hindi name that would be recognizable in the Indian-American community. [5] <#_ednref5> “Bajra” is a name for pearl millet that is widely used in India, and is familiar in the Indian-American community, which is a significant market for this grain. [6] <#_ednref6> The term “barnyard millet” is more familiar internationally. It, and in the US, “Japanese millet,” are also used for a closely-related species, *Echinochloa frumentacea*, which is also edible. The latter is distinguished internationally as “Indian barnyard millet,” but in the US is sometimes also called “billion-dollar grass.” ----------- *A PDF version of this release can be downloaded at https://millets2023.space/docs/Opportunities%20for%20Millets%202026-27.pdf <https://millets2023.space/docs/Opportunities%20for%20Millets%202026-27.pdf> *

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Effects of rise in fertilizer costs on crop choices
by Don Osborn 12 Mar '26

12 Mar '26

We're seeing stories about the potential effects of the rise in fertilizer prices (an impact of the current war in the Middle East) on farmer crop choices and on global food supply. Here are two articles, one focusing on the US, and the other on global effects. "Prolonged Iran War Could Shrink US Corn Acres, Analysts Say: 'Prices for fertilizer jumped from $516 per metric ton on Friday to up to $683 at the import hub of New Orleans on Thursday'," Morning Ag Clips, 9 arch 2026 https://www.morningagclips.com/prolonged-iran-war-could-shrink-us-corn-acre… (Apparently growers are considering alternatives to corn that don't require as much nitrogen fertilizer input.) "The war in Iran could plunge the world into hunger: Farmers from Iowa to India depend on fossil fuel-based fertilizers. Much of their supply is stuck in the Persian Gulf," by Ayurella Horn-Muller, Grist, 11 March 2026 https://grist.org/food-and-agriculture/the-war-in-iran-could-plunge-the-wor… (Article discusses a number of issues around the world.) While one would never wish this scenario for any reason, three questions are: * whether crops like millets requiring less inputs will receive more attention, * how ready we are to shift to such crops, and * whether, in making such a shift at this time, adequate production levels can be achieved. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Comparison of proso & foxtail millets (Re: Collab Digest, Vol 49, Issue 10)
by Don Osborn 12 Mar '26

