Millet << MIHL iht >> is any one of a group of grasses that produce small, edible seeds. The seeds are an important source of food in the dry regions of Asia and Africa. People grind the seeds into flour for flat breads and thin, fried cakes, or they use the seeds in making porridges. In the United States, millet seeds, leaves, and stems serve as feed for livestock.
During ancient and medieval times, millet was the chief crop of Europe and parts of Asia and Africa. However, it was unsuited for making yeast-raised breads and eventually lost popularity to wheat and other grains. Today, India, China, and Nigeria lead the world in producing millet.
There are about 10 species of millet. Most varieties grow 1 to 4 feet (0.3 to 1.2 meters) tall. The seeds develop in a cluster called a seed head at the top of the stem. Millet matures rapidly and is sometimes planted as an emergency crop after a previous crop has failed. Many varieties can grow in hotter, drier weather and in less fertile soils than most other grains can. The chief species of millet include (1) pearl millet, (2) foxtail millet, and (3) proso millet.
Pearl millet serves as a major food for many people in India and Africa. Farmers in the southeastern United States grow pearl millet mainly for grazing livestock. More pearl millet is produced in the United States than any other variety. Pearl millet grows up to 15 feet (4.6 meters) tall. Its seed head looks like a long, narrow spike. Pearl millet is also called cattail millet or candle millet.
Foxtail millet, also called Italian millet or hay millet, is grown as a food crop in China, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine. In the United States, farmers in the Great Plains cultivate foxtail millet primarily for hay but also for grain and birdseed. It ranks second to pearl millet in order of production. Foxtail millet normally is 21/2 to 5 feet (0.8 to 1.5 meters) tall.
Proso millet, also called hog millet or Hershey millet, forms a major part of the diets of many Asians. The hulled seeds are eaten as cooked cereal, and the flour from the seeds is often substituted for rice flour. In the United States, proso is used for livestock feed and for birdseed. Its food value for livestock is almost as great as that of corn. However, proso seeds are extremely hard and must be finely ground before being fed to livestock. Proso usually grows from 1 to 2 feet (0.3 to 0.6 meter) tall. It has coarse, hairy stems that make poor hay.
