MIllets in India since IYM 2023
India is the world's biggest producer of millets, and a major exporter of many of these (in North America we see a number of Indian millets packaged for consumers). It was also the country that led the effort to proclaim the International Year of Millets. So how are things going with millets in India? Here are 4 items which paint a broadly positive situation, altho with some challenges. "Millets Are Making a Comeback in India: These hardy, drought-resistant and nutritious grains disappeared from fields in the 1960s. Now, the country is working to revive them," by Charukesi Ramadurai, Reasons to be Cheerful, November 11, 2024 https://reasonstobecheerful.world/millets-making-comeback-india/ Nice overview of the situation with millets in India. Among the experts quoted is Dr. Amrita Hazra, of the IISER in Pune, India, who was founder of the Berkely, CA based The Millet Project. "Millet revolution: Why one of the world’s oldest grains is back on India’s dining tables," The Federal, 11 Nov. 2024 https://thefederal.com/category/features/millet-revolution-why-one-of-the-wo... Another overview, including mention of some of the challenges emerging with the rise of popularity of millets. For example, demand for millets in urban areas has raised prices, affecting accessibility by those who depend on them as staples. "Bengaluru to host three-day 'Organics and Millets' fair from Jan 23," Deccan Herald, 20 Jan. 2025 https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/city-to-host-three-da... Bengaluru (aka Bangalore) is the capital of Karnataka state in India, and "Karnataka has been promoting organic farming as a sustainable alternative for the past two decades and organised its first organics and millet trade fair in 2017." This event last month was the latest in a series of fairs. "Smart Foods for Smarter Policies: Millets in India’s Public Distribution System," ICRISAT Media Release, January 28, 2025 https://pressroom.icrisat.org/smart-foods-for-smarter-policies-millets-in-in... (Thanks to Lauren Swann, MS, RD, LDN, for calling our attention to this item) "As India intensifies efforts to fight hunger and malnutrition, the Tata-Cornell Institute (TCI) and ICRISAT are helping policymakers with evidence-based strategies to include millet in the Public Distribution System (PDS) which provides food subsidies to low-income families." It seems like this PDS program might help redress the accessibility issues where prices of millets have risen.. (For more on the Tata-Cornell Institute, see https://tci.cornell.edu/ ) Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance
Thanks Don and others for continuing to share! Can anyone help me identify this article - I recently saw an article that analysed the increase in research papers on one of the types of millet (can't remember which millet). Or any other article that has data (not opinions) on the increase in millet research publications? Thanks so much. Joanna Sent from Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ________________________________ From: Collab <collab-bounces@lists.millets2023.space> on behalf of Don Osborn <don@milletsalliance.org> Sent: Wednesday, February 5, 2025 6:30:45 PM To: collab@lists.millets2023.space <collab@lists.millets2023.space> Subject: [Collab] MIllets in India since IYM 2023 India is the world's biggest producer of millets, and a major exporter of many of these (in North America we see a number of Indian millets packaged for consumers). It was also the country that led the effort to proclaim the International Year of Millets. So how are things going with millets in India? Here are 4 items which paint a broadly positive situation, altho with some challenges. "Millets Are Making a Comeback in India: These hardy, drought-resistant and nutritious grains disappeared from fields in the 1960s. Now, the country is working to revive them," by Charukesi Ramadurai, Reasons to be Cheerful, November 11, 2024 https://reasonstobecheerful.world/millets-making-comeback-india/ Nice overview of the situation with millets in India. Among the experts quoted is Dr. Amrita Hazra, of the IISER in Pune, India, who was founder of the Berkely, CA based The Millet Project. "Millet revolution: Why one of the world’s oldest grains is back on India’s dining tables," The Federal, 11 Nov. 2024 https://thefederal.com/category/features/millet-revolution-why-one-of-the-wo... Another overview, including mention of some of the challenges emerging with the rise of popularity of millets. For example, demand for millets in urban areas has raised prices, affecting accessibility by those who depend on them as staples. "Bengaluru to host three-day 'Organics and Millets' fair from Jan 23," Deccan Herald, 20 Jan. 2025 https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/city-to-host-three-da... Bengaluru (aka Bangalore) is the capital of Karnataka state in India, and "Karnataka has been promoting organic farming as a sustainable alternative for the past two decades and organised its first organics and millet trade fair in 2017." This event last month was the latest in a series of fairs. "Smart Foods for Smarter Policies: Millets in India’s Public Distribution System," ICRISAT Media Release, January 28, 2025 https://pressroom.icrisat.org/smart-foods-for-smarter-policies-millets-in-in... (Thanks to Lauren Swann, MS, RD, LDN, for calling our attention to this item) "As India intensifies efforts to fight hunger and malnutrition, the Tata-Cornell Institute (TCI) and ICRISAT are helping policymakers with evidence-based strategies to include millet in the Public Distribution System (PDS) which provides food subsidies to low-income families." It seems like this PDS program might help redress the accessibility issues where prices of millets have risen.. (For more on the Tata-Cornell Institute, see https://tci.cornell.edu/ ) Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance
Hi Joanna, Interesting question. I just did a quick search, and noted a number of interesting recent articles. Unfortunately none of them answered either of your questions. This survey article spotlighted a number of recent articles on various millets, which may interest some: Ceasar, S.A., Baker, A. “Millets for food security and agricultural sustainability.” *Planta* *261*, 39 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-025-04613-4 Hopefully someone else can be of more help. I’ll take another look tomorrow. All the best, Don DO, EL, MI, US NAMA On Wed, Feb 5, 2025 at 8:59 PM Joanna Kane-Potaka < joanna.kanepotaka@outlook.com> wrote:
Thanks Don and others for continuing to share!
Can anyone help me identify this article - I recently saw an article that analysed the increase in research papers on one of the types of millet (can't remember which millet).
Or any other article that has data (not opinions) on the increase in millet research publications?