12 Mar '26

You're welcome, Gary, and thank you for the additional information and clarifications. As you've shown, it's important to read any research article critically. I tried to find any good comparison of proso and foxtail root systems, but turned up no useful contrasts. Both, as you note have shallow root systems, and proso is better able to cope in drier conditions. (Among millets, pearl millet - a much bigger plant - has the deepest root system, deeper even than sorghum.) Proso and foxtail share somewhat similar histories, originating in ancient times in what is now China, and spreading across Eurasia and beyond. There are differences, as these are separate species, of course, and I think it would be interesting to see a deep dive into both the physical differences, and their histories. In regions where they both were and are present, how did or do farmers (and their communities) chose among or manage the two? Two present day comparisons in the US, which also include several other millets: * "Growing Millets for Grain, Forage or Cover Crop Use" is Rob Myers' 2018 survey, and remains an excellent overview. Dr. Myers, who is at University of Missouri, helped NAMA get started with the 2023 Millets Webinar series. * "Types of Millet Grown in the High Plains" is a regionally focused summery of proso, foxtail, pearl, and finger millets by the High Plains Millet Association https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g4164 Don DO, EL, MI, US NAMA On Thu, Mar 5, 2026 at 4:50 PM Gary Wietgrefe via Collab < collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> wrote: > Fascinating paper. Thank you Don. > > Dates and movement of millets is interesting, but in the era of decreased > water for agriculture, I found the historic record "Impact of Climate > Change" summary very interesting and beneficial for today's need for > millets. That general area is where I did proso millet research (Mongolia > and Turkey). > > 1.) I disagree that foxtail millet has deep root system as stated "...while > its drought resilience relied on deep root systems and efficient stomatal > regulation." > > 2.) I confirm that both foxtail and proso millets are very drought tolerant > and respond to light irrigation at critical growth stages. > > In this copied summary proso millet (200 mm = 7.9 inches/year) takes > slightly less minimum moisture to mature into grain than foxtail millets > (>250 mm = 9.4 inches/year). > > "Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) and broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), > as archetypal drought-tolerant crops, exhibited distinct thermal and > hydrological adaptations. Foxtail millet required an accumulated > temperature of 1800–2800 °C·d and was adapted to semi-arid environments > with annual precipitation of 250–600 mm. Its seedlings tolerated brief > frosts down to −2 °C, while its drought resilience relied on deep root > systems and efficient stomatal regulation. Broomcorn millet demonstrated > greater cold tolerance (withstanding −5 °C frosts), required lower > accumulated temperatures (1500–2500 °C·d), and thrived in more arid > conditions (≥200 mm annual precipitation). Both crops grew in saline soils > typical of arid zones, traits that rendered them pivotal in early > trans-climatic agricultural dispersal." > > After the Soviet Union collapsed, I sent U.S. proso millet varieties to > Mongolia where they were planted in an extremely dry area receiving only 90 > mm/year average precipitation. Millet variety trials were watered pre-plant > and four times at critical growth stages at 400 m3/ha and 600 m3/ha. See > (PDF) > Ancient Proso Millet and the Twentieth Century Survival of Mongolia > < > https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358270886_Ancient_Proso_Millet_and… > > > . > > *RESEARCH NEEDED*: In order to reduce U.S. water wasted on irrigating rice > and corn, proso and foxtail millet irrigation trials need to be conducted > by variety to optimize millets yield and minimize water use....Gary > Wietgrefe > > > On Wed, Mar 4, 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. Proso & foxtail millets cross Altai Mountains in Bronze Age > > (Don Osborn) > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > Message: 1 > > Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2026 11:29:15 -0500 > > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > > Subject: [Collab] Proso & foxtail millets cross Altai Mountains in > > Bronze Age > > To: "NAMA's Collab list" <collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> > > Message-ID: > > < > > CA+RHibUw0YioiAkUy6sgF9D1cjqT-3xELiGwMHzaVud8bHFvfw(a)mail.gmail.com> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > > > A recent article sheds light on the Altai Mountains as a key region in > the > > process of spread of proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) and foxtail millet > > (Setaria italica) from China west and across Eurasia. This would begin at > > an earlier period of the Bronze Age than that discussed in an article I > > shared here in a few weeks ago./1 The Altai Mountains are in the area of > > the borders of present day China, Russia, Mongolia, and Khazakhstan. /2 > > > > Tan, B., Tang, L., Lu, C. *et al.* "Millet in the Bronze Age Altai > > Mountains: discovery, progress and research prospects." *npj Heritage > > Science* *13*, 299 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s40494-025-01871-z > /3 > > > > Abstract: > > "The Altai Mountains were a main channel and a key connection for the > > spread of millet, but little is known about the spatiotemporal process > and > > route of its spread. In this paper, the multiple evidences of millet > > transmission in the Altai Mountains in the Bronze Age are reviewed; the > > spatiotemporal process and possible pathways of millet’s dissemination is > > discussed; Future research priorities and possible directions of > > breakthroughs are proposed." > > > > Comments: > > This is another important piece in the picture of the spread of proso and > > foxtail millets. It is a topic that various researchers have /4 > > > > The period examined seems broad, extending through different eras within > > the Bronze Age,/5 and into the early Iron Age. There's a lot of > interesting > > information and analysis here. For me, it would have helped to have a > > summary of findings by period. > > > > One problem, which I consider to be significant, is that one has to dig > > halfway into the article to verify that the authors are indeed writing > > about two millets - proso and foxtail. That could have been made clear at > > the beginning. > > > > Although at one point the authors note the "distinct thermal and > > hydrological adaptations" of these two millets, there was no discussion > of > > whether the data woould enable exploration of sub-narratives for each of > > them in the story of millets' presence in Altai. There was discussion of > > how "Starch grains from cultivated millets exhibited near-identical > > morphological overlap with wild progenitors and relatives, notably > Setaria > > viridis (green foxtail) and Panicum bisulcatum (panic grass)," but I saw > no > > mention of whether one might still be able to distinguish Setarias from > > Panicums. > > > > Definitely worth reading if you are like me interested in the > (pre)history > > of dissemination of millets. > > > > Don Osborn, PhD > > (East Lansing, MI, US - +1 202-621-3911) > > North American Millets Alliance > > > > Notes: > > 1. "Proso millet improved life in late Bronze Age Europe," Collab, 31 Jan > > 2026 > > > > > https://lists.millets2023.space/archives/list/collab@lists.millets2023.spac… > > 2, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altai_Mountains > > 3. The full list of authors: Bo Tan, Lei Tang, Chao Lu, Lai Jiang, > Jinmeng > > Tang, Liyuan Zheng, Yong Zhang, Wensheng Zhang & Chengbang An > > 4. Regarding proso in particular, see for example: "Early history of > proso > > millet in Europe (2022 book)," Collab, 30 Jul 2024 > > > > > https://lists.millets2023.space/archives/list/collab@lists.millets2023.spac… > > & > > < > https://lists.millets2023.space/archives/list/collab@lists.millets2023.spac… > > > > the article by Harriet Hunt, et al mentioned in "Lessons from antiquity > > (& the 1990s) for the marketing of proso millet today?" Collab, 26 Jan > 2024 > > > > > https://lists.millets2023.space/archives/list/collab@lists.millets2023.spac… > > 5. For an overview of that period, see > > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Age > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > 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 10 > > ************************************** > > > > > -- > 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 10
by Gary Wietgrefe 05 Mar '26

