Evaluating an under-utilized species for climate resilient forage and cover crop options in North Central Region cropping systems

This research aims to understand the potential of fonio across various farming systems and to evaluate the crop based on the performance indicators identified and developed by the various types of growers in these systems. The general approach of this research is a participatory process in which farmers and researchers are engaged partners in the design, learning, and innovations necessary to test a crop new in the region. We will use a combination of on-farm trials, farmer discussions and workshops, and joint learning and innovation to evaluate this crop. This learning process will be documented to gain insights for fonio production and learning on the process of engagement with the growers. In addition, we will conduct qualitative interviews with farmers and local restaurants to learn about the challenges in production, potential, and likelihood of using fonio in their farming systems and restaurants. We aim to answer the following research questions:

1. Within NCR farming systems, what are functional niches for fonio (Digitaria exilis) as a cover crop, food crop, or forage?
2. Within individual farming systems, how does fonio perform compared to common standards? 
3. What are the barriers and opportunities for adoption at farm level as a cover crop, forage, or food crop?

In order to address these research questions and achieve the associated learning and action outcomes, we propose two phases over the three years of the project. In Phase I of the research we will connect with farmers already committed to growing fonio. In Phase II, we will expand the number of growers and continue on-farm experimentation growing fonio. 

• Phase I (January 2023 - December 2023) 
  • Initiation of three on-farm trials with partner farmers in three different systems
  • Farmer designed observational plantings of fonio in their cropping systems
  • Identification of new farmers for Phase II 
  • Outreach and education about fonio in Michigan
  • Testing of planting methods

• Phase II of the project (January 2024-December 2025) 
  • Expansion to 5 farms conducting on-farm trials in different systems for 2 seasons
  • Cooking demonstrations with West African Immigrant groups based in Detroit
  • Experiments designed with the farmers, based on how they want to test fonio for each type of farming system
  • Measurements of soil quality, grain yield, forage quality, and biomass for cover and forage in relevant systems
  • Identification of tools and methods for processing fonio grain in Michigan
  • Workshops and feedback sessions with all farmer participants and relevant grower groups sharing experiences growing fonio, management strategies, and explanation of practices that work or can be improved
  • Expanded outreach efforts through MSU Extension and grower groups
  • Engagement at two conferences for both farmers and researchers
  • Surveys to assess farmer and local restaurant interest in fonio as a grain
  • On-going testing of planting methods
  • Publication of 2 journal articles

The research project is designed to be on-farm with growers developing a management plan together with the researchers. This is an opportunity for farmers and researchers to learn together about the potential of fonio and develop methods for growing it in the region. Our intentions are to support in the planting, sampling, and harvesting (as needed) of the crop. Farmers will prepare the land, manage the crop within their system plan, harvest/tend the crop as intended, and engage with our research team to develop their management plan, including visual monitoring guidelines and interactive engagement into the progress and challenges associated with growing the crop. 

Learning outcome 1: Determine optimal planting dates, grain and biomass yield, winter-kill, and forage quality of a new warm season climate-resilient grass 

In year 1 (2023), we will plant fonio on farms to assess growth under a variety of environments and systems. The identified planting systems are a forage crop after wheat, a cover crop late summer, grain production, and as a cover crop in an organically managed no-till system. There will be planting date trials at Fat Blossom Farm (FBF) and 3 additional farmers will grow and test fonio in the other planting systems indicated above. Data on grain yield, biomass yield, and forage quality will be collected from all farms. Building on information collected in prior years of planting fonio at FBF in West Michigan, we will test dates at FBF. Current data indicates that early June planting is optimal for full grain fill whereas an early July planting resulted in poor grain fill. Grain yield will be evaluated under two planting times, between Memorial day and June 21. In the wheat grazing system and for a cover crop, planting dates will be based on the variability in environments across Michigan and the timing of wheat harvest: a) mid-July for southern regions of Michigan and b) the first week of August for northern Michigan. The preparation for the no-till system will start in 2022 (before this grant) and be the first test of a late season planting date. 

Farmer partnerships We have commitment from three farmers (Jacob Quincy, Brent Wagner, and Siriman Sidibe) and several farms and grower groups have indicated interest, including an urban farm in Detroit for grain and a biodynamic farm in West Michigan. We have communicated with several small scale grain producers and millers that can support processing and equipment recommendations. 

Planning Management plans will be developed individually with each grower dependent on their growing system and goals in terms of planting this crop. This management plan will be used in each phase and year of the trials. The lead PI and advisors will work with the growers to develop a plan that considers land preparation methods, grazing activities, harvest, equipment, harvesting tools and conditioning, and signals general dates for observational or physical data collection (conducted by research technicians). Management plans will lay out the division of labor between farmers and researchers and help support open communication and learning with the whole team. 