Thanks so much. Joanna
Sent from Outlook for Android <https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ------------------------------ *From:* Collab <collab-bounces@lists.millets2023.space> on behalf of Don Osborn <don@milletsalliance.org> *Sent:* Wednesday, February 5, 2025 6:30:45 PM *To:* collab@lists.millets2023.space <collab@lists.millets2023.space> *Subject:* [Collab] MIllets in India since IYM 2023
India is the world's biggest producer of millets, and a major exporter of many of these (in North America we see a number of Indian millets packaged for consumers). It was also the country that led the effort to proclaim the International Year of Millets. So how are things going with millets in India? Here are 4 items which paint a broadly positive situation, altho with some challenges.
"Millets Are Making a Comeback in India: These hardy, drought-resistant and nutritious grains disappeared from fields in the 1960s. Now, the country is working to revive them," by Charukesi Ramadurai, Reasons to be Cheerful, November 11, 2024 https://reasonstobecheerful.world/millets-making-comeback-india/
Nice overview of the situation with millets in India. Among the experts quoted is Dr. Amrita Hazra, of the IISER in Pune, India, who was founder of the Berkely, CA based The Millet Project.
"Millet revolution: Why one of the world’s oldest grains is back on India’s dining tables," The Federal, 11 Nov. 2024 https://thefederal.com/category/features/millet-revolution-why-one-of-the-wo...
Another overview, including mention of some of the challenges emerging with the rise of popularity of millets. For example, demand for millets in urban areas has raised prices, affecting accessibility by those who depend on them as staples.
"Bengaluru to host three-day 'Organics and Millets' fair from Jan 23," Deccan Herald, 20 Jan. 2025 https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/city-to-host-three-da...
Bengaluru (aka Bangalore) is the capital of Karnataka state in India, and "Karnataka has been promoting organic farming as a sustainable alternative for the past two decades and organised its first organics and millet trade fair in 2017." This event last month was the latest in a series of fairs.
"Smart Foods for Smarter Policies: Millets in India’s Public Distribution System," ICRISAT Media Release, January 28, 2025 https://pressroom.icrisat.org/smart-foods-for-smarter-policies-millets-in-in... (Thanks to Lauren Swann, MS, RD, LDN, for calling our attention to this item)
"As India intensifies efforts to fight hunger and malnutrition, the Tata-Cornell Institute (TCI) and ICRISAT are helping policymakers with evidence-based strategies to include millet in the Public Distribution System (PDS) which provides food subsidies to low-income families." It seems like this PDS program might help redress the accessibility issues where prices of millets have risen.. (For more on the Tata-Cornell Institute, see https://tci.cornell.edu/ )
Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance
Thanks so much Don. You are an amazing source as usual. The reference Ceasar and Maharajan, was very useful. If I find the article I read recently on analysing the increase in millet scientific studies, I will let you know. Cheers Joanna Sent from Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ________________________________ From: Don Osborn <don@milletsalliance.org> Sent: Thursday, February 6, 2025 6:51:20 PM To: Joanna Kane-Potaka <joanna.kanepotaka@outlook.com> Cc: collab@lists.millets2023.space <collab@lists.millets2023.space> Subject: Re: [Collab] MIllets in India since IYM 2023 Hi Joanna, Interesting question. I just did a quick search, and noted a number of interesting recent articles. Unfortunately none of them answered either of your questions. This survey article spotlighted a number of recent articles on various millets, which may interest some: Ceasar, S.A., Baker, A. “Millets for food security and agricultural sustainability.” Planta 261, 39 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-025-04613-4 Hopefully someone else can be of more help. I’ll take another look tomorrow. All the best, Don DO, EL, MI, US NAMA On Wed, Feb 5, 2025 at 8:59 PM Joanna Kane-Potaka <joanna.kanepotaka@outlook.com<mailto:joanna.kanepotaka@outlook.com>> wrote: Thanks Don and others for continuing to share! Can anyone help me identify this article - I recently saw an article that analysed the increase in research papers on one of the types of millet (can't remember which millet). Or any other article that has data (not opinions) on the increase in millet research publications? Thanks so much. Joanna Sent from Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ________________________________ From: Collab <collab-bounces@lists.millets2023.space<mailto:collab-bounces@lists.millets2023.space>> on behalf of Don Osborn <don@milletsalliance.org<mailto:don@milletsalliance.org>> Sent: Wednesday, February 5, 2025 6:30:45 PM To: collab@lists.millets2023.space<mailto:collab@lists.millets2023.space> <collab@lists.millets2023.space<mailto:collab@lists.millets2023.space>> Subject: [Collab] MIllets in India since IYM 2023 India is the world's biggest producer of millets, and a major exporter of many of these (in North America we see a number of Indian millets packaged for consumers). It was also the country that led the effort to proclaim the International Year of Millets. So how are things going with millets in India? Here are 4 items which paint a broadly positive situation, altho with some challenges. "Millets Are Making a Comeback in India: These hardy, drought-resistant and nutritious grains disappeared from fields in the 1960s. Now, the country is working to revive them," by Charukesi Ramadurai, Reasons to be Cheerful, November 11, 2024 https://reasonstobecheerful.world/millets-making-comeback-india/ Nice overview of the situation with millets in India. Among the experts quoted is Dr. Amrita Hazra, of the IISER in Pune, India, who was founder of the Berkely, CA based The Millet Project. "Millet revolution: Why one of the world’s oldest grains is back on India’s dining tables," The Federal, 11 Nov. 2024 https://thefederal.com/category/features/millet-revolution-why-one-of-the-wo... Another overview, including mention of some of the challenges emerging with the rise of popularity of millets. For example, demand for millets in urban areas has raised prices, affecting accessibility by those who depend on them as staples. "Bengaluru to host three-day 'Organics and Millets' fair from Jan 23," Deccan Herald, 20 Jan. 2025 https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/city-to-host-three-da... Bengaluru (aka Bangalore) is the capital of Karnataka state in India, and "Karnataka has been promoting organic farming as a sustainable alternative for the past two decades and organised its first organics and millet trade fair in 2017." This event last month was the latest in a series of fairs. "Smart Foods for Smarter Policies: Millets in India’s Public Distribution System," ICRISAT Media Release, January 28, 2025 https://pressroom.icrisat.org/smart-foods-for-smarter-policies-millets-in-in... (Thanks to Lauren Swann, MS, RD, LDN, for calling our attention to this item) "As India intensifies efforts to fight hunger and malnutrition, the Tata-Cornell Institute (TCI) and ICRISAT are helping policymakers with evidence-based strategies to include millet in the Public Distribution System (PDS) which provides food subsidies to low-income families." It seems like this PDS program might help redress the accessibility issues where prices of millets have risen.. (For more on the Tata-Cornell Institute, see https://tci.cornell.edu/ ) Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance
