- Collab - lists.millets2023.space

CFP: Crop Science special section on millets & IYM (deadline 31 Mar 2024)
by Don Osborn 16 Feb '24

16 Feb '24

Just saw this: A call for papers for the journal Crop Science. This CFP opened in Dec. 2022, and closes on 31 March 2024. See https://acsess.pericles-prod.literatumonline.com/journal/14350653/specialse… for details, including where to submit papers (scroll down to bottom of webpage). Their description: "We are seeking submissions for a special section in Crop Science to commemorate the 2023 United Nations-designated International Year of Millets. Millets are among the first plants to be domesticated, have a high nutritional content, and require little water. They are a staple food for millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. With this special issue, we wish to highlight the production, cultivation, and benefits of millets as a solution to climate change and global food security challenges." My thought: It would be helpful to have - either in this journal or another publication - a review of current research in North America on millets. That's too big a project to start from scratch now and complete in 6 weeks, but if someone has already been collecting such information, maybe it could be done. All the best, Don Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US - +1 202-621-3911) North American Millets Alliance

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International Year of Millets Legacy: Survey
by Dimitrova, Zdravka (NSP) 12 Feb '24

12 Feb '24

Dear colleagues, Based on your recognised expertise, please share your insights on the Legacy of the International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 by completing the survey here<https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=aMQ6Frir0ESB_dnbFeOvlor…>. This survey will harness information about ongoing and planned projects/initiatives from around the world to build networks and synergies to collectively drive forward the millets sector after IYM.   As a reminder, the IYM 2023<https://www.fao.org/millets-2023/en> raised awareness of the multiple benefits of millets, from climate resilience, environmental sustainability, nutritional security and economic development.  The diversity of millets and the potential for innovation offer new opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs to improve millet production, harvesting, storage, processing and consumption.     Now is the time to build on this momentum and to build a legacy of the IYM, to enable FAO and partners to facilitate information, practices and policies, that embed millets into the transformation of our agri-food systems. Please fill the survey here<https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=aMQ6Frir0ESB_dnbFeOvlor…> and kindly disseminate it across your relevant networks! Many thanks, Zdravka Dimitrova on behalf of IYM Secretariat Zdravka Dimitrova International Year of Millets<https://www.fao.org/millets-2023/en> Coordinator Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP)<http://www.fao.org/agriculture/plant-production-and-protection/en/#_blank> Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy Email: zdravka.dimitrova(a)fao.org<mailto:zdravka.dimitrova@fao.org> Web: www.fao.org<http://www.fao.org/> [FAO_logo_Blue_3lines_en][IYM2023_H_Col_EN]

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Book on Small Millets
by Dipak Santra 12 Feb '24

12 Feb '24

Genetic Improvement of Small Millets Edited by Sweta Mishra, Sailesh Kumar, and R C Srivastava. Springer Link Publication, Year 2024 ISBN 978-981-99-7231-9 ISBN 978-981-99-7232-6 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-7232-6 (Genetic improvement of Small Millets | SpringerLink<https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-99-7232-6>) [cid:image001.png@01DA5CEF.CDCB8FE0] Dipak Santra, Ph.D. Professor (Alternative Crops Breeding Specialist) President, International Broomcorn Millet Association Department of Agronomy and Horticulture University of Nebraska-Lincoln Panhandle Research & Extension Center 4502 Ave I, Scottsbluff, NE 69361 (308) 632-124<tel:3086321372>4 (work) / (308) 765-2324 (cell)

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Changes in the Millet-of-the-Month calendar
by Don Osborn 06 Feb '24

06 Feb '24

There are some changes in the "Millet of the Month" calendar for 2024, but the idea behind it is the same - spotlighting one unique millet (or 2 closely related ones) per month, over the course of the year. The changes: * Little millet has been moved up to February, which puts the Panicum species in adjacent months. Proso and little seem "big" enough to have their own months, and having them together facilitates discussion of this important genus. (Thanks to Prof. Dipak Santra for the suggestion.) * Finger millet is now in May, and fonio moves to August. * Raishan joins fonio in August, as these are both in the Digitaria genus, but from different continents. The Millet-of-the-Month calendar for 2024 follows, in text (and attached as an image file): Jan. proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) Feb. little millet (Panicum sumatrense) Mar. foxtail millet (Setaria italica) Apr. pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) May finger millet (Eleusine coracana) Jun. sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) Jul. barnyard millet (Echinochloa spp.) Aug. fonio & raishan (Digitaria spp.) Sep. browntop & Guinea (Brachiaria spp.) Oct. kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) Nov. teff (Eragrostis tef) Dec. adlay/Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi) Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US - +1 202-621-3911) North American Millets Alliance