Measurements Each farming system requires distinct management, measurements, controls, and harvest techniques. Throughout the season, based on the management plan, we will monitor the fonio crops and collect data on growth, flowering dates, biomass, grain fill, and yield. For all trials, we will collect 8-inch soil cores before planting and after harvest or winter-kill for comparative purposes in different soil types and to assess nutrient quality. For the grain trials, we will collect yield data at harvest time and test various forms of harvesting and processing together with the growers. Forage quality will be assessed twice during the growing season using randomly placed quadrants from which all above-ground biomass will be clipped, weighed for fresh weight, dried, weighed for dry weight, and analyzed for forage quality using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy. For post wheat harvest, biomass yield at early and late planting will be collected and soil quality will be compared with conventional wheat and another cover crop. The forage growers will want to actively graze the fonio plots, thus we will have a test plot for biomass separate from the grazed trials. The no-till system for organic producers will be compared with more traditional cover, decided by the farmer.

Weediness Factors of concern for fonio production are the invasiveness as a weed, winter kill, and if seed drops, whether it will grow in late spring. We observed over two years that fonio plants died with the first hard frost and did not recover. The winter after the first year fonio was planted at FBF, we observed no new fonio plants emerging in that seed bed. To test if seeds survive the winter, we will conduct lab tests on over-wintering potential of fonio seed and plant test plots at FBF to test this in real conditions. Lab tests will assess germination and viability of fonio seeds before and after simulating over-winter temperatures for 90 days. On-farm test plots will examine a) seedling emergence on plots planted with fonio in which viable seed was allowed to fall, and b) seedling emergence on plots purposely planted with viable seed in the fall. 

Learning outcome 2: Key planting, harvesting, and cleaning methods developed and tested by farmers and others within their systems

Fonio has not previously been grown in Michigan, nor to our knowledge in the United States. Thus, equipment options for planting and harvesting in various types of systems are unknown. While fonio is produced almost entirely with manual labor or oxen in West Africa and the grain is mostly processed through hand winnowing, there is some existing processing equipment for removing sand, chaf, and other weed seeds. We propose to test different types of methods for planting, harvesting, and cleaning the grain. In 2021, team members Olson and Paling successfully planted fonio at MSU Agronomy Farm with a Carter seeder. FBF broadcast fonio by hand. A hand-crank broadcast seeder would also work, but other equipment and tools for planting need to be identified that are more suitable to growers in this region. This learning outcome will build on the innovative knowledge of growers to identify ways to plant fonio in their systems, potentially with modifications to existing equipment. 

In terms of harvesting for grain, fonio is very labor intensive, and the project team has only experimented with hand harvesting, which is not a viable option for U.S. systems. The farms that choose to grow fonio as a grain will provide a learning opportunity for experimenting with different methods for harvesting the crop. Harvest for hay has more ready options that may be experimented with based on farmer interests.

Finally, we will evaluate different methods for conditioning (cleaning) fonio for seed or as a grain. The seed at FBF was cleaned of other weed seeds, but it has not been processed for cooking. Processing fonio for cooking is the most arduous task for women in West Africa, as they pound the hard seed by hand to remove the seed coat. Other forms of milling fonio need to be explored for it to be a viable grain crop. Potential resources for considering how to process grain will be explored by drawing on the collective knowledge of small grain farmers and millers in the region. 

Learning outcome 3: Identification of constraints and opportunities for utilization of fonio as a cover crop, forage, and food grain

The two phase structure of this proposal is designed to generate foundational information about the uses of fonio in Michigan farming systems. In the first year, a core set of growers will produce fonio on their farm and the intent is to have feedback sessions to collect information on issues, concerns, and innovations related to producing fonio. This information will be shared in the management plan and through conversations with the growers. A feedback session will be conducted with the whole team to discuss strategies for the following phase. Phase II will start with a workshop between first year growers and new growers in order to share information, provide advice on management plans, develop additional evaluation criterias, and generate innovative ideas for equipment, harvesting, and processing. These workshops are also an opportunity to create relationships where growers from diverse systems can share ideas and seek advice. 

The information collected after two years of data will be used to generate shareable information about fonio production through MSU Extension. We will conduct several surveys for different groups. The first will be a baseline and endline survey to gauge awareness about and interest in growing fonio. The second will be with participating farmers to understand their underlying motivation for testing a new crop, learn about challenges, potential, and likelihood of adoption. The third will be with restaurants, vendors, and customers at farmers markets to evaluate fonio as a product. The purpose of the surveys is to understand more broadly farmers interests and reasons for growing or marketing an unknown crop.