Posted on May 16, 2022
Kernza — the grain you’ve never heard of that could revolutionize farming
717
7
2
5
5
0
The perennial grain can produce an annual crop even as it stays in the ground for up to four years. Its deep root system helps pull carbon out of the air and makes it more resistant to floods and drought.
This story was produced in partnership with the Food & Environment Reporting Network
Carmen Fernholz started farming organically in 1972 — before the phrase “organic farming” was really even a thing. And as a lifelong organics fanatic, he’s always on the lookout for strategies to keep his soil healthy.
Many of these strategies are about how he farms: He’s never used herbicides or pesticides on his crops, for instance. He doesn’t use commercial fertilizers. He plants cover crops to sequester carbon in the soil.
Basically, when it comes to the health of his fields, Fernholz’s philosophy is to let the soil live as naturally as possible. “I just cringe whenever I see soil disturbance.”
This story was produced in partnership with the Food & Environment Reporting Network
Carmen Fernholz started farming organically in 1972 — before the phrase “organic farming” was really even a thing. And as a lifelong organics fanatic, he’s always on the lookout for strategies to keep his soil healthy.
Many of these strategies are about how he farms: He’s never used herbicides or pesticides on his crops, for instance. He doesn’t use commercial fertilizers. He plants cover crops to sequester carbon in the soil.
Basically, when it comes to the health of his fields, Fernholz’s philosophy is to let the soil live as naturally as possible. “I just cringe whenever I see soil disturbance.”
Kernza — the grain you’ve never heard of that could revolutionize farming
Posted from kcur.orgPosted in these groups: 
Farming
Agriculture
Farming Agriculture
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 2
2
2
0
0
0
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."And in the era of climate change, that protection is getting increasingly expensive. In the last 25 years, federal crop insurance payouts to farmers who lost crops due to drought and flooding more than tripled. And in 2020 alone, federal insurance subsidies for extreme weather events surpassed $4 billion.
Secchi says that we need sweeping reforms for Kernza to compete with annuals. But subsidies are one place to start. “If you have crop insurance subsidies for corn and beans,” she said, “you should have them for Kernza.”
But Carmen Fernholz isn’t waiting for policy to catch up. For him, Kernza is exciting not only because it’s better for the earth, but also because he hopes it can give more farmers a viable entry point to grain farming. In the last few years, he’s been handing over the reins at A-Frame Farm to a young organic farmer who shares his commitment to soil health and rural communities.
“To start seeing the next generation being engaged in it?” He shakes his head. “There’s nothing more rewarding. Not at all.”
..."And in the era of climate change, that protection is getting increasingly expensive. In the last 25 years, federal crop insurance payouts to farmers who lost crops due to drought and flooding more than tripled. And in 2020 alone, federal insurance subsidies for extreme weather events surpassed $4 billion.
Secchi says that we need sweeping reforms for Kernza to compete with annuals. But subsidies are one place to start. “If you have crop insurance subsidies for corn and beans,” she said, “you should have them for Kernza.”
But Carmen Fernholz isn’t waiting for policy to catch up. For him, Kernza is exciting not only because it’s better for the earth, but also because he hopes it can give more farmers a viable entry point to grain farming. In the last few years, he’s been handing over the reins at A-Frame Farm to a young organic farmer who shares his commitment to soil health and rural communities.
“To start seeing the next generation being engaged in it?” He shakes his head. “There’s nothing more rewarding. Not at all.”
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google