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Re: [Collab] Collab Digest, Vol 25, Issue 1
by gww374＠gmail.com 01 Feb '24

01 Feb '24

Excellent summary of millets and NANA’s role!….Gary Sent from my iPhone > On Feb 1, 2024, at 6:00 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. Appearance on the Whole Grains Council Blog (Don Osborn) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2024 14:32:22 -0500 > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > To: collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > Subject: [Collab] Appearance on the Whole Grains Council Blog > Message-ID: > <CA+RHibUayGgsEEqBVwdxAiwKr0MTG_8u-AR+52uNk_qWcCsj2Q(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > With thanks to Kelly LeBlanc and the Whole Grains Council, I had the chance > to answer some questions about NAMA and the International Year of Millets, > as well as to contribute some personal perspectives. > > You may read it in the WGC blog at: > https://wholegrainscouncil.org/blog/2024/01/biggest-surprises-international… > > > Don Osborn, PhD > (East Lansing, MI, US) > North American Millets Alliance >

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Appearance on the Whole Grains Council Blog
by Don Osborn 31 Jan '24

31 Jan '24

With thanks to Kelly LeBlanc and the Whole Grains Council, I had the chance to answer some questions about NAMA and the International Year of Millets, as well as to contribute some personal perspectives. You may read it in the WGC blog at: https://wholegrainscouncil.org/blog/2024/01/biggest-surprises-international… Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Internat'l Conf. on Global Food Security, Licknow, 2 Feb. 2024
by Don Osborn 31 Jan '24

31 Jan '24

The "International Conference on Global Food Security Challenges Related to Climate Change and Disaster Management" (Friday 2 February 2024) is organized by the International Institute of Disaster Management (Lucknow, India) and the Indo-U.S. Millets Initiative. The conference is in-person in Lucknow, and virtual, via Zoom. This link has the Zoom link, as well as a list of presenters and their topics: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084DABAA29A0F9C34-47081833-international… The first presentation is scheduled for 11 am India time, which is 12:30 am EST, on Friday (i.e., just after Thursday midnight). Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Lessons from antiquity (& the 1990s) for the marketing of proso millet today?
by Don Osborn 26 Jan '24