Thank you, Joanna, for your kind remarks. Is this the article you're talking about, or could it be useful? K.C, Anandraj, "Mapping Growth Trends and The Global Landscape of Millets Research: A Publication Analysis (2000-2023)." (July 19, 2024). Proceedings of the 8th I-LIS International Conference on Exploring Information Services and Library Technologies for the Next Generation - ICEIST-2024, Volume 2,P p.909-920 (forthcoming), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4901083 / https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4901083 Abstract "This study presents a comprehensive mapping and scientometric assessment of millets research from 2000 to 2023. It analyzes data from the Scopus database, encompassing 14,140 publications, to examine trends in publication growth using metrics such as ARoG, CAGR, Relative Growth, and Doubling Time, evaluates the publication performance of journals based on impact factors, Total Cite Score, Citation Score Rank, and SCImago Journal Rank, identifies primary countries and their activity index and Performance Evaluating Index, assessing the impact of publications in influential journals. The analysis of the study reveals that there is substantial increase in research outputs and growth varied over time with noticeable increases in 2006, 2015, and 2023.The Compound Annual Growth Rate for the period of study stood at 2.14 doubling times varied, Journal of Food Science and Technology, Frontiers in Plant Science and PLOS ONE emerged as leading publication outlets with high citation counts and H-indices. India leads in millet research with a high Activity Index of 5034.7, demonstrating a strong focus, coupled with a Publication Efficiency Index of 0.102, indicating substantial global citation impact, while the China demonstrates robust research impact with a PEI of 0.023. These findings underscore the growing global significance of millets research." Thanks, by the way, for the question, which pushes us to explore a bit further. Actually am coming across a number of more or less interesting articles with randomly specific queries. DO, EL, MI, US NAMA On Thu, Feb 6, 2025 at 5:55 PM Joanna Kane-Potaka < joanna.kanepotaka@outlook.com> wrote:
Thanks so much Don. You are an amazing source as usual. The reference Ceasar and Maharajan, was very useful.
If I find the article I read recently on analysing the increase in millet scientific studies, I will let you know.
Cheers Joanna
Sent from Outlook for Android <https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ------------------------------ *From:* Don Osborn <don@milletsalliance.org> *Sent:* Thursday, February 6, 2025 6:51:20 PM *To:* Joanna Kane-Potaka <joanna.kanepotaka@outlook.com> *Cc:* collab@lists.millets2023.space <collab@lists.millets2023.space> *Subject:* Re: [Collab] MIllets in India since IYM 2023
Hi Joanna,
Interesting question. I just did a quick search, and noted a number of interesting recent articles. Unfortunately none of them answered either of your questions.
This survey article spotlighted a number of recent articles on various millets, which may interest some: Ceasar, S.A., Baker, A. “Millets for food security and agricultural sustainability.” *Planta* *261*, 39 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-025-04613-4
Hopefully someone else can be of more help. I’ll take another look tomorrow.
All the best,
Don
DO, EL, MI, US NAMA
On Wed, Feb 5, 2025 at 8:59 PM Joanna Kane-Potaka < joanna.kanepotaka@outlook.com> wrote:
Thanks Don and others for continuing to share!
Can anyone help me identify this article - I recently saw an article that analysed the increase in research papers on one of the types of millet (can't remember which millet).
Or any other article that has data (not opinions) on the increase in millet research publications?
Thanks so much. Joanna
Sent from Outlook for Android <https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ------------------------------
* [ . . . ]*
Little Millet Seed Curator Perspective The US National Plant Germplasm Collection has 211 accessions of little millet (Panicum sumatrense) housed at the station in Ames, Iowa. All the accessions originated in India. They are widely adapted; most can mature seeds here in Iowa. The observation data on the GRIN online database is mixed with the related proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) data. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/cropdetail?type=species&id=226 Most of the little millet collection was grown and imaged in the field here in Iowa. Images and notes are posted. Here is an example: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358448 Examples of little millet accessions that are well adapted in Iowa. PI 463755 short https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358691 PI 463711 early https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358647 I purchase Little Millet grain at a grocery store in Des Moines, Iowa. It makes a nice tabouli since the grain size is like a fine grade of bulgar wheat. David Brenner David.Brenner@USDA.GOV Or: dbrenner@iastate.edu Plant Introduction Station phone 515-294-6786 Iowa State University 716 Farm House Lane, Ames, IA 50011-1051 USA https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/search.aspx<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/search.aspx__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!DqK6hYayk90RYImdFMotOx-sENGT6rrDx411VrQF4iDA_nJq6wGgRF6GIDjvztzMtz8RAu_yzVNtHjn65PlcebnlaXxdnL3p4A$>? Curator of: Amaranthus, Celosia, Chenopodium, Coronilla, Dalea, Galega, Melilotus, Perilla, Portulaca, Spinacia, miscellaneous Umbelliferae, and the millets: Echinochloa, Panicum, and Setaria. Hatch Act NC7 Regional Project in the US National Plant Germplasm System This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
Thank you, David, for these perspectives on little millet resources at your USDA station, and uses of its grain as food. Interesting to know of varieties that perform well in Iowa. (This Panicum species, of course, originated further south than its close cousin, proso.) Are you aware of any experiments with little millet elsewhere in North America? (I understand that Dr. Raju Soolanayakanahally of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has done some work with this millet: https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/science/story-agricultural-science/scientif... ) I should also mention that Dr. Vetriventhan Mani of ICRISAT, who course was one of our webinar presenters on proso last week, also has done significant work with little millet (mainly in India). See for example: * "The Big Potential of Little Millet," by Eric Hamilton, American Society of Agronomy (via Phys.org), 12 July 2021 https://phys.org/news/2021-07-big-potential-millet.html * Vetriventhan M, Upadhyaya HD, Azevedo VCR, Allan V, Anitha S. "Variability and trait-specific accessions for grain yield and nutritional traits in germplasm of little millet (Panicum sumatrense Roth. Ex. Roem. & Schult.)." Crop Science. 2021; 61: 2658–2679. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20527 Regarding little millet purchased in the US, I've had mixed luck. The first batch worked well, cooked mainly as rice or as hot cereal mixed with oatmeal. THe taste I compared as closer to rice than proso's "nutty" flavor. The second purchase seemed a bit old and in storage (I store in glass jars) started turning musty. Also got a pancake mix that used little millet, which was good except I found it overly sweet (due to jaggery in the ingredients). All the best, Don DO, EL, MI, US NAMA On Mon, Feb 24, 2025 at 1:57 PM Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS < david.brenner@usda.gov> wrote:
Little Millet Seed Curator Perspective
The US National Plant Germplasm Collection has 211 accessions of little millet (Panicum sumatrense) housed at the station in Ames, Iowa. All the accessions originated in India. They are widely adapted; most can mature seeds here in Iowa.
