Event / Community Calendar

Kernza Field Day: Advances in Breeding, Production & Marketing

Jul 13, 1:00 PM CT
Madison, MN | Free
The public is invited to learn the latest research about
Kernza®, the first perennial grain crop to be commercially available for production in the US. The event will be hosted at Carmen Fernholz’s A-Frame Farm, 2484 Hwy 40 Madison, MN. Fernholz will be joined by Luke Peterson, A-Frame Farm Manager. The tour will a start at 1 p.m. The farm is located on the 15 mile marker on Hwy 40, 2 miles east of Madison.

This field tour is an opportunity for growers, processors, businesses, and policymakers to gain first-hand knowledge and connect with experienced Kernza® growers and researchers who have been advancing the breeding, production and marketing of the nation’s first perennial grain.

Kernza® perennial grain has the potential to change agricultural landscapes by providing valuable ecosystem services and new economic opportunities. A-Frame Farm, owned by Carmen Fernholz and operated by Luke Peterson, is one of the first farms in Minnesota to plant Kernza® over a decade ago. In that time, Fernholz and Peterson have closely partnered with both university researchers and industry experts to support both the agronomic and market development of this visionary new crop. In 2021, Perennial Promise Growers Co-op was formed to serve as a production and marketing agency for growers. Representatives from the co-op will also be on-hand to share market development.

The Field Day tour will feature:

• A tour of the next generation of Kernza varieties
• Post-harvest/on-farm seed processing and conditioning demonstration
• An overview of the state of the Kernza market
• Water erosion demonstrations from the LqP Soil and Water Conservation District
• Soil pit showcasing the impressive Kernza root system
• Kernza food and beverage products

Wearing durable shoes and boots to walk through fields is recommended. This is a rain-or-shine event, so please dress accordingly Light refreshments that include Kernza will be served during a social hour following the tour, plan to stay for conversation and connection.

This event is free but registration is required here .