26 Jan '24

There's archeological evidence that during the ancient westward spread of proso millet (aka broomcorn millet) out of what is now China, diverse peoples adapted this grain to their existing culinary practices, rather than adopting new practices with the new grain. This appeared in the following article (I'll copy the abstract further down, and also add the link to a thread on Threads, where I first saw mention of this item): Hunt, Harriet V., Hongen Jiang, Xinyi Liu, Diane L. Lister, Yidilisi Abuduresule, Wenying Li, Changsui Wang, and Martin K. Jones. "Did Crops Expand in Tandem with Culinary Practices from Their Region of Origin? Evidence from Ancient DNA and Material Culture." Antiquity, 2024, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2023.197 That people adapt new foods to their familiar food cultures is not a novel proposition, and can be observed around the world today. However, I find it interesting that this can be seen even in the archaeological records. It would seem to underscore the fundamental nature of this bias for promotion of proso millet (or any millet) among people not used to eating it, today. How could proso be used and presented as food which appeal to a wider public in North America? It is already used in "hidden" forms - notably in various multigrain bread products. What would it take to successfully raise the profile of this grain? Here's a digression about soybeans in West Africa, about which I did some research some years back.* For many years, international development agencies sought to promote soybeans in Africa. The reasoning was that soybeans could be an excellent source of protein and figure prominently in efforts to improve health and nutrition in the region. Africa has its own pulses (beans) and soybeans never caught on as a substitute for any of them . Among the promotional efforts was the idea of incorporating soybean flour into some traditional foods, but that didn't catch on either. At the same time some countries, notably Nigeria, were producing soybeans for export - but there was no local demand for them (parallels with the situation of proso farmers in the Great Plains?). Then in the 1990s, two apparently unconnected things happened. Some women started to use soybeans as a substitute for the nere seed (African locust bean) in the production of a fermented condiment popular across the region (known variously as sumbala, dawa dawa, iru, and other names). Nere seeds were getting harder to procure in some regions and the prices went up, so that was a motivation. This does not appear to have even been on the radar of international development experts. Also, in southwestern Nigeria, researchers worked with local women to identify a way to make bean curd (tofu) with soybeans, and prepare it in a way similar to how a local dairy cheese - wagasi - was consumed (fried, and eaten with spices). This technique became popular, as the beancurd was much cheaper than the wagasi cheese. It spread from women to women, and without external support, across Nigeria and into Niger, and west to other countries in the region. Is now fairly common as a street food. The original technique has been modified variously along the way. What can such examples suggest as we think about methods and directions for promotion of proso and other millets in North America? Returning to the Hunt, et al (2024) article, here's the abstract: "Grain-cooking traditions in Neolithic China have been characterised as a ‘wet’ cuisine based on the boiling and steaming of sticky varieties of cereal. One of these, broomcorn millet, was one of the earliest Chinese crops to move westward into Central Asia and beyond, into regions where grains were typically prepared by grinding and baking. Here, the authors present the genotypes and reconstructed phenotypes of 13 desiccated broomcorn millet samples from Xinjiang (1700 BC–AD 700). The absence in this area of sticky-starch millet and vessels for boiling and steaming suggests that, as they moved west, East Asian cereal crops were decoupled from traditional cooking practices and were incorporated into local cuisines." ... and here's the thread on Threads: [image: 418798565_392049529877593_7457112263053269788_n.jpg] NEW DNA analysis has revealed that regional cuisines persisted as new staple crops spread across the prehistoric world, showing how even the first cooks retained strong cooking traditions. Strap in for a tasty AntiquityThread 1/12 🧵 <https://www.threads.net/@antiquity_journal/post/C2Hur1gt0sh/> Antiquity (@antiquity_journal) on Threads <https://www.threads.net/@antiquity_journal/post/C2Hur1gt0sh/> threads.net <https://www.threads.net/@antiquity_journal/post/C2Hur1gt0sh/> <https://www.threads.net/@antiquity_journal/post/C2Hur1gt0sh/> <https://www.threads.net/@antiquity_journal/post/C2Hur1gt0sh/> All the best, Don Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance Note: * Osborn, Donald. 2008. "Soybeans and Soybean Products in West Africa: Adoption by Farmers and Adaptation to Foodways." in Christine DuBois, Tan Chee-Beng, and Sidney Mintz, eds. The World of Soy. University of Illinois Press.

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Re: [Collab] Collab Digest, Vol 24, Issue 9
by Gary Wietgrefe 15 Jan '24