The observation data on the GRIN online database is mixed with the related proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) data. *https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/cropdetail?type=species&id=226 <https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/cropdetail?type=species&id=226>* Most of the little millet collection was grown and imaged in the field here in Iowa. Images and notes are posted. Here is an example: *https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358448 <https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358448>* Examples of little millet accessions that are well adapted in Iowa. PI 463755 short *https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358691 <https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358691>* PI 463711 early *https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358647 <https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358647>*
I purchase Little Millet grain at a grocery store in Des Moines, Iowa. It makes a nice tabouli since the grain size is like a fine grade of bulgar wheat.
David Brenner David.Brenner@USDA.GOV
Or: dbrenner@iastate.edu
Plant Introduction Station phone 515-294-6786 Iowa State University
716 Farm House Lane, Ames, IA 50011-1051 USA
*https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/search.aspx <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/search.aspx__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!DqK6hYayk90RYImdFMotOx-sENGT6rrDx411VrQF4iDA_nJq6wGgRF6GIDjvztzMtz8RAu_yzVNtHjn65PlcebnlaXxdnL3p4A$>* ? Curator of: Amaranthus, Celosia, Chenopodium, Coronilla, Dalea, Galega, Melilotus, Perilla, Portulaca, Spinacia, miscellaneous Umbelliferae, and the millets: Echinochloa, Panicum, and Setaria. Hatch Act NC7 Regional Project in the US National Plant Germplasm System
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
Don, Thanks for the encouragement. Little millet is fun to eat and a competitive choice for people with enough money to eat whatever they want to. Barnyard millet is also very edible. I have not tried a proso millet that was selected for human food use and I wonder if there is a food-proso that is better than North American varieties selected for high yield. I keep food millet at home in a chest freezer in the original plastic packages. David Brenner ________________________________ From: Don Osborn <don@milletsalliance.org> Sent: Friday, February 28, 2025 12:54 PM To: Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS <david.brenner@usda.gov> Cc: collab@lists.millets2023.space <collab@lists.millets2023.space> Subject: Re: Little Millet Seed Curator Perspective Thank you, David, for these perspectives on little millet resources at your USDA station, and uses of its grain as food. Interesting to know of varieties that perform well in Iowa. (This Panicum species, of course, originated further south than its close cousin, proso.) Are you aware of any experiments with little millet elsewhere in North America? (I understand that Dr. Raju Soolanayakanahally of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has done some work with this millet: https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/science/story-agricultural-science/scientif... ) I should also mention that Dr. Vetriventhan Mani of ICRISAT, who course was one of our webinar presenters on proso last week, also has done significant work with little millet (mainly in India). See for example: * "The Big Potential of Little Millet," by Eric Hamilton, American Society of Agronomy (via Phys.org), 12 July 2021 https://phys.org/news/2021-07-big-potential-millet.html * Vetriventhan M, Upadhyaya HD, Azevedo VCR, Allan V, Anitha S. "Variability and trait-specific accessions for grain yield and nutritional traits in germplasm of little millet (Panicum sumatrense Roth. Ex. Roem. & Schult.)." Crop Science. 2021; 61: 2658–2679. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20527 Regarding little millet purchased in the US, I've had mixed luck. The first batch worked well, cooked mainly as rice or as hot cereal mixed with oatmeal. THe taste I compared as closer to rice than proso's "nutty" flavor. The second purchase seemed a bit old and in storage (I store in glass jars) started turning musty. Also got a pancake mix that used little millet, which was good except I found it overly sweet (due to jaggery in the ingredients). All the best, Don DO, EL, MI, US NAMA On Mon, Feb 24, 2025 at 1:57 PM Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS <david.brenner@usda.gov<mailto:david.brenner@usda.gov>> wrote: Little Millet Seed Curator Perspective The US National Plant Germplasm Collection has 211 accessions of little millet (Panicum sumatrense) housed at the station in Ames, Iowa. All the accessions originated in India. They are widely adapted; most can mature seeds here in Iowa. The observation data on the GRIN online database is mixed with the related proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) data. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/cropdetail?type=species&id=226 Most of the little millet collection was grown and imaged in the field here in Iowa. Images and notes are posted. Here is an example: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358448 Examples of little millet accessions that are well adapted in Iowa. PI 463755 short https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358691 PI 463711 early https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358647 I purchase Little Millet grain at a grocery store in Des Moines, Iowa. It makes a nice tabouli since the grain size is like a fine grade of bulgar wheat. David Brenner David.Brenner@USDA.GOV<mailto:David.Brenner@USDA.GOV> Or: dbrenner@iastate.edu<mailto:dbrenner@iastate.edu> Plant Introduction Station phone 515-294-6786 Iowa State University 716 Farm House Lane, Ames, IA 50011-1051 USA https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/search.aspx<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/search.aspx__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!DqK6hYayk90RYImdFMotOx-sENGT6rrDx411VrQF4iDA_nJq6wGgRF6GIDjvztzMtz8RAu_yzVNtHjn65PlcebnlaXxdnL3p4A$>? Curator of: Amaranthus, Celosia, Chenopodium, Coronilla, Dalea, Galega, Melilotus, Perilla, Portulaca, Spinacia, miscellaneous Umbelliferae, and the millets: Echinochloa, Panicum, and Setaria. Hatch Act NC7 Regional Project in the US National Plant Germplasm System This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
