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NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedSeptember 4, 2026Miami-Dade

Farmers explore perennial grains to improve crop resilience against extreme weather

Farmers are increasingly testing perennial grains like Kernza as a strategy to combat soil degradation and crop losses caused by drought and heavy rainfall. Unlike traditional annual crops, these grains require less frequent planting and utilize deep root systems to improve soil health and water retention.

agricultureclimate changesoil healthdroughtfarming technology
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Why It Matters

grains offer a potential alternative for farmers facing extreme weather, though widespread adoption remains limited by lower yields, harvesting difficulties, and a lack of established market infrastructure.

Key Facts

  • Perennial grains like Kernza do not require yearly planting, harvesting, and replanting.
  • Kernza yields are currently 20% to 40% of typical local wheat yields.
  • Kernza requires approximately one-third of the fertilizer needed for traditional wheat.
  • A 2024 UN report estimates soil degradation could cause over $20 trillion in global economic losses by 2050.
  • In the U.S., 3,511 acres of Kernza were cultivated last year, compared to 37.2 million acres of wheat.
  • Perennial root systems can reach several feet deep, aiding in drought resistance and carbon sequestration.
  • The Land Institute began domesticating Kernza in 2001, with the first harvest occurring in 2010.
  • Harvesting perennial grains is currently difficult because existing farm equipment is designed for larger annual grain kernels.

Who's Mentioned

personAaron Gaeddert“Owner of Prairy, a business selling Kernza products.”personBryce Black“A fourth-generation farmer in Beloit, Kansas, experimenting with crop resilience”personDavid Mueller“A farmer in Halstead, Kansas, who has been growing Kernza since 2018.”personLaura van der Pol“Lead soil ecologist at The Land Institute.”personLee DeHaan“Leader of the Kernza domestication program.”organizationThe Land Institute“A research organization in Salina, Kansas, focused on domesticating perennial gr”personBrandon Schlautman“Perennial crop scientist and farmer at Sustain-a-Grain.”personMatthew Ryan“Sustainable cropping professor at Cornell University.”