15 Jan '24

I agree with Dipak that U.S. millet data is hard to decipher by species for several reasons. Two data references I gave are from two different sources--don't confuse them. U.S.D.A. annual SURVEY estimates are only proso millet production and only in three states (Colorado, Nebraska, and South Dakota) of the twenty-five or so states that produce proso. Five year U.S. CENSUS data, reported by National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS/USDA) is very crude and unreliable as it must report any grower that claims she/he harvested millet (presumably for seed), but in my opinion, that survey barely touches the full scope of U.S. millet planted acres. The second link on the other hand is USA TRADE CENSUS data which reports U.S. Dept. of Commerce international trade. It has nothing to do with production. Their "Millet" data, measured in kilograms, must be proso as Dipak suggested and does not include sorghum which lists data separately. To further substantiate proso's dominance in U.S. exports, Fonio is listed separately and is internationally traded some years or at least transshipped through the U.S. U.S. and international trading codes must be divided into many subcategories to fully understand the species and forms of millet traded. When I sent proso millet seed to Mongolia and Turkey for research, I assume it was reported as "Millet". Also, as millet trade continues to develop, my fear is that millet meal (byproduct of ethanol production), millet forage, hulls, oil, millet sprays, maybe even beer (which is imported), and other forms of millet may be dumped into the same "Millet" category making trade data even more meaningless....Gary Wietgrefe On Wed, Jan 10, 2024 at 1:07 PM <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: Proso millet insights & comment on USDA "Millet Explorer" > (Re: Collab Digest, Vol 24, Issue 1) (Dipak Santra) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2024 20:06:45 +0000 > From: Dipak Santra <dsantra2(a)unl.edu> > To: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org>, > "collab(a)lists.millets2023.space" <collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> > Subject: Re: [Collab] Proso millet insights & comment on USDA "Millet > Explorer" (Re: Collab Digest, Vol 24, Issue 1) > Message-ID: > < > CY4PR08MB3350A550FB963B728A9923299A692(a)CY4PR08MB3350.namprd08.prod.outlook.com > > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > I do not think that either USDA?s Millets Production data or the US Census > data mention the specific millet. I agree that it is difficult to decipher > without this detail. For US, it almost exclusively proso millet. For > China, it is proso millet and foxtail millet. > > Thanks > > Dipak > > [cid:image001.png@01DA43BB.85B7C6D0] > Dipak Santra, Ph.D. > Professor (Alternative Crops Breeding Specialist) > President, International Broomcorn Millet Association > Department of Agronomy and Horticulture > University of Nebraska?Lincoln > Panhandle Research & Extension Center > 4502 Ave I, Scottsbluff, NE 69361 > (308) 632-124<tel:3086321372>4 (work) / (308) 765-2324 (cell) > > > From: Collab <collab-bounces(a)lists.millets2023.space> On Behalf Of Don > Osborn > Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2024 11:30 AM > To: collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > Subject: [Collab] Proso millet insights & comment on USDA "Millet > Explorer" (Re: Collab Digest, Vol 24, Issue 1) > > Non-NU Email > ________________________________ > Thank you, Gary. I concur with Joni's assessment of your informative > email, and also your prognostication about 2024. > > We should be putting such information and links as you shared about proso > in a ready-to-reference set of webpages. Kind of a meta-reference to data > and analysis by others. (This is on NAMA's full agenda.) > > One quick remark concerning USDA's "Millet Explorer." It is not clear > which of the various species we're treating as millets are covered in this > data. However, it is clear that at least 3 or 4 crops, and perhaps more, > are collapsed under the category of "millet." That may be a function of how > data is collected in the various countries, but it all points in my > thinking to a need for more specificity. > > The selection of millets most grown in China, for example, is not the same > as that in the US, and the West African Sahel and East Africa are also > different. And India has 8 or 9 figuring prominently in annual production. > > I did not see such improvement of data collection and reporting on the > agenda of the International Year of Millets, but it probably should be a > goal moving forward. (FAO