David: I agree with you about little millet and barnyard millet. Little millet porridge and barnyard millet pudding are yummy. There is not separate proso millet variety for human food. I eat the same bird feed proso millet variety that I eat once a week as rice (same as traditional Indian rice) or litter & lentil soup. Dipak From: Collab <collab-bounces@lists.millets2023.space> on behalf of Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS via Collab <collab@lists.millets2023.space> Date: Friday, February 28, 2025 at 3:24 PM To: Don Osborn <don@milletsalliance.org> Cc: collab@lists.millets2023.space <collab@lists.millets2023.space> Subject: Re: [Collab] Little Millet Seed Curator Perspective Caution: Non-NU Email Don, Thanks for the encouragement. Little millet is fun to eat and a competitive choice for people with enough money to eat whatever they want to. Barnyard millet is also very edible. I have not tried a proso millet that was selected for human food use and I wonder if there is a food-proso that is better than North American varieties selected for high yield. I keep food millet at home in a chest freezer in the original plastic packages. David Brenner ________________________________ From: Don Osborn <don@milletsalliance.org> Sent: Friday, February 28, 2025 12:54 PM To: Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS <david.brenner@usda.gov> Cc: collab@lists.millets2023.space <collab@lists.millets2023.space> Subject: Re: Little Millet Seed Curator Perspective Thank you, David, for these perspectives on little millet resources at your USDA station, and uses of its grain as food. Interesting to know of varieties that perform well in Iowa. (This Panicum species, of course, originated further south than its close cousin, proso.) Are you aware of any experiments with little millet elsewhere in North America? (I understand that Dr. Raju Soolanayakanahally of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has done some work with this millet: https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/science/story-agricultural-science/scientific-achievements-agriculture/shining-spotlight-millet<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/agriculture.canada.ca/en/science/story-agricultural-science/scientific-achievements-agriculture/shining-spotlight-millet__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!HOxOSyUvT9jAR-3l3q3Lo9tfUdNAdz9WEsj52doWS_2ybzyG8n5no6K7DkRM82keaUumM7CAq-Tj5XzcphWaBsHgTumbPQ$> ) I should also mention that Dr. Vetriventhan Mani of ICRISAT, who course was one of our webinar presenters on proso last week, also has done significant work with little millet (mainly in India). See for example: * "The Big Potential of Little Millet," by Eric Hamilton, American Society of Agronomy (via Phys.org), 12 July 2021 https://phys.org/news/2021-07-big-potential-millet.html<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/phys.org/news/2021-07-big-potential-millet.html__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!HOxOSyUvT9jAR-3l3q3Lo9tfUdNAdz9WEsj52doWS_2ybzyG8n5no6K7DkRM82keaUumM7CAq-Tj5XzcphWaBsHWd8lNuw$> * Vetriventhan M, Upadhyaya HD, Azevedo VCR, Allan V, Anitha S. "Variability and trait-specific accessions for grain yield and nutritional traits in germplasm of little millet (Panicum sumatrense Roth. Ex. Roem. & Schult.)." Crop Science. 2021; 61: 2658–2679. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20527<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20527__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!HOxOSyUvT9jAR-3l3q3Lo9tfUdNAdz9WEsj52doWS_2ybzyG8n5no6K7DkRM82keaUumM7CAq-Tj5XzcphWaBsFyZY4MGA$> Regarding little millet purchased in the US, I've had mixed luck. The first batch worked well, cooked mainly as rice or as hot cereal mixed with oatmeal. THe taste I compared as closer to rice than proso's "nutty" flavor. The second purchase seemed a bit old and in storage (I store in glass jars) started turning musty. Also got a pancake mix that used little millet, which was good except I found it overly sweet (due to jaggery in the ingredients). All the best, Don DO, EL, MI, US NAMA On Mon, Feb 24, 2025 at 1:57 PM Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS <david.brenner@usda.gov<mailto:david.brenner@usda.gov>> wrote: Little Millet Seed Curator Perspective The US National Plant Germplasm Collection has 211 accessions of little millet (Panicum sumatrense) housed at the station in Ames, Iowa. All the accessions originated in India. They are widely adapted; most can mature seeds here in Iowa. The observation data on the GRIN online database is mixed with the related proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) data. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/cropdetail?type=species&id=226<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/cropdetail?type=species&id=226__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!HOxOSyUvT9jAR-3l3q3Lo9tfUdNAdz9WEsj52doWS_2ybzyG8n5no6K7DkRM82keaUumM7CAq-Tj5XzcphWaBsG3Oul1lw$> Most of the little millet collection was grown and imaged in the field here in Iowa. Images and notes are posted. Here is an example: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358448<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358448__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!HOxOSyUvT9jAR-3l3q3Lo9tfUdNAdz9WEsj52doWS_2ybzyG8n5no6K7DkRM82keaUumM7CAq-Tj5XzcphWaBsFCxaVhkw$> Examples of little millet accessions that are well adapted in Iowa. PI 463755 short https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358691<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358691__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!HOxOSyUvT9jAR-3l3q3Lo9tfUdNAdz9WEsj52doWS_2ybzyG8n5no6K7DkRM82keaUumM7CAq-Tj5XzcphWaBsGzAMutFg$> PI 463711 early https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358647<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358647__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!HOxOSyUvT9jAR-3l3q3Lo9tfUdNAdz9WEsj52doWS_2ybzyG8n5no6K7DkRM82keaUumM7CAq-Tj5XzcphWaBsFo_Ie8DA$> I purchase Little Millet grain at a grocery store in Des Moines, Iowa. It makes a nice tabouli since the grain size is like a fine grade of bulgar wheat. David Brenner David.Brenner@USDA.GOV<mailto:David.Brenner@USDA.GOV> Or: dbrenner@iastate.edu<mailto:dbrenner@iastate.edu> Plant Introduction Station phone 515-294-6786 Iowa State University 716 Farm House Lane, Ames, IA 50011-1051 USA https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/search.aspx<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/search.aspx__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!DqK6hYayk90RYImdFMotOx-sENGT6rrDx411VrQF4iDA_nJq6wGgRF6GIDjvztzMtz8RAu_yzVNtHjn65PlcebnlaXxdnL3p4A$>? Curator of: Amaranthus, Celosia, Chenopodium, Coronilla, Dalea, Galega, Melilotus, Perilla, Portulaca, Spinacia, miscellaneous Umbelliferae, and the millets: Echinochloa, Panicum, and Setaria. Hatch Act NC7 Regional Project in the US National Plant Germplasm System This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
