Plant Breeding for Tomorrow: Dr Kevin Smith is improving multiple crops for Minnesota’s future

Dr. Kevin Smith is best known for leading the University of Minnesota Barley Breeding program. Kevin has been forced to react to changes in plant diseases, economic challenges from other crops, and evolving demands of the brewing industry, but he has new varieties that will be in your beer soon. In this episode he talks with David and Seth about the opportunities to develop varieties for a changing beer industry in the US. Kevin also leads the breeding efforts for another traditional Minnesota crop, oat. Kevin talks about oat’s unique challenges and the opportunity to compete with Canadian production.  Finally, Dr. Smith is working to domesticate a crop for tomorrow, Silphium. Kevin speaks briefly of the challenges in crop domestication. - Silphium integrifolium is a native perennial plant in the sunflower family.