Diverse, underutilized native legume ecotypic seed for climate-smart grasslands in the southeastern USA

Commodities

Practices

The need and demand for locally adapted ecotypic native rangeland, forest understory, cultivated pasture, restoration and ornamental forb (including legumes) and grass seeds for grasslands in the southeastern USA is strong and growing. These are the best candidates for climate-smart grasslands in the southeastern USA. Species and ecotypic accessions have been and continue to be identified by private entities, state and federal researchers. For example, in northcentral Texas and southcentral Oklahoma, the Cross Timbers Ecoregion has nearly 50 native legumes of which 8 to 10 have great potential in this market. If we include other forbs and grasses, early colonizers and perennials, and potential candidates for ecotypic seed mixtures, this adds up to scores of ecotypic native seed for grassland mixtures for each ecoregion throughout the southeastern USA. Multiply that by the estimated 50+ Type III ecoregions in the southeastern USA, and we have potential profitable and sustainable enterprises for thousands of land managers across these states and territories. Regional, family-owned seed companies willing to compile and market local ecotypic seed mixtures also exist. However, because of the small-scale nature of the amounts produced and the specialized, labor-intensive techniques, they are unable to grow their own seeds. We propose solving this impasse by 1. identifying potential species/accessions by ecoregion for selected portions of the SSARE region; 2. resolving agronomic and farming bottlenecks to producing seeds, starting with key species; and, finally, 3. bringing together farmers, seed companies and end-users (market) to catalyze this promising opportunity for sustainable agricultural market in the southeastern USA. Our goal is to pioneer this concept in three test regions: northcentral Texas/southern Oklahoma; northern Louisiana/east Texas; northern Alabama and Mississippi. We will then promulgate it to all southeastern US regions where native grasslands exist.

This collaborative and participatory project will involve farmers, regional family-owned seed companies, and researchers within multiple SSARE states working together to accomplish the following objectives:

1. Identify diverse, appropriate grassland and forest understory germplasm that meets regional ecotypic native germplasm currently lacking in commercial seed markets.
2. Identify and resolve bottlenecks of agronomic techniques for growing, testing, cleaning, preserving and marketing seed from these widely varied and never-before cultivated species.
3. Outreach: Provide area farmers and seed companies with the best management practices we work out in Objective 2. We can also initiate communication among possible participants that begin to build profitable and sustainable partnerships/networks among farmers, agencies, NGOs, researchers, extension, seed companies and end-users that create long-term availability of regionally appropriate native ecotypic grassland seed mixtures. Promulgate our knowledge beyond the species and regions in our project-via newsletters, articles in local magazines, social media, and a website.