Thank you both for your added information on little millet and barnyard millet. Regarding "food grade" grains, this could be a useful discussion. Are there not some varieties with size or flavor characteristics that might be more suited to food uses? "Food grade" may also be a reference to the quality of the grain (remember Gary's proposed proso millet grain standards). Regarding sourcing proso for food, I used to get it from bulk bins at stores like Whole Foods, until they stopped stocking it, or a local independent grocer that sadly closed last year. Now I'll buy a packaged brand, of which there are several containing US production (Eden Foods, Anthony's, Grand Teton Ancient Grains, Bob's Red Mill, Shiloh Farms, Living Now, and Relative Foods, to name a few), plus many more from India and China. (Some other companies such as Arrowhead Mills markets proso millet flour, but apparently not whole grains.) For examples of proso products, see https://www.pinterest.com/drdonosborn/millets-plural/proso-millet-proso/ Kudos to three of the American companies that give more complete information than others on the identity of the "millet" in their respective products. In each case, they give the species name; Eden and Grand Teton also have alternative common names for proso - "yellow millet" & "white millet," respectively): * Eden Foods https://store.edenfoods.com/millet-organic-16-oz/?srsltid=AfmBOorL6tOIlzfn1X... * Anthony's Goods https://anthonysgoods.com/products/anthonys-organic-hulled-millet * Grand Teton Ancient Grains https://www.ancientgrains.com/shop/millet/15-lbs-organic-millet-white-hulled Don DO, EL, MI, US NAMA On Fri, Feb 28, 2025 at 5:36 PM Dipak Santra <dsantra2@unl.edu> wrote:
David:
I agree with you about little millet and barnyard millet. Little millet porridge and barnyard millet pudding are yummy.
There is not separate proso millet variety for human food. I eat the same bird feed proso millet variety that I eat once a week as rice (same as traditional Indian rice) or litter & lentil soup.
Dipak
*From: *Collab <collab-bounces@lists.millets2023.space> on behalf of Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS via Collab <collab@lists.millets2023.space> *Date: *Friday, February 28, 2025 at 3:24 PM *To: *Don Osborn <don@milletsalliance.org> *Cc: *collab@lists.millets2023.space <collab@lists.millets2023.space> *Subject: *Re: [Collab] Little Millet Seed Curator Perspective
*Caution:* Non-NU Email
Don,
Thanks for the encouragement.
Little millet is fun to eat and a competitive choice for people with enough money to eat whatever they want to. Barnyard millet is also very edible. I have not tried a proso millet that was selected for human food use and I wonder if there is a food-proso that is better than North American varieties selected for high yield.
I keep food millet at home in a chest freezer in the original plastic packages.
David Brenner
------------------------------
*From:* Don Osborn <don@milletsalliance.org> *Sent:* Friday, February 28, 2025 12:54 PM *To:* Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS <david.brenner@usda.gov> *Cc:* collab@lists.millets2023.space <collab@lists.millets2023.space> *Subject:* Re: Little Millet Seed Curator Perspective
Thank you, David, for these perspectives on little millet resources at your USDA station, and uses of its grain as food.
Interesting to know of varieties that perform well in Iowa. (This Panicum species, of course, originated further south than its close cousin, proso.) Are you aware of any experiments with little millet elsewhere in North America? (I understand that Dr. Raju Soolanayakanahally of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has done some work with this millet: https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/science/story-agricultural-science/scientif... <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/agriculture.canada.ca/en/science/story-agricultural-science/scientific-achievements-agriculture/shining-spotlight-millet__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!HOxOSyUvT9jAR-3l3q3Lo9tfUdNAdz9WEsj52doWS_2ybzyG8n5no6K7DkRM82keaUumM7CAq-Tj5XzcphWaBsHgTumbPQ$> )
I should also mention that Dr. Vetriventhan Mani of ICRISAT, who course was one of our webinar presenters on proso last week, also has done significant work with little millet (mainly in India). See for example:
* "The Big Potential of Little Millet," by Eric Hamilton, American Society of Agronomy (via Phys.org), 12 July 2021 https://phys.org/news/2021-07-big-potential-millet.html <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/phys.org/news/2021-07-big-potential-millet.html__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!HOxOSyUvT9jAR-3l3q3Lo9tfUdNAdz9WEsj52doWS_2ybzyG8n5no6K7DkRM82keaUumM7CAq-Tj5XzcphWaBsHWd8lNuw$>
* Vetriventhan M, Upadhyaya HD, Azevedo VCR, Allan V, Anitha S. "Variability and trait-specific accessions for grain yield and nutritional traits in germplasm of little millet (Panicum sumatrense Roth. Ex. Roem. & Schult.)." Crop Science. 2021; 61: 2658–2679. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20527 <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20527__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!HOxOSyUvT9jAR-3l3q3Lo9tfUdNAdz9WEsj52doWS_2ybzyG8n5no6K7DkRM82keaUumM7CAq-Tj5XzcphWaBsFyZY4MGA$>
Regarding little millet purchased in the US, I've had mixed luck. The first batch worked well, cooked mainly as rice or as hot cereal mixed with oatmeal. THe taste I compared as closer to rice than proso's "nutty" flavor. The second purchase seemed a bit old and in storage (I store in glass jars) started turning musty. Also got a pancake mix that used little millet, which was good except I found it overly sweet (due to jaggery in the ingredients).
