I agree with Dipak that U.S. millet data is hard to decipher by species for several reasons.
Two data references I gave are from two different sources--don't confuse them. U.S.D.A. annual SURVEY estimates are only proso millet production and only in three states (Colorado, Nebraska, and South Dakota) of the twenty-five or so states that produce proso. Five year U.S. CENSUS data, reported by National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS/USDA) is very crude and unreliable as it must report any grower that claims she/he harvested millet (presumably for seed), but in my opinion, that survey barely touches the full scope of U.S. millet planted acres. The second link on the other hand is USA TRADE CENSUS data which reports U.S. Dept. of Commerce international trade. It has nothing to do with production. Their "Millet" data, measured in kilograms, must be proso as Dipak suggested and does not include sorghum which lists data separately. To further substantiate proso's dominance in U.S. exports, Fonio is listed separately and is internationally traded some years or at least transshipped through the U.S. U.S. and international trading codes must be divided into many subcategories to fully understand the species and forms of millet traded. When I sent proso millet seed to Mongolia and Turkey for research, I assume it was reported as "Millet". Also, as millet trade continues to develop, my fear is that millet meal (byproduct of ethanol production), millet forage, hulls, oil, millet sprays, maybe even beer (which is imported), and other forms of millet may be dumped into the same "Millet" category making trade data even more meaningless....Gary Wietgrefe On Wed, Jan 10, 2024 at 1:07 PM <collab-request@lists.millets2023.space> wrote: > Send Collab mailing list submissions to > collab@lists.millets2023.space > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > collab-request@lists.millets2023.space > > You can reach the person managing the list at > collab-owner@lists.millets2023.space > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Collab digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Proso millet insights & comment on USDA "Millet Explorer" > (Re: Collab Digest, Vol 24, Issue 1) (Dipak Santra) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2024 20:06:45 +0000 > From: Dipak Santra <dsant...@unl.edu> > To: Don Osborn <d...@milletsalliance.org>, > "collab@lists.millets2023.space" <collab@lists.millets2023.space> > Subject: Re: [Collab] Proso millet insights & comment on USDA "Millet > Explorer" (Re: Collab Digest, Vol 24, Issue 1) > Message-ID: > < > cy4pr08mb3350a550fb963b728a9923299a...@cy4pr08mb3350.namprd08.prod.outlook.com > > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > I do not think that either USDA?s Millets Production data or the US Census > data mention the specific millet. I agree that it is difficult to decipher > without this detail. For US, it almost exclusively proso millet. For > China, it is proso millet and foxtail millet. > > Thanks > > Dipak > > [cid:image001.png@01DA43BB.85B7C6D0] > Dipak Santra, Ph.D. > Professor (Alternative Crops Breeding Specialist) > President, International Broomcorn Millet Association > Department of Agronomy and Horticulture > University of Nebraska?Lincoln > Panhandle Research & Extension Center > 4502 Ave I, Scottsbluff, NE 69361 > (308) 632-124<tel:3086321372>4 (work) / (308) 765-2324 (cell) > > > From: Collab <collab-bounces@lists.millets2023.space> On Behalf Of Don > Osborn > Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2024 11:30 AM > To: collab@lists.millets2023.space > Subject: [Collab] Proso millet insights & comment on USDA "Millet > Explorer" (Re: Collab Digest, Vol 24, Issue 1) > > Non-NU Email > ________________________________ > Thank you, Gary. I concur with Joni's assessment of your informative > email, and also your prognostication about 2024. > > We should be putting such information and links as you shared about proso > in a ready-to-reference set of webpages. Kind of a meta-reference to data > and analysis by others. (This is on NAMA's full agenda.) > > One quick remark concerning USDA's "Millet Explorer." It is not clear > which of the various species we're treating as millets are covered in this > data. However, it is clear that at least 3 or 4 crops, and perhaps more, > are collapsed under the category of "millet." That may be a function of how > data is collected in the various countries, but it all points in my > thinking to a need for more specificity. > > The selection of millets most grown in China, for example, is not the same > as that in the US, and the West African Sahel and East Africa are also > different. And India has 8 or 9 figuring prominently in annual production. > > I did not see such improvement of data collection and reporting on the > agenda of the International Year of Millets, but it probably should be a > goal moving forward. (FAO would seem best placed to promote such > evolution.) > > All the best, > > Don > > DO, EL, MI, US > NAMA > > > On Thu, Jan 4, 2024 at 7:32?PM Joni Kindwall-Moore < > j...