05 Mar '26

Fascinating paper. Thank you Don. Dates and movement of millets is interesting, but in the era of decreased water for agriculture, I found the historic record "Impact of Climate Change" summary very interesting and beneficial for today's need for millets. That general area is where I did proso millet research (Mongolia and Turkey). 1.) I disagree that foxtail millet has deep root system as stated "...while its drought resilience relied on deep root systems and efficient stomatal regulation." 2.) I confirm that both foxtail and proso millets are very drought tolerant and respond to light irrigation at critical growth stages. In this copied summary proso millet (200 mm = 7.9 inches/year) takes slightly less minimum moisture to mature into grain than foxtail millets (>250 mm = 9.4 inches/year). "Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) and broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), as archetypal drought-tolerant crops, exhibited distinct thermal and hydrological adaptations. Foxtail millet required an accumulated temperature of 1800–2800 °C·d and was adapted to semi-arid environments with annual precipitation of 250–600 mm. Its seedlings tolerated brief frosts down to −2 °C, while its drought resilience relied on deep root systems and efficient stomatal regulation. Broomcorn millet demonstrated greater cold tolerance (withstanding −5 °C frosts), required lower accumulated temperatures (1500–2500 °C·d), and thrived in more arid conditions (≥200 mm annual precipitation). Both crops grew in saline soils typical of arid zones, traits that rendered them pivotal in early trans-climatic agricultural dispersal." After the Soviet Union collapsed, I sent U.S. proso millet varieties to Mongolia where they were planted in an extremely dry area receiving only 90 mm/year average precipitation. Millet variety trials were watered pre-plant and four times at critical growth stages at 400 m3/ha and 600 m3/ha. See (PDF) Ancient Proso Millet and the Twentieth Century Survival of Mongolia <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358270886_Ancient_Proso_Millet_and…> . *RESEARCH NEEDED*: In order to reduce U.S. water wasted on irrigating rice and corn, proso and foxtail millet irrigation trials need to be conducted by variety to optimize millets yield and minimize water use....Gary Wietgrefe On Wed, Mar 4, 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. Proso & foxtail millets cross Altai Mountains in Bronze Age > (Don Osborn) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2026 11:29:15 -0500 > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > Subject: [Collab] Proso & foxtail millets cross Altai Mountains in > Bronze Age > To: "NAMA's Collab list" <collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> > Message-ID: > < > CA+RHibUw0YioiAkUy6sgF9D1cjqT-3xELiGwMHzaVud8bHFvfw(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > A recent article sheds light on the Altai Mountains as a key region in the > process of spread of proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) and foxtail millet > (Setaria italica) from China west and across Eurasia. This would begin at > an earlier period of the Bronze Age than that discussed in an article I > shared here in a few weeks ago./1 The Altai Mountains are in the area of > the borders of present day China, Russia, Mongolia, and Khazakhstan. /2 > > Tan, B., Tang, L., Lu, C. *et al.* "Millet in the Bronze Age Altai > Mountains: discovery, progress and research prospects." *npj Heritage > Science* *13*, 299 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s40494-025-01871-z /3 > > Abstract: > "The Altai Mountains were a main channel and a key connection for the > spread of millet, but little is known about the spatiotemporal process and > route of its spread. In this paper, the multiple evidences of millet > transmission in the Altai Mountains in the Bronze Age are reviewed; the > spatiotemporal process and possible pathways of millet’s dissemination is > discussed; Future research priorities and possible directions of > breakthroughs are proposed." > > Comments: > This is another important piece in the picture of the spread of proso and > foxtail millets. It is a topic that various researchers have /4 > > The period examined seems broad, extending through different eras within > the Bronze Age,/5 and into the early Iron Age. There's a lot of interesting > information and analysis here. For me, it would have helped to have a > summary of findings by period. > > One problem, which I consider to be significant, is that one has to dig > halfway into the article to verify that the authors are indeed writing > about two millets - proso and foxtail. That could have been made clear at > the beginning. > > Although at one point the authors note the "distinct thermal and > hydrological adaptations" of these two millets, there was no discussion of > whether the data woould enable exploration of sub-narratives for each of > them in the story of millets' presence in Altai. There was discussion of > how "Starch grains from cultivated millets exhibited near-identical > morphological overlap with wild progenitors and relatives, notably Setaria > viridis (green foxtail) and Panicum bisulcatum (panic grass)," but I saw no > mention of whether one might still be able to distinguish Setarias from > Panicums. > > Definitely worth reading if you are like me interested in the (pre)history > of dissemination of millets. > > Don Osborn, PhD > (East Lansing, MI, US - +1 202-621-3911) > North American Millets Alliance > > Notes: > 1. "Proso millet improved life in late Bronze Age Europe," Collab, 31 Jan > 2026 > > https://lists.millets2023.space/archives/list/collab@lists.millets2023.spac… > 2, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altai_Mountains > 3. The full list of authors: Bo Tan, Lei Tang, Chao Lu, Lai Jiang, Jinmeng > Tang, Liyuan Zheng, Yong Zhang, Wensheng Zhang & Chengbang An > 4. Regarding proso in particular, see for example: "Early history of proso > millet in Europe (2022 book)," Collab, 30 Jul 2024 > > https://lists.millets2023.space/archives/list/collab@lists.millets2023.spac… > & > <https://lists.millets2023.space/archives/list/collab@lists.millets2023.spac…> > the article by Harriet Hunt, et al mentioned in "Lessons from antiquity > (& the 1990s) for the marketing of proso millet today?" Collab, 26 Jan 2024 > > https://lists.millets2023.space/archives/list/collab@lists.millets2023.spac… > 5. For an overview of that period, see > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Age > > ------------------------------ > > 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 10 > ************************************** > -- 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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Proso & foxtail millets cross Altai Mountains in Bronze Age
by Don Osborn 04 Mar '26