All the best,
Don
DO, EL, MI, US
NAMA
On Mon, Feb 24, 2025 at 1:57 PM Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS < david.brenner@usda.gov> wrote:
Little Millet Seed Curator Perspective
The US National Plant Germplasm Collection has 211 accessions of little millet (Panicum sumatrense) housed at the station in Ames, Iowa. All the accessions originated in India. They are widely adapted; most can mature seeds here in Iowa.
The observation data on the GRIN online database is mixed with the related proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) data. *https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/cropdetail?type=species&id=226 <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/cropdetail?type=species&id=226__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!HOxOSyUvT9jAR-3l3q3Lo9tfUdNAdz9WEsj52doWS_2ybzyG8n5no6K7DkRM82keaUumM7CAq-Tj5XzcphWaBsG3Oul1lw$>*
Most of the little millet collection was grown and imaged in the field here in Iowa. Images and notes are posted.
Here is an example: *https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358448 <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358448__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!HOxOSyUvT9jAR-3l3q3Lo9tfUdNAdz9WEsj52doWS_2ybzyG8n5no6K7DkRM82keaUumM7CAq-Tj5XzcphWaBsFCxaVhkw$>*
Examples of little millet accessions that are well adapted in Iowa.
PI 463755 short
*https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358691 <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358691__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!HOxOSyUvT9jAR-3l3q3Lo9tfUdNAdz9WEsj52doWS_2ybzyG8n5no6K7DkRM82keaUumM7CAq-Tj5XzcphWaBsGzAMutFg$>*
PI 463711 early
*https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358647 <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358647__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!HOxOSyUvT9jAR-3l3q3Lo9tfUdNAdz9WEsj52doWS_2ybzyG8n5no6K7DkRM82keaUumM7CAq-Tj5XzcphWaBsFo_Ie8DA$>*
I purchase Little Millet grain at a grocery store in Des Moines, Iowa. It makes a nice tabouli since the grain size is like a fine grade of bulgar wheat.
David Brenner David.Brenner@USDA.GOV
Or: dbrenner@iastate.edu
Plant Introduction Station phone 515-294-6786
Iowa State University
716 Farm House Lane, Ames, IA 50011-1051
USA
*https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/search.aspx <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/search.aspx__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!DqK6hYayk90RYImdFMotOx-sENGT6rrDx411VrQF4iDA_nJq6wGgRF6GIDjvztzMtz8RAu_yzVNtHjn65PlcebnlaXxdnL3p4A$>* ?
Curator of: Amaranthus, Celosia, Chenopodium, Coronilla, Dalea, Galega, Melilotus, Perilla, Portulaca, Spinacia, miscellaneous Umbelliferae, and the millets: Echinochloa, Panicum, and Setaria.
Hatch Act NC7 Regional Project in the US National Plant Germplasm System
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
Foxtail Millet Seed Curator Perspective The US National Plant Germplasm Collection has 764 accessions of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) housed here at the National Plant Germplasm station in Ames, Iowa. Our accessions originated in many countries, but mostly India, Taiwan, China, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Hungary. Most can mature seeds here in the field, but some are too late flowering for this climate. The observation data on the GRIN online database is mixed with the other species of Setaria. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/crop?id=225 The wild and weedy Setaria viridis (204 accessions) is closely related to foxtail millet and is crossing compatible. We also have a substantial collection, 78 accessions of the tropical forage Setaria sphacelata. Some foxtail millet examples with pictures: The moharia type with many stems and small heads. PI 222832 https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1180090 The maxima type with few stems and large drooping heads. PI 436642 https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1331578 An odd type from Taiwan with erect foliage. PI 433444 https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/ImgDisplay?id=1328380 The most important foxtail millet cultivar in the United States is 'White Wonder'. It is grown for seeds in the High Plains south of Interstate Highway 80. The seeds are planted in Texas and similar latitudes as a summer annual fodder crop. If you are looking for something else in foxtail millet you can ask me, and we may have it. I am curious about what people are looking for. The seeds are intended for research and development, including commercial development so we want requests. I grow about 80 accessions in the field each year to get observation data and eventually have field notes and images for the entire foxtail collection. David Brenner David.Brenner@USDA.GOV Or: dbrenner@iastate.edu Plant Introduction Station phone 515-294-6786 Iowa State University 716 Farm House Lane, Ames, IA 50011-1051 USA https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/search.aspx<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/search.aspx__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!DqK6hYayk90RYImdFMotOx-sENGT6rrDx411VrQF4iDA_nJq6wGgRF6GIDjvztzMtz8RAu_yzVNtHjn65PlcebnlaXxdnL3p4A$>? Curator of: Amaranthus, Celosia, Chenopodium, Coronilla, Dalea, Galega, Melilotus, Perilla, Portulaca, Spinacia, miscellaneous Umbelliferae, and the millets: Echinochloa, Panicum, and Setaria. Hatch Act NC7 Regional Project in the US National Plant Germplasm System This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
Thank you, David, for this information. How about German millet (variety of foxtail) in your collection? Here's a very short video from Renovo Seeds with a comparison of white wonder & golden German: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHTF3dgOigQ . These were also mentioned in our recent Millets Webinar. I understand the German millet grains are a bit larger. In China there is a special term for millet - liáng 粱 - that according to Prof. Francesca Bray "appears to denote a large-grained, fine-flavoured sub-species of setaria, probably what is known as 'German millet.'" Interestingly, the Chinese term for sorghum, which was introduced there ages ago, is "tall liáng" - gāoliáng 高粱. Don DO, EL, MI, US NAMA On Wed, Mar 12, 2025 at 2:09 PM Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS < david.brenner@usda.gov> wrote:
*Foxtail Millet Seed Curator Perspective*
The US National Plant Germplasm Collection has 764 accessions of foxtail millet (*Setaria italica*) housed here at the National Plant Germplasm station in Ames, Iowa. Our accessions originated in many countries, but mostly India, Taiwan, China, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Hungary. Most can mature seeds here in the field, but some are too late flowering for this climate.