@snacktivistfoods.com<mailto:j...@snacktivistfoods.com>> wrote: > This is very insightful Gary, as usual, your content is very well thought > out and reflects your experience. > thanks > > On Thu, Jan 4, 2024 at 11:29?AM Gary Wietgrefe via Collab < > collab@lists.millets2023.space<mailto:collab@lists.millets2023.space>> > wrote: > With NAMA, there has never been a better opportunity for the U.S. millet > future, especially proso. NAMA is best positioned to promote all North > American millets based on their multi-million acre base, climate > resilience, food quality, and international acceptance. > > A fundamental economics rule is that market growth slows as prices > increase. Alternatively, as price decreases opportunities increase by > finding new users at their initial price point. Once a market is > established, barriers to exit drives prices up. > > Without promotional budget or government interference, proso production, > use, and exports have fluctuated for the last half-century based on that > economic rule. As markets developed, caged and wild birdseed packagers have > been forced by consumers to put white proso into mixes. > > Another example is black oil-seed sunflowers as birdseed. In 1978 only > confection sunflower seed was used in birdseed mixes. Those confection > seeds were too large for most caged birds and low-quality confections were > discarded at low prices into the wild bird mixes. Working for the South > Dakota Department of Agriculture, I introduced black oil sunflower seed as > wild birdseed. It took off! Black oilseed sunflower farm prices have ranged > from under 10-cents/lb to 40-cents/lb only because birdseed market demand > sets the price. South Dakota follows North Dakota in sunflower production. > North Dakota black oilseed sunflowers primarily are crushed for oil. Nearly > all South Dakota black oilseed sunflowers go into the birdseed market. In > fact, the largest SD grain elevator quotes daily black oilseed sunflowers > only as "Birdseed." See Oahe Grain Corporation< > https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.oahegraincorp.com/__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!F0FDnZNF7Hodkacr1mSmlqQrxopZXxmnZY8nOICEK3ZFmUVq6gTE-b1vyRm8 > J5Q2Ujc5Br_jUz99zO7dRQ$>. Market demand drives price! > > For a brief U.S. proso economics lesson, review one minute segment > (2:20-3:20) of this "Proso Millet Pricing" YouTube video > https://youtu.be/pVQclIw5Rbw?si=UMNZg6Ne1RSEkQWp< > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/youtu.be/pVQclIw5Rbw?si=UMNZg6Ne1RSEkQWp__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!F0FDnZNF7Hodkacr1mSmlqQrxopZXxmnZY8nOICEK3ZFmUVq6gTE-b1vyRm8J5Q2Ujc5Br_jUz8vNeUPMA$ > >. > > Two other items: > 1.) USDA's December 2023 World Millet Production is available at Millet > Explorer (usda.gov)< > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ipad.fas.usda.gov/cropexplorer/cropview/commodityView.aspx?cropid=0459100&sel_year=2023&rankby=Production__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!F0FDnZNF7Hodkacr1mSmlqQrxopZXxmnZY8nOICEK3ZFmUVq6gTE-b1vyRm8J5Q2Ujc5Br_jUz8qunQlrg$ > >. > > 2.) U.S. Census data is only out through Oct. 2023, but with current proso > supplies, it would not surprise me if 2024 U.S. millet exports do not > exceed 2019 (at 129,286,000 lbs.). In the last five years, as expected, > U.S. millet exports have decreased as prices increased. See > https://usatrade.census.gov/data/Perspective60/View/dispview.aspx< > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/usatrade.census.gov/data/Perspective60/View/dispview.aspx__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!F0FDnZNF7Hodkacr1mSmlqQrxopZXxmnZY8nOICEK3ZFmUVq6gTE-b1vyRm8J5Q2Ujc5Br_jUz9H-7GecQ$ > >. > > Again, 2024 should be a very dynamic millet year....Gary Wietgrefe > > On Thu, Jan 4, 2024 at 5:06?AM <collab-request@lists.millets2023.space > <mailto:collab-request@lists.millets2023.space>> wrote: > Send Collab mailing list submissions to > collab@lists.millets2023.space<mailto: > collab@lists.millets2023.space> > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab< > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!F0FDnZNF7Hodkacr1mSmlqQrxopZXxmnZY8nOICEK3ZFmUVq6gTE-b1vyRm8J5Q2Ujc5Br_jUz_6M10t_Q$ > > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > collab-request@lists.millets2023.space<mailto: > collab-request@lists.millets2023.space> > > You can reach the person managing the list at > collab-owner@lists.millets2023.space<mailto: > collab-owner@lists.millets2023.space> > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Collab digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: "Year of Millets: Farmers willing, but market needs to > develop" (Joni Kindwall-Moore) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2024 22:04:17 -0800 > From: Joni Kindwall-Moore <j...