04 Mar '26

A recent article sheds light on the Altai Mountains as a key region in the process of spread of proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) and foxtail millet (Setaria italica) from China west and across Eurasia. This would begin at an earlier period of the Bronze Age than that discussed in an article I shared here in a few weeks ago./1 The Altai Mountains are in the area of the borders of present day China, Russia, Mongolia, and Khazakhstan. /2 Tan, B., Tang, L., Lu, C. *et al.* "Millet in the Bronze Age Altai Mountains: discovery, progress and research prospects." *npj Heritage Science* *13*, 299 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s40494-025-01871-z /3 Abstract: "The Altai Mountains were a main channel and a key connection for the spread of millet, but little is known about the spatiotemporal process and route of its spread. In this paper, the multiple evidences of millet transmission in the Altai Mountains in the Bronze Age are reviewed; the spatiotemporal process and possible pathways of millet’s dissemination is discussed; Future research priorities and possible directions of breakthroughs are proposed." Comments: This is another important piece in the picture of the spread of proso and foxtail millets. It is a topic that various researchers have /4 The period examined seems broad, extending through different eras within the Bronze Age,/5 and into the early Iron Age. There's a lot of interesting information and analysis here. For me, it would have helped to have a summary of findings by period. One problem, which I consider to be significant, is that one has to dig halfway into the article to verify that the authors are indeed writing about two millets - proso and foxtail. That could have been made clear at the beginning. Although at one point the authors note the "distinct thermal and hydrological adaptations" of these two millets, there was no discussion of whether the data woould enable exploration of sub-narratives for each of them in the story of millets' presence in Altai. There was discussion of how "Starch grains from cultivated millets exhibited near-identical morphological overlap with wild progenitors and relatives, notably Setaria viridis (green foxtail) and Panicum bisulcatum (panic grass)," but I saw no mention of whether one might still be able to distinguish Setarias from Panicums. Definitely worth reading if you are like me interested in the (pre)history of dissemination of millets. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US - +1 202-621-3911) North American Millets Alliance Notes: 1. "Proso millet improved life in late Bronze Age Europe," Collab, 31 Jan 2026 https://lists.millets2023.space/archives/list/collab@lists.millets2023.spac… 2, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altai_Mountains 3. The full list of authors: Bo Tan, Lei Tang, Chao Lu, Lai Jiang, Jinmeng Tang, Liyuan Zheng, Yong Zhang, Wensheng Zhang & Chengbang An 4. Regarding proso in particular, see for example: "Early history of proso millet in Europe (2022 book)," Collab, 30 Jul 2024 https://lists.millets2023.space/archives/list/collab@lists.millets2023.spac… & the article by Harriet Hunt, et al mentioned in "Lessons from antiquity (& the 1990s) for the marketing of proso millet today?" Collab, 26 Jan 2024 https://lists.millets2023.space/archives/list/collab@lists.millets2023.spac… 5. For an overview of that period, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Age

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