But maybe there’s a silver lining. We’re seeing changes on the menus of our favorite restaurants as chefs adapt to available ingredients and set prices that can still ensure a profit. But these changes aren’t necessarily bad. In fact, it could mean more restaurants will turn to local, more sustainable ingredients.

Speaking in support of today’s announcement, NFU President Rob Larew said, “America’s family farmers, along with the economy in general, have faced sky-high prices for inputs due to global unrest and a lack of competition in agricultural markets. Lack of competition in the fertilizer market, for example, has resulted in a fragile supply chain prone to interruptions and price gouging. The Biden Administration’s promise to double down on USDA efforts to diversify domestic fertilizer markets is promising and we look forward to providing input on how to do this most effectively.”

Farmers and consumers deserve a fair shake. NSAC believes that taxpayer dollars, if they are to be spent, should be used to uplift resilient production systems and nutritious landscapes. This must include investments in conservation programs and additional incentives for farmers to adopt practices consistent with sustainable, regenerative, agroecological farming. 

Heightened soil health will lead to lower input costs and greater natural yields, which will in turn restore farmer agency. These initiatives would also provide clear returns on investment to the average consumer, as opposed to our current system which produces heavily processed foods that contribute to worsening diet-related illness and rising health care costs. 

Dear Bread readers,

I had a long conversation with fellow writers Andrew Janjigian & Alicia Kennedy about flour options and limits, and I know that brought a lot of you here. Welcome! For my bread pen pals who haven’t seen the talk we had, the transcript is here.

Our talk made me think to share a primer for Fresh Flour.

It’s the middle of May and it's impossible to start off without mention of this wacky weather. As I'm writing, it’s hot and humid and we’re wishing the wild blackcaps were ripe. Instead, the canes are barely leafing out. For small grains farmers like us, this has been an incredibly difficult wet and cold spring. In these challenging moments I am always reminded of the importance of a strong community. This is why I believe AGC is a critical organization for supporting the success of all of us along our regional grain value chain—it fosters a community, built on mutual understanding, knowledge sharing, and authentic relationships.

Grain R&D encompasses the entire process of grain from Seed Selection, Cultivation, and Harvest, to Precision Cleaning, Storage and End-use Collaboration with brewers, distillers, bakers & chefs.

If you live in Colorado and are interested in supporting our local food systems, you should consider joining the Colorado Grain Chain. This is a growing network of dynamic individuals in different areas of our food system, from farmers to makers to consumers. This video was produced by Andrew Calabrese.

Founded in 2011 by plant breeder and geneticist Stephen Jones, the facility is the only one of its kind in the country. The Breadlab works with farmers, millers, bakers and distillers to develop, test and integrate new grains into their regional food systems.

...This involves planting several thousands of varieties in a field, which allows for free interbreeding and evolutionary changes to organically unfold. Researchers study and select how each one responds to different events throughout the growing season.  

Building a Local Grain Movement from the Ground Up with Soil, Seed, and Diversity | $75,000 — This project will advance Colorado's ancient and heritage grain movement by bringing a wider diversity of grains into production, using regenerative practices, and working with a community of regional partners to share best practices through a series of fun educational events.

And with Spring, a new cycle has begun. @aspenmoonfarm has just sowed our ancient Durum and we can't wait to follow Mother Nature's beautiful process during the upcoming months.