Farmers and others interested in learning the latest research about Kernza are invited to a field day at Carmen Fernholz’s A-Frame Farm in Madison, Minn.

Fernholz will be joined by Luke Peterson, A-Frame Farm manager, to talk about the perennial grain crop.

The July 8 event will feature a tour of two Kernza stands and a soil pit that will give attendees a view of Kernza roots in the soil. The Lac qui Parle Soil and Water Conservation District will run soil and water erosion demonstrations, and University of Minnesota Forever Green Initiative researchers will be on hand to answer questions on management, production and economics.

Leaders from Perennial Promise Growers Co-op, the newly formed Kernza growers co-op, will share their mission and vision for building markets and commercial opportunities for farmers.

The event will showcase businesses and makers using Kernza, including James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Beth Dooley. Attendees are encouraged to stay for an after-hours social.

Registration, event details

A-Frame Farm is located 2 miles east of Madison, Minn., on Highway 40. The farm is located at the highway’s 15-mile marker, and an A-frame farmhouse is visible from the highway. The tour starts at 1 p.m., rain or shine, and concludes at 4:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear sturdy footwear for walking in fields, and to bring a water bottle and sunscreen.

The event is free, but reservations are necessary for parking and refreshments.

Reserve your spot at bit.ly/kernzajuly8fieldday. 

Kernza is the trademark name for the perennial grain harvested from new varieties of intermediate wheatgrass. As a perennial, Kernza is planted once and provides several years of harvestable grain. It has a deep root system that provides multiple environmental benefits. Additionally, research is moving forward that defines the forage qualities of Kernza for grazing and haying.

The University of Minnesota Forever Green Initiative, in partnership with The Land Institute in Kansas, has been engaged in research and development of Kernza for more than a decade. Current research is focused on increasing seed size and yields, measuring environmental benefits and building supply chains and market opportunities.

Earlier Kernza stories in The Farmer

Read previous stories online in The Farmer about kernza:

• New intermediate wheatgrass prime for growth year

• Minnesota part of $10 million Kernza grant collaboration

• Minn. farmers, Pipestone SWCD turn to cover crops to reduce nitrates

Source: A-Frame Farm, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all of its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.