The observation data on the GRIN online database is mixed with the other species of *Setaria*. *https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/crop?id=225 <https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/crop?id=225>* The wild and weedy *Setaria viridis *(204 accessions) is closely related to foxtail millet and is crossing compatible. We also have a substantial collection, 78 accessions of the tropical forage *Setaria sphacelata.*
Some foxtail millet examples with pictures: The moharia type with many stems and small heads. PI 222832 https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1180090
The maxima type with few stems and large drooping heads. PI 436642 https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1331578
An odd type from Taiwan with erect foliage. PI 433444 https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/ImgDisplay?id=1328380 The most important foxtail millet cultivar in the United States is 'White Wonder'. It is grown for seeds in the High Plains south of Interstate Highway 80. The seeds are planted in Texas and similar latitudes as a summer annual fodder crop. If you are looking for something else in foxtail millet you can ask me, and we may have it. I am curious about what people are looking for. The seeds are intended for research and development, including commercial development so we want requests. I grow about 80 accessions in the field each year to get observation data and eventually have field notes and images for the entire foxtail collection.
David Brenner David.Brenner@USDA.GOV
Or: dbrenner@iastate.edu
Plant Introduction Station phone 515-294-6786 Iowa State University
716 Farm House Lane, Ames, IA 50011-1051 USA
*https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/search.aspx <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/search.aspx__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!DqK6hYayk90RYImdFMotOx-sENGT6rrDx411VrQF4iDA_nJq6wGgRF6GIDjvztzMtz8RAu_yzVNtHjn65PlcebnlaXxdnL3p4A$>* ? Curator of: Amaranthus, Celosia, Chenopodium, Coronilla, Dalea, Galega, Melilotus, Perilla, Portulaca, Spinacia, miscellaneous Umbelliferae, and the millets: Echinochloa, Panicum, and Setaria. Hatch Act NC7 Regional Project in the US National Plant Germplasm System
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Don, Here is a link to a summary of 100 seed weights for the foxtail millet group, which includes wild species. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/descriptordetail?id=225002 There are a few accessions from China with much larger seeds. I assume the are what the Chinese are breeding with for their large seed varieties, which are probably larger seeded than Golden German. I would like to have a variety that has easy threshing so that husk removal is not an obstacle to human food use. Thank you for this wonderful foxtail millet month. David Brenner NC7 ________________________________ From: Don Osborn <don@milletsalliance.org> Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2025 11:41 AM To: Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS <david.brenner@usda.gov> Cc: collab@lists.millets2023.space <collab@lists.millets2023.space> Subject: Re: Foxtail Millet Seed Curator Perspective Thank you, David, for this information. How about German millet (variety of foxtail) in your collection? Here's a very short video from Renovo Seeds with a comparison of white wonder & golden German: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHTF3dgOigQ . These were also mentioned in our recent Millets Webinar. I understand the German millet grains are a bit larger. In China there is a special term for millet - liáng 粱 - that according to Prof. Francesca Bray "appears to denote a large-grained, fine-flavoured sub-species of setaria, probably what is known as 'German millet.'" Interestingly, the Chinese term for sorghum, which was introduced there ages ago, is "tall liáng" - gāoliáng 高粱. Don DO, EL, MI, US NAMA On Wed, Mar 12, 2025 at 2:09 PM Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS <david.brenner@usda.gov<mailto:david.brenner@usda.gov>> wrote: Foxtail Millet Seed Curator Perspective The US National Plant Germplasm Collection has 764 accessions of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) housed here at the National Plant Germplasm station in Ames, Iowa. Our accessions originated in many countries, but mostly India, Taiwan, China, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Hungary. Most can mature seeds here in the field, but some are too late flowering for this climate. The observation data on the GRIN online database is mixed with the other species of Setaria. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/crop?id=225 The wild and weedy Setaria viridis (204 accessions) is closely related to foxtail millet and is crossing compatible. We also have a substantial collection, 78 accessions of the tropical forage Setaria sphacelata. Some foxtail millet examples with pictures: The moharia type with many stems and small heads. PI 222832 https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1180090 The maxima type with few stems and large drooping heads. PI 436642 https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1331578 An odd type from Taiwan with erect foliage. PI 433444 https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/ImgDisplay?id=1328380 The most important foxtail millet cultivar in the United States is 'White Wonder'. It is grown for seeds in the High Plains south of Interstate Highway 80. The seeds are planted in Texas and similar latitudes as a summer annual fodder crop. If you are looking for something else in foxtail millet you can ask me, and we may have it. I am curious about what people are looking for. The seeds are intended for research and development, including commercial development so we want requests. I grow about 80 accessions in the field each year to get observation data and eventually have field notes and images for the entire foxtail collection. David Brenner David.Brenner@USDA.GOV<mailto:David.Brenner@USDA.GOV> Or: dbrenner@iastate.edu<mailto:dbrenner@iastate.edu> Plant Introduction Station phone 515-294-6786 Iowa State University 716 Farm House Lane, Ames, IA 50011-1051 USA https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/search.aspx<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/search.aspx__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!DqK6hYayk90RYImdFMotOx-sENGT6rrDx411VrQF4iDA_nJq6wGgRF6GIDjvztzMtz8RAu_yzVNtHjn65PlcebnlaXxdnL3p4A$>? Curator of: Amaranthus, Celosia, Chenopodium, Coronilla, Dalea, Galega, Melilotus, Perilla, Portulaca, Spinacia, miscellaneous Umbelliferae, and the millets: Echinochloa, Panicum, and Setaria. Hatch Act NC7 Regional Project in the US National Plant Germplasm System This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
participants (4)
-
Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS -
Dipak Santra -
Don Osborn -
Joanna Kane-Potaka