Farmers facing increasingly extreme weather patterns are turning to perennial grains as a potential solution to build resilience in their operations. These crops, which are planted once and can grow for several years, offer an alternative to traditional annual grains that require yearly tilling, planting, and harvesting.
Bryce Black, a fourth-generation farmer in Beloit, Kansas, experienced one of his lowest wheat yields in years due to a combination of late rain followed by a dry winter and spring. "It is disheartening, you know? And it’s kind of hard to know what to do," Black said, reflecting on the challenges of unpredictable weather.
Perennial grains are being explored for their ability to withstand extreme conditions. Their deep root systems, which can extend several feet into the ground, allow them to access water sources unavailable to shallow-rooted annuals, making them more resistant to drought. These extensive roots also help absorb excess water during heavy rainfall, reducing soil erosion and runoff. Additionally, perennial crops contribute to soil health by sequestering more carbon.
David Mueller, who farms in Halstead, Kansas, planted a 12-acre field of Kernza, a perennial grain developed by The Land Institute, five years ago. He has since expanded to nearly 100 acres of Kernza. Mueller has utilized the crop to improve soil with drainage issues and to rebuild organic matter on his family's farm. He noted that Kernza requires about one-third of the fertilizer needed for wheat and reduces the need for frequent use of fuel-burning farm equipment.
"Not only are we able to utilize those acres profitably, but then we also build up that soil and work on some benefits to make it hopefully profitable to raise other crops on those fields in the future," Mueller said.
A 2024 United Nations report highlights the economic impact of soil degradation, projecting potential losses exceeding $20 trillion globally by 2050. Perennial cultivation is considered less disruptive to soil, which acts as a reservoir for atmospheric carbon dioxide. The annual cycle of tilling, planting, and harvesting can degrade farmland, while the deep root structures of perennial plants help to sequester carbon deeper into the soil, where it is less likely to be disturbed.
"Incorporating perennials into our agriculture seems like really the only option to have soil for generations if we want to continue to grow food," said Laura van der Pol, The Land Institute's lead soil ecologist. "It’s hard to imagine getting to a place where we could have soil and abundant food without a perennial option."
Despite these benefits, widespread adoption of perennial grains faces several obstacles. A primary challenge is the yield of the grain. Lee DeHaan, who leads The Land Institute’s Kernza domestication program, explained that perennial crops must allocate energy to root development for survival, in addition to seed production. This results in yields that are significantly lower than those of annual wheat crops.
Researchers at Cornell University have also noted difficulties in establishing Kernza fields due to weed competition in the first year. Finding optimal seeding rates to maximize yield is another area still under study.
Harvesting perennial grains like Kernza can also be challenging. The grain size is smaller than wheat, and farmers and researchers are still adapting farm equipment to prevent kernel damage.
Beyond the agricultural challenges, market development and consumer awareness remain significant hurdles. Aaron Gaeddert, owner of Prairy in Newton, Kansas, which develops and sells Kernza-based food products, stated that building awareness is difficult, even among long-time customers. He believes larger industry players will need to adopt new grains like Kernza for broader market acceptance.
Federal support for perennial grains is also lacking compared to traditional annual crops, which receive various forms of assistance during market disruptions. The value of farmland and the availability of agricultural loans are often tied to the cultivation of established crops, creating financial barriers for farmers interested in perennial alternatives.
Brandon Schlautman, a perennial crop scientist and farmer at Sustain-a-Grain, a supplier of Kernza, frequently encounters farmers eager to grow the crop but must turn most away due to an underdeveloped market. "What farmers really need is access to the product or the grain itself. And stable markets that allow them to grow Kernza and sell it profitably and sustainably," Schlautman said.
Mueller has a contract with Sustain-a-Grain, which provides him with Kernza seed and purchases his crop at a fixed price, mitigating some of the risk associated with planting an alternative crop. While the Kernza market is small, farmers who participate can sometimes receive a premium price, significantly higher than that of wheat. However, pricing the grain low enough to expand consumer access remains a key challenge.