We're Less Than 30 Days Out from Deadline! Comment to Protect Your Access to Atrazine
The use of atrazine is at stake, a product included in more than 90 herbicide products across the U.S. and one that is utilized on 75 percent of U.S. sorghum acres. You don't have time to wait. Please take two minutes to fill out the comment form online and join us in stopping EPA from limiting your access to atrazine. Join us in the fight.
Time is Running Out! Apply Now for Leadership Sorghum
The United Sorghum Checkoff Program is accepting applications for Leadership Sorghum Class VI, a program designed to cultivate the next generation of sorghum leaders. During the 14-month leadership program, class members will have the opportunity to experience various aspects of the sorghum industry in addition to personal development and networking opportunities. Applications are available here and are due by 5:00 pm CST on September 23. To learn more about Leadership Sorghum, visit SorghumGrowers.com.
Enter the Sorghum Yield Contest Today
The National Sorghum Producers Yield Contest entry deadline is approaching. Through the contest, sorghum farmers have the opportunity to showcase their sorghum crop and compete with growers across the U.S. Winners have the opportunity to be recognized at the 2023 Commodity Classic in Orlando, Florida. The deadline to enter is Oct. 15. Learn more at SorghumGrowers.com/yieldcontest.
Sorghum Grower Spotlight: Sustainability Metrics Provide An Opportunity For Sorghum Growth In Food Products
Sustainability field-level data collection is leading to the increased introduction of sorghum in food products and marketability. Learn how one company is using the natural, sustainable advantages of sorghum to market data that sells. Read more from the Summer issue of Sorghum Grower magazine online.
POLICY, REGULATORY AND ISSUE UPDATES
Congressional Leaders Working on Stopgap Funding Bill
With fiscal year 2022 appropriations funding set to expire after September 30, lawmakers are crafting a stopgap funding bill, known as a Continuing Resolution (CR), to keep government running until Dec. 16 after which Congress will either complete an omnibus appropriations bill or punt the matter into the new year with another short-term CR. The House may vote on the CR as early as next week. Read more here.
WH CR Request Includes $1.5 Billion for Agriculture Disaster Aid, But Lawmakers Eye End of Year Omnibus for Larger Agriculture Package
The Biden Administration made public its emergency funding request to Congress as the latter crafts a CR to fund the government into mid-December. In addition to aid to Ukraine and further COVID relief funding, the request includes $1.5 billion to provide direct payments to farmers and ranchers who have lost crops and livestock. In August, Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA) introduced legislation to generally extend the current Emergency Relief Program to cover calendar year 2022 losses. Extending ERP to 2022 has generally met with a favorable response from policymakers but key lawmakers prefer to address agriculture disaster in the context of an end of the year omnibus appropriations bill rather than in the CR and the general reaction to the Administration’s request is that $1.5 billion is probably insufficient to meet the needs, especially given that $10 billion was provided to cover calendar years 2020 and 2021. Some lawmakers also view an end of the year approach as a potential opportunity to strengthen the farm safety net on a more permanent basis as was accomplished in the appropriations bill preceding the 2018 Farm Bill where the shortcomings in the safety net for cotton and dairy was addressed, making it easier for Congress to pass what would otherwise be a flat-budget Farm Bill. Read more from ProFarmer here.
Farm Groups Want to Be Heard at White House Hunger Conference
Agricultural groups are lobbying for a “seat at the table” at the upcoming White House Hunger and Nutrition Conference, citing the vital role that farmers play in the food supply chain. “Agriculture was a key partner in the 1969 White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health — we again stand ready to work with government and private sector partners to identify and act on steps that can lead to a healthier America in 2030,” a dozen groups, including National Sorghum Producers, said in a letter Thursday to President Joe Biden.
Senate Finance Committee Advances McKalip Nomination as USTR Chief Agriculture Negotiator
The Senate Finance Committee voted on Wednesday to approve the nomination of Mr. Doug McKalip as the Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Following the vote Ambassador Katharine Tai released the following statement, “Given the importance of this position, I urge the United States Senate to confirm Doug as soon as possible so he can get to work on behalf of American agricultural producers, workers, and businesses.” Read Tai’s full statement here.
Rail Unions, Carriers Race Deadline
Several rail unions and carriers will be meeting with the National Mediation Board this week to discuss recommendations issued by a Presidential Emergency Board last month to resolve a contract dispute. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh attended a meeting with both sides Wednesday, as seven of the 12 unions have not reached a tentative agreement based on the recommendations. Rail unions and carriers will have until September 16 to accept or reject the plan from the emergency board. Meanwhile, the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) urged Congress to intervene, if necessary, to prevent any interruptions of rail service that could occur if negotiations fail between rail carriers and labor groups. A train strike could involve 115,000 rail workers and stall as many as 7,000 trains in the midst of harvest. Read more from ProFarmer here.