would seem best placed to promote such > evolution.) > > All the best, > > Don > > DO, EL, MI, US > NAMA > > > On Thu, Jan 4, 2024 at 7:32?PM Joni Kindwall-Moore < > joni(a)snacktivistfoods.com<mailto:joni@snacktivistfoods.com>> wrote: > This is very insightful Gary, as usual, your content is very well thought > out and reflects your experience. > thanks > > On Thu, Jan 4, 2024 at 11:29?AM Gary Wietgrefe via Collab < > collab(a)lists.millets2023.space<mailto:collab@lists.millets2023.space>> > wrote: > With NAMA, there has never been a better opportunity for the U.S. millet > future, especially proso. NAMA is best positioned to promote all North > American millets based on their multi-million acre base, climate > resilience, food quality, and international acceptance. > > A fundamental economics rule is that market growth slows as prices > increase. Alternatively, as price decreases opportunities increase by > finding new users at their initial price point. Once a market is > established, barriers to exit drives prices up. > > Without promotional budget or government interference, proso production, > use, and exports have fluctuated for the last half-century based on that > economic rule. As markets developed, caged and wild birdseed packagers have > been forced by consumers to put white proso into mixes. > > Another example is black oil-seed sunflowers as birdseed. In 1978 only > confection sunflower seed was used in birdseed mixes. Those confection > seeds were too large for most caged birds and low-quality confections were > discarded at low prices into the wild bird mixes. Working for the South > Dakota Department of Agriculture, I introduced black oil sunflower seed as > wild birdseed. It took off! Black oilseed sunflower farm prices have ranged > from under 10-cents/lb to 40-cents/lb only because birdseed market demand > sets the price. South Dakota follows North Dakota in sunflower production. > North Dakota black oilseed sunflowers primarily are crushed for oil. Nearly > all South Dakota black oilseed sunflowers go into the birdseed market. In > fact, the largest SD grain elevator quotes daily black oilseed sunflowers > only as "Birdseed." See Oahe Grain Corporation< > https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.oahegraincorp.com/__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-… > J5Q2Ujc5Br_jUz99zO7dRQ$>. Market demand drives price! > > For a brief U.S. proso economics lesson, review one minute segment > (2:20-3:20) of this "Proso Millet Pricing" YouTube video > https://youtu.be/pVQclIw5Rbw?si=UMNZg6Ne1RSEkQWp< > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/youtu.be/pVQclIw5Rbw?si=UMNZg6Ne1RSEkQWp… > >. > > Two other items: > 1.) USDA's December 2023 World Millet Production is available at Millet > Explorer (usda.gov)< > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ipad.fas.usda.gov/cropexplorer/cropview/… > >. > > 2.) U.S. Census data is only out through Oct. 2023, but with current proso > supplies, it would not surprise me if 2024 U.S. millet exports do not > exceed 2019 (at 129,286,000 lbs.). In the last five years, as expected, > U.S. millet exports have decreased as prices increased. See > https://usatrade.census.gov/data/Perspective60/View/dispview.aspx< > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/usatrade.census.gov/data/Perspective60/V… > >. > > Again, 2024 should be a very dynamic millet year....Gary Wietgrefe > > On Thu, Jan 4, 2024 at 5:06?AM <collab-request(a)lists.millets2023.space > <mailto:collab-request@lists.millets2023.space>> wrote: > Send Collab mailing list submissions to > collab(a)lists.millets2023.space<mailto: > collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab< > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo… > > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > collab-request(a)lists.millets2023.space<mailto: > collab-request(a)lists.millets2023.space> > > You can reach the person managing the list at > collab-owner(a)lists.millets2023.space<mailto: > 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: "Year of Millets: Farmers willing, but market needs to > develop" (Joni Kindwall-Moore) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2024 22:04:17 -0800 > From: Joni Kindwall-Moore <joni(a)snacktivistfoods.com<mailto: > joni(a)snacktivistfoods.com>> > To: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org<mailto:don@milletsalliance.org>> > Cc: collab(a)lists.millets2023.space<mailto:collab@lists.millets2023.space> > Subject: Re: [Collab] "Year of Millets: Farmers willing, but market > needs to develop" > Message-ID: > < > CAHVJMLJrcz3s3QPNBWif-beNHvBcknd9tqCfo4CrgcLbN-gsdQ(a)mail.gmail.com<mailto: > CAHVJMLJrcz3s3QPNBWif-beNHvBcknd9tqCfo4CrgcLbN-gsdQ(a)mail.gmail.com>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Thanks Don, I am always appreciative of the share. We must focus on the > markets, go to market partners, processing, and education. Awareness with > influencers, chefs, buyers, and consumers is critical for the adoption of > underutilized crops and for the markets to gain any traction. > Unfortunately, the Proso millet market had more growers this year but then > without any market development, it was harmful to the economics for the > farmers unfortunately. > We will keep working but there are so few people working on this > critical side of the equation and almost no financial support so it remains > very difficult. > Warm regards, > Joni > > On Sun, Dec 31, 2023 at 8:44?AM Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org > <mailto:don@milletsalliance.org>> wrote: > > > Here's a recent article on the potential for proso millet in the Pacific > > Northwest, which includes thoughts from NAMA co-founder Joni > Kindwall-Moore > > on the potential of this crop in general: > > > > "Year of Millets: Farmers willing, but market needs to develop," by > > Matthew Weaver, Capital Press (Salem, OR), 26 Dec. 2023 > > > https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/grains/year-of-millets-farmers-will… > < > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/grains/y… > > > > > > I hope Joni won't mind my copying her additional comments on posting this > > article to LinkedIn: > > > > "Thank you Matthew Weaver at the Capital Press for doing a follow-up on > > the work we have been doing to develop our domestic Millets (including > > Sorghum) industry. > > > > "We have made strides this year in pushing for education and promotion > > thanks to the United Nations/FAO Year of Millets and several domestic > > organizations like the North American Millets Alliance (NAMA), the United > > Sorghum Checkoff Program, and Nate Blum's visionary work at Sorghum > United. > > > > "Hundreds of conversations with farmers have left me feeling confident > > that there is a major yearning to plant more climate-resilient crops like > > millets to diversify their rotations and transition to crops that require > > less water, fewer chemical inputs and positively impact soil health. > > > > "We can not fuel regeneration without the diversification of crops. But > > this requires diversification of markets. > > > > "Unfortunately, the markets are not developing as fast as we need them to > > for a variety of reasons. Several factors persist that are hampering the > > development of market segments that support crop diversity and the > adoption > > of millets. > > > > "First and foremost, I will say that I am personally extremely > > disappointed at the lack of interest in crop diversity and > > climate-resilient crops in general from leaders in the Natural Products > > industry. We tried to raise awareness and put millets on the topics of > > conversations at events like Expo West and in buyer groups at leading > > retailers like Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmers Market but they > were > > stubbornly unreceptive to the topic. > > > > "Interestingly enough, the 3 retailers who wanted to hear about millets > > and the potential role they play in the food system of the future were > > Walmart, The GIANT Company and Market of Choice. I am so appreciative of > > their willingness to lean in, take responsibility, and truly understand > the > > pivotal role that retailers will play in shaping the food system of the > > future. > > > > "They invited the conversations, they wanted to learn. I applaud them! > > > > "While very positive conversations continue, I refuse to just sit here > and > > watch other nations lead the transformation toward a climate-resilient > food > > system, the sluggish adoption of the US markets is truly a shame. > > > > "We will keep pushing these initiatives domestically because of the > > critical role that climate-resilient crops play in the future of our food > > system." > > (Joni Kindwall-Moore at > > > https://www.linkedin.com/posts/joni-kindwall-moore-57a81014_year-of-millets… > < > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.linkedin.com/posts/joni-kindwall-moo… > > > > ) > > > > Don > > > > DO, EL, MI, US > > NAMA > > > > bcc: Matthew Weaver > > > > > > -- > > Collab mailing list > > Collab(a)lists.millets2023.space<mailto:Collab@lists.millets2023.space> > > https://lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab< > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo… > > > > >

