Developing a crop to clean water

from Country Acres - July 16, 2021

Perennial grain shows promise in removing nitrates

BY SARAH COLBURN STAFF WRITER

WESTPORT – Jake Jungers has a dream for the future of Minnesota’s drinking water and $10 million to help make it come true.

Jungers is an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota. He’s working locally to study the impact of planting Kernza®, a perennial grain harvested from intermediate wheatgrass developed at the University of Minnesota, on the nitrate content of the local drinking water.

Jungers is working with the Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Pope County Soil and Water Conservation District as well as the Rosholt Research Farm at Westport.

The work of the partnership at the research farm is funded by

PHOTOS SUBMITTED Jake Jungers, assistant professor at the University of Minnesota, along with Rhyan Schicker from Lac qui Parle Soil and Water Conservation District, explains how Kernza reduces nitrate leaching while referencing results from their research.

the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. The LCCMR makes funding recommendations to the legislature for environmental and natural resource projects and the local project set the stage for Jungers to receive the multi-million-dollar USDA grant to support research and activities focused on breeding, agronomics, environmental quality, supply chains and education for developing crops such as Kernza. The large grant supports the work of eight project partner institutions, universities and non-profi ts as well as more than 50 individual collaborators.

Jungers is also working in Minnesota with the Forever Green Initiative which allows him and his colleagues to study the viability of 17 new crops that serve a dual purpose, being profi table and improving the environment. Kernza is furthest in development.

“It puts Minnesota on the map at the federal level,” he said. “(The LCCMR project) laid the foundation for this $10 million grant from the USDA.”

Minnesota, he said, is leading the way for the rest of the states in getting Kernza on store shelves.

“It shows Minnesota is innovative and forward-thinking,” he said.

At Rosholt, a collection team uses lysimeters to extract water from 2 feet below the surface to test for nitrates.

Dennis Fuchs, of the Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District, explains why the testing is important.

“If there are high concentrations of nitrates, there’s a good chance you’ll have nitrate moving into the groundwater,” Fuchs said.

Kernza combats that.

With a root system that can extend down to 15-feet deep, Kernza soaks up the nitrate, harvesting it and using it for energy. Then, the protein of the plant becomes edible. The Kernza grain can be de-hulled and then ground for consumption. Kernza fl our can be used for baked goods and the grain can be used by the beverage industry to create drinks including beer.

Because the plant is perennial, Jungers said it has a lot of benefi ts to the environment and to farmers looking to save on production costs.

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duce mixes for things like pancakes.

Her team works with companies interested in sampling Kernza, and they also assist in setting businesses up with Kernza suppliers when they’re ready to include it in their products regularly.

So far, AURI is working with 20 Central Minnesota businesses and some located in the Twin Cities that are including Kernza in their products. One such business is Perennial Pantry, a company that works to bring climate-positive food staples to the kitchen.

Jungers said right now it’s a balancing act between farmers who are excited to reduce their production costs and incorporate the grain into their rotation, and creating the market to use that grain.

“We talk to farmers about the reduction in input costs and labor,” he said.

Kernza, he said, uses half as much nitrogen fertilizer as compared to corn and only has to be planted every three years, reducing seed costs. Additionally, because the crop is perennial, it serves as weed control and reduces the reliance on herbicides.

On the other hand, he is encouraging farmers to truly study the crop to understand if it’s right for them.

“It’s not a perfect crop yet,” Jungers said. “In some cases, we’re holding the reigns a bit; there’s a lot of interest and a lot of excitement, but we’re early in the stages of development.”

The biggest task now is to solidify and increase the supply chain and fi nd companies to handle the raw product so it can get to end users, all of which is moving along thanks to Jungers’ umbrella grant. There’s also a coop, called the Perennial

PHOTOS SUBMITTED Kimberly DeMorrett, one of the interns at the Rosholt Research Farm, samples the Kernza plots.

PUBLIC FIELD DAY

At 9:30 a.m. Aug. 19, there will be a public fi eld day welcome and registration at Rosholt Research Farm. Rotation to the various plots begins at 10 a.m.

Farmers and the public are invited to learn more about the crop as well as other perennial crops being studied at the site. Participants will rotate around diff erent stations and plots.

Topics include Nitrogen Management for Corn in Irrigated Sands; Irrigation Management for Profi table Crop Production and Water Quality Protection; Kernza: A New Perennial Grain Crop to Improve Drinking Water; and Adding Value to Kernza: An Update on AURI’s Eff orts to Identify Processing Methods and Early Supply Chain & Market Opportunities for Kernza in Minnesota.

The event is organized by Pope and Stearns Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

The work at Rosholt has been funded by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), Minnesota Department of Agriculture Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC), and the Clean Water Fund as a part of the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment. For more information visit www.lccmr.leg.mn and www.legacy.mn.gov/clean-water-fund.

The event is free and open to the public and includes a meal. Pre-registration is encouraged. To register, go to: https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/rosholt-research-farm-fi eld-day-tickets-162430805913 or call 320-634-5327.

Promise Growers Co-Op, made up of a group of early adopter growers who are partnering together to bring some effi ciencies to the process and provide a place for the grain to be distributed.

There are grant funds available for farmers ready to plant Kernza.

“It’s a great opportunity to explore and experiment in these areas, and have some public funds for the farmer,” Jungers said. “(Then) they don’t have to take as much risk with the crop.”