@snacktivistfoods.com<mailto: > j...@snacktivistfoods.com>> > To: Don Osborn <d...@milletsalliance.org<mailto:d...@milletsalliance.org>> > Cc: collab@lists.millets2023.space<mailto:collab@lists.millets2023.space> > Subject: Re: [Collab] "Year of Millets: Farmers willing, but market > needs to develop" > Message-ID: > < > cahvjmljrcz3s3qpnbwif-benhvbcknd9tqcfo4crgclbn-g...@mail.gmail.com<mailto: > cahvjmljrcz3s3qpnbwif-benhvbcknd9tqcfo4crgclbn-g...@mail.gmail.com>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Thanks Don, I am always appreciative of the share. We must focus on the > markets, go to market partners, processing, and education. Awareness with > influencers, chefs, buyers, and consumers is critical for the adoption of > underutilized crops and for the markets to gain any traction. > Unfortunately, the Proso millet market had more growers this year but then > without any market development, it was harmful to the economics for the > farmers unfortunately. > We will keep working but there are so few people working on this > critical side of the equation and almost no financial support so it remains > very difficult. > Warm regards, > Joni > > On Sun, Dec 31, 2023 at 8:44?AM Don Osborn <d...@milletsalliance.org > <mailto:d...@milletsalliance.org>> wrote: > > > Here's a recent article on the potential for proso millet in the Pacific > > Northwest, which includes thoughts from NAMA co-founder Joni > Kindwall-Moore > > on the potential of this crop in general: > > > > "Year of Millets: Farmers willing, but market needs to develop," by > > Matthew Weaver, Capital Press (Salem, OR), 26 Dec. 2023 > > > https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/grains/year-of-millets-farmers-willing-but-market-needs-to-develop/article_578c935c-9614-11ee-8918-4f6ea774f922.html > < > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/grains/year-of-millets-farmers-willing-but-market-needs-to-develop/article_578c935c-9614-11ee-8918-4f6ea774f922.html__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!F0FDnZNF7Hodkacr1mSmlqQrxopZXxmnZY8nOICEK3ZFmUVq6gTE-b1vyRm8J5Q2Ujc5Br_jUz-VkLt3DQ$ > > > > > > I hope Joni won't mind my copying her additional comments on posting this > > article to LinkedIn: > > > > "Thank you Matthew Weaver at the Capital Press for doing a follow-up on > > the work we have been doing to develop our domestic Millets (including > > Sorghum) industry. > > > > "We have made strides this year in pushing for education and promotion > > thanks to the United Nations/FAO Year of Millets and several domestic > > organizations like the North American Millets Alliance (NAMA), the United > > Sorghum Checkoff Program, and Nate Blum's visionary work at Sorghum > United. > > > > "Hundreds of conversations with farmers have left me feeling confident > > that there is a major yearning to plant more climate-resilient crops like > > millets to diversify their rotations and transition to crops that require > > less water, fewer chemical inputs and positively impact soil health. > > > > "We can not fuel regeneration without the diversification of crops. But > > this requires diversification of markets. > > > > "Unfortunately, the markets are not developing as fast as we need them to > > for a variety of reasons. Several factors persist that are hampering the > > development of market segments that support crop diversity and the > adoption > > of millets. > > > > "First and foremost, I will say that I am personally extremely > > disappointed at the lack of interest in crop diversity and > > climate-resilient crops in general from leaders in the Natural Products > > industry. We tried to raise awareness and put millets on the topics of > > conversations at events like Expo West and in buyer groups at leading > > retailers like Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmers Market but they > were > > stubbornly unreceptive to the topic. > > > > "Interestingly enough, the 3 retailers who wanted to hear about millets > > and the potential role they play in the food system of the future were > > Walmart, The GIANT Company and Market of Choice. I am so appreciative of > > their willingness to lean in, take responsibility, and truly understand > the > > pivotal role that retailers will play in shaping the food system of the > > future. > > > > "They