AgEmerge Podcast 186 with Dr Lisa Kissing Kucek

In this episode of the Ag Emerge Podcast, host Monty Bottins interviews Dr. Lisa Kissing-Kusick, a cover crop breeder with the USDA's Agricultural Research Service, about her groundbreaking work in developing improved varieties of hairy vetch and cereal rye. Dr. Kissing-Kusick explains how she’s using modern plant breeding techniques to domesticate wild legumes like hairy vetch—addressing issues like seed shattering, hard seed dormancy, and toxicity—to create high-performing, low-cost cover crops that can fix nitrogen and suppress weeds. She highlights the critical role of genetic selection in improving winter survival, biomass production, and seed yield, especially in harsh climates like the northern Midwest. The conversation also dives into cereal rye’s dual role as a biological herbicide (via allelopathy) and a forage crop, with breeding efforts focused on divergent traits depending on whether the rye is used before soybeans or corn. The episode underscores the long-term nature of plant breeding—up to 10 years to bring a new variety to market—and emphasizes the importance of public-sector research in advancing sustainable agriculture. Dr. Kissing-Kusick’s work is part of the Cover Crop Breeding Network (CCB), with new varieties like CCB Nitrous and CCB Purple Rain set to launch in the coming years. Key takeaways include: 1) Hairy vetch is a high-potential nitrogen-fixing cover crop with superior winter survival and biomass, but requires breeding to overcome wild traits like seed shattering and dormancy; 2) Cereal rye’s allelopathic properties are valuable for weed suppression, especially before soybeans, but its impact on corn is likely minimal compared to nitrogen immobilization and disease pressure; 3) Breeding for cover crops is a long-term, multi-year effort that requires collaboration across USDA, universities, and growers; 4) Genetic diversity within seed bags allows species like rye and vetch to adapt to local conditions over time, a phenomenon known as 'landrace evolution'; 5) Tools like the Cover Crop Council’s biomass-to-nitrogen estimator help farmers quantify nitrogen contributions and plan fertilizer use. The episode ends on an optimistic note, highlighting the transformative potential of public-funded breeding to make cover crops more effective, affordable, and accessible.