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Re: [Collab] Collab Digest, Vol 24, Issue 1
by Gary Wietgrefe 10 Jan '24

10 Jan '24

With NAMA, there has never been a better opportunity for the U.S. millet future, especially proso. NAMA is best positioned to promote all North American millets based on their multi-million acre base, climate resilience, food quality, and international acceptance. A fundamental economics rule is that market growth slows as prices increase. Alternatively, as price decreases opportunities increase by finding new users at their initial price point. Once a market is established, barriers to exit drives prices up. Without promotional budget or government interference, proso production, use, and exports have fluctuated for the last half-century based on that economic rule. As markets developed, caged and wild birdseed packagers have been forced by consumers to put white proso into mixes. Another example is black oil-seed sunflowers as birdseed. In 1978 only confection sunflower seed was used in birdseed mixes. Those confection seeds were too large for most caged birds and low-quality confections were discarded at low prices into the wild bird mixes. Working for the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, I introduced black oil sunflower seed as wild birdseed. It took off! Black oilseed sunflower farm prices have ranged from under 10-cents/lb to 40-cents/lb only because birdseed market demand sets the price. South Dakota follows North Dakota in sunflower production. North Dakota black oilseed sunflowers primarily are crushed for oil. Nearly all South Dakota black oilseed sunflowers go into the birdseed market. In fact, the largest SD grain elevator quotes daily black oilseed sunflowers only as "Birdseed." See Oahe Grain Corporation <http://www.oahegraincorp.com/>. Market demand drives price! For a brief U.S. proso economics lesson, review one minute segment (2:20-3:20) of this "Proso Millet Pricing" YouTube video https://youtu.be/pVQclIw5Rbw?si=UMNZg6Ne1RSEkQWp. Two other items: 1.) USDA's December 2023 World Millet Production is available at Millet Explorer (usda.gov) <https://ipad.fas.usda.gov/cropexplorer/cropview/commodityView.aspx?cropid=0…> . 2.) U.S. Census data is only out through Oct. 2023, but with current proso supplies, it would not surprise me if 2024 U.S. millet exports do not exceed 2019 (at 129,286,000 lbs.). In the last five years, as expected, U.S. millet exports have decreased as prices increased. See https://usatrade.census.gov/data/Perspective60/View/dispview.aspx. Again, 2024 should be a very dynamic millet year....Gary Wietgrefe On Thu, Jan 4, 2024 at 5:06 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: "Year of Millets: Farmers willing, but market needs to > develop" (Joni Kindwall-Moore) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2024 22:04:17 -0800 > From: Joni Kindwall-Moore <joni(a)snacktivistfoods.com> > To: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > Cc: collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > Subject: Re: [Collab] "Year of Millets: Farmers willing, but market > needs to develop" > Message-ID: > < > CAHVJMLJrcz3s3QPNBWif-beNHvBcknd9tqCfo4CrgcLbN-gsdQ(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Thanks Don, I am always appreciative of the share. We must focus on the > markets, go to market partners, processing, and education. Awareness with > influencers, chefs, buyers, and consumers is critical for the adoption of > underutilized crops and for the markets to gain any traction. > Unfortunately, the Proso millet market had more growers this year but then > without any market development, it was harmful to the economics for the > farmers unfortunately. > We will keep working but there are so few people working on this > critical side of the equation and almost no financial support so it remains > very difficult. > Warm regards, > Joni > > On Sun, Dec 31, 2023 at 8:44?AM Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > wrote: > > > Here's a recent article on the potential for proso millet in the Pacific > > Northwest, which includes thoughts from NAMA co-founder Joni > Kindwall-Moore > > on the potential of this crop in general: > > > > "Year of Millets: Farmers willing, but market needs to develop," by > > Matthew Weaver, Capital Press (Salem, OR), 26 Dec. 2023 > > > https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/grains/year-of-millets-farmers-will… > > > > I hope Joni won't mind my copying her additional comments on posting this > > article to LinkedIn: > > > > "Thank you Matthew Weaver at the Capital Press for doing a follow-up on > > the work we have been doing to develop our domestic Millets (including > > Sorghum) industry. > > > > "We have made strides this year in pushing for education and promotion > > thanks to the United Nations/FAO Year of Millets and several domestic > > organizations like the North American Millets Alliance (NAMA), the United > > Sorghum Checkoff Program, and Nate Blum's visionary work at Sorghum > United. > > > > "Hundreds of conversations with farmers have left me feeling confident > > that there is a major yearning to plant more climate-resilient crops like > > millets to diversify their rotations and transition to crops that require > > less water, fewer chemical inputs and positively impact soil health. > > > > "We can not fuel regeneration without the diversification of crops. But > > this requires diversification of markets. > > > > "Unfortunately, the markets are not developing as fast as we need them to > > for a variety of reasons. Several factors persist that are hampering the > > development of market segments that support crop diversity and the > adoption > > of millets. > > > > "First and foremost, I will say that I am personally extremely > > disappointed at the lack of interest in crop diversity and > > climate-resilient crops in general from leaders in the Natural Products > > industry. We tried to raise awareness and put millets on the topics of > > conversations at events like Expo West and in buyer groups at leading > > retailers like Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmers Market but they > were > > stubbornly unreceptive to the topic. > > > > "Interestingly enough, the 3 retailers who wanted to hear about millets > > and the potential role they play in the food system of the future were > > Walmart, The GIANT Company and Market of Choice. I am so appreciative of > > their willingness to lean in, take responsibility, and truly understand > the > > pivotal role that retailers will play in shaping the food system of the > > future. > > > > "They invited the conversations, they wanted to learn. I applaud them! > > > > "While very positive conversations continue, I refuse to just sit here > and > > watch other nations lead the transformation toward a climate-resilient > food > > system, the sluggish adoption of the US markets is truly a shame. > > > > "We will keep pushing these initiatives domestically because of the > > critical role that climate-resilient crops play in the future of our food > > system." > > (Joni Kindwall-Moore at > > > https://www.linkedin.com/posts/joni-kindwall-moore-57a81014_year-of-millets… > > ) > > > > Don > > > > DO, EL, MI, US > > NAMA > > > > bcc: Matthew Weaver > > > > > > -- > > Collab mailing list > > Collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > > https://lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab > > >

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