invited the conversations, they wanted to learn. I applaud them! > > > > "While very positive conversations continue, I refuse to just sit here > and > > watch other nations lead the transformation toward a climate-resilient > food > > system, the sluggish adoption of the US markets is truly a shame. > > > > "We will keep pushing these initiatives domestically because of the > > critical role that climate-resilient crops play in the future of our food > > system." > > (Joni Kindwall-Moore at > > > https://www.linkedin.com/posts/joni-kindwall-moore-57a81014_year-of-millets-farmers-willing-but-market-activity-7146600824796852224-dKHS > < > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.linkedin.com/posts/joni-kindwall-moore-57a81014_year-of-millets-farmers-willing-but-market-activity-7146600824796852224-dKHS__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!F0FDnZNF7Hodkacr1mSmlqQrxopZXxmnZY8nOICEK3ZFmUVq6gTE-b1vyRm8J5Q2Ujc5Br_jUz9TIC2Zbg$ > > > > ) > > > > Don > > > > DO, EL, MI, US > > NAMA > > > > bcc: Matthew Weaver > > > > > > -- > > Collab mailing list > > Collab@lists.millets2023.space<mailto:Collab@lists.millets2023.space> > > https://lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab< > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!F0FDnZNF7Hodkacr1mSmlqQrxopZXxmnZY8nOICEK3ZFmUVq6gTE-b1vyRm8J5Q2Ujc5Br_jUz_6M10t_Q$ > > > > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: < > https://lists.millets2023.space/pipermail/collab/attachments/20240103/1aea5afb/attachment-0001.htm > < > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lists.millets2023.space/pipermail/collab/attachments/20240103/1aea5afb/attachment-0001.htm__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!F0FDnZNF7Hodkacr1mSmlqQrxopZXxmnZY8nOICEK3ZFmUVq6gTE-b1vyRm8J5Q2Ujc5Br_jUz_v9XRUzA$ > >> > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > > > -- > Collab mailing list > Collab@lists.millets2023.space<mailto:Collab@lists.millets2023.space> > https://lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab< > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!F0FDnZNF7Hodkacr1mSmlqQrxopZXxmnZY8nOICEK3ZFmUVq6gTE-b1vyRm8J5Q2Ujc5Br_jUz_6M10t_Q$ > > > > > ------------------------------ > > End of Collab Digest, Vol 24, Issue 1 > ************************************* > > > -- > Author, Gary W. Wietgrefe, > https://www.RelatingtoAncients.com/< > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.RelatingtoAncients.com/__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!F0FDnZNF7Hodkacr1mSmlqQrxopZXxmnZY8nOICEK3ZFmUVq6gTE-b1vyRm8J5Q2Ujc5Br_jUz-hKsDmEg$ > > > Destination North Pole--5,000 km by bicycle is an exciting, endearing, > humorous, dangerous and sometimes quirky travel adventure. Hardcover, > paperback and e-books are available on Amazon or other on-line retailers. > My other books tie education, school system, parenting, technology, and > business with 21st century culture and learning. > > > -- > Collab mailing list > Collab@lists.millets2023.space<mailto:Collab@lists.millets2023.space> > https://lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab< > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!F0FDnZNF7Hodkacr1mSmlqQrxopZXxmnZY8nOICEK3ZFmUVq6gTE-b1vyRm8J5Q2Ujc5Br_jUz_6M10t_Q$ > > > > > -- > Collab mailing list > Collab@lists.millets2023.space<mailto:Collab@lists.millets2023.space> > https://lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab< > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!F0FDnZNF7Hodkacr1mSmlqQrxopZXxmnZY8nOICEK3ZFmUVq6gTE-b1vyRm8J5Q2Ujc5Br_jUz_6M10t_Q$ > > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: < > https://lists.millets2023.space/pipermail/collab/attachments/20240110/c56852be/attachment.htm > > > -------------- next part -------------- > A non-text attachment was scrubbed... > Name: image001.png > Type: image/png > Size: 7208 bytes > Desc: image001.png > URL: < > https://lists.millets2023.space/pipermail/collab/attachments/20240110/c56852be/attachment.png > > > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > > > -- > Collab mailing list > Collab@lists.millets2023.space > https://lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab > > > ------------------------------ > > End of Collab Digest, Vol 24, Issue 9 > ************************************* > -- Author, Gary W. Wietgrefe, https://www.RelatingtoAncients.com/ *Destination North Pole--5,000 km by bicycle* is an exciting, endearing, humorous, dangerous and sometimes quirky travel adventure. Hardcover, paperback and e-books are available on Amazon or other on-line retailers. My other books tie education, school system, parenting, technology, and business with 21st century culture and learning.
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