Biofuels Industry Pushes Back Against False Anti-Ethanol Claims
Following the Thursday publication of a Reuters article claiming “ethanol plants produce more than double the climate-damaging pollution, per gallon of fuel production capacity, than the nation’s oil refineries”, the Renewable Fuels Association responded stating, “To truly understand the climate impacts of transportation fuels, you have to look at the emissions associated with every step in the production process. Narrowly focusing on just one piece of the carbon lifecycle is inappropriate, misleading, and misses the forest for the trees. When all of the energy inputs and emissions related to producing corn ethanol are properly considered from beginning to end, it is clear that the fuel has a lifecycle carbon intensity that is 40-50% lower than gasoline. The science is clear that ethanol offers a significant and immediate carbon savings compared to petroleum.” Read more from ProFarmer here.
House Subcommittee Mulls Need to Regulate Kids Working on the Farm
Farmworker advocates argued that Congress needs to tighten labor standards to protect young farmworkers from accidents and exposure to harmful chemicals during a Wednesday House Education and Labor Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearing. Ms. Kristi Boswell, a witness and adviser to former Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on labor issues, pushed back against calls for increased regulation saying learning how to work on a farm is good for kids. Boswell warned against giving the Labor Department new authority to regulate farms.
ERP Payments Reach $6.59B
Emergency Relief Program (ERP) payments have moved up to $6.59 billion as of September 5, with $5.68 billion in payments to non-specialty crop producers and $904 million to specialty crop farmers that suffered losses in 2020 or 2021. Access USDA’s dashboard here.
USDA Unveils Nutrient Management Initiative
USDA will direct additional funds toward voluntary nutrient management projects on the farm and streamline the process of applying for funding. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said nutrient management would "help farmers address local resource concerns and global food security issues while also improving their bottom line." The Natural Resources Conservation Service also announced a streamlined funding opportunity for up to $40 million in nutrient management grants through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. In addition, USDA announced an outreach campaign focused on the benefits of nutrient management. It said farmers could save an average of $30 per acre through steps such as reducing nitrogen loss and minimizing nutrient runoff. Read the press release here.
ORGANIZATION UPDATES
Fall Sorghum Grower Magazine: Photo Submissions
Get your camera (or even phone camera) ready, we want to see your sorghum field! Submit your field photos here, or tag us in your #FromTheField photos on social media for a chance to be featured in the upcoming Fall edition of the sorghum grower magazine!
Sorghum Crop Update
By September 4, ninety-two percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage had reached the headed stage, 6 percentage points behind last year and 5 points behind the 5-year average. Sixty-two percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage was at or beyond the coloring stage, nine percentage points behind last year and 5 points behind average. By September 4, twenty-eight percent of the sorghum acreage was mature, 3 percentage points behind last year and 1 point behind average. Eighty percent of Texas’ sorghum acreage was mature by September 4, three percentage points ahead of last year and 4 points ahead of average. Twenty percent of the 2022 sorghum acreage had been harvested by September 4, one percentage point ahead of last year but 1 point behind average. Twenty-one percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage was rated in good to excellent condition, unchanged from the previous week but 36 percentage points below the same time last year.
Sorghum Checkoff Releases Weekly Sorghum Basis Snapshot
The Sorghum Checkoff, with Southwest Agribusiness Consulting, released its weekly sorghum basis snapshot, available at SorghumCheckoff.com.
Sorghum in the Spotlight:
Drought in the Lone Star State: An update on sorghum and cotton crops - RFD-TV
Farm groups want to be heard at White House hunger conference - Agri-Pulse
Upcoming Events
September 13 CSU Sorghum Field Day, Akron USDA-ARS Station - Akron, Colorado
September 14 West Texas Agricultural Chemicals Institute Annual Meeting - Lubbock, Texas
September 15 CSU Sorghum Field Day, Plainsman Research Center - Walsh, Colorado
September 20 CSU Sorghum Field Day, Field Site north of Brandon - Sheridan Lake, Colorado
October 8 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE)
October 12 Export Exchange, Minneapolis, MN
October 18 2022 Sunbelt Ag Expo, Moultrie, GA
October 19 KibbleCon, Manhattan, KS
November 16 Sustainable Agriculture Summit Glendale, AZ
November 16-18 NAFB Trade Talk - Kansas City, Missouri
November 24-25 NSP Office Closed
December 6 Texas Crop Protection Conference - College Station, Texas
December 12-13 NSP Board Meeting - Lubbock, Texas
December 14-15 USCP Board Meeting - Lubbock, Texas
Market News (Updated!) - To view this week’s Gulf export grain report, click here.
About Sorghum Notes
Sorghum Notes is a publication of the National Sorghum Producers. NSP represents U.S. sorghum producers and serves as the voice of the sorghum industry from coast to coast through education and legislative and regulatory representation.