SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
National Sorghum Foundation Scholarships Due on JUNE 1!
Applications for three National Sorghum Foundation scholarships are due June 1. Each scholarship includes an award of $1,500 to be applied to one semester of tuition expenses and the Kubecka Memorial Scholarship includes an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. More information about each scholarship’s criteria and application forms can be found online at SorghumGrowers.com/foundation-scholarships.
POLICY, REGULATORY AND ISSUE UPDATES
USDA Announces Phase I of Disaster Aid for Crops
This week, USDA unveiled its long-awaited, new iteration of WHIP Plus for crops, the Emergency Relief Program (ERP). Phase 1 of ERP will provide disaster assistance to row crop and specialty crop producers who received a crop insurance indemnity payment in 2020 or 2021. Eligible crops include all crops for which Federal Crop Insurance or NAP coverage was available, except for crops intended for grazing (for which a separate program was created, phase I of which was announced earlier). Qualifying natural disasters include wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex), smoke exposure, excessive moisture, qualifying drought, and related conditions. Qualifying drought includes counties that experienced D2 drought for 8 consecutive weeks or D3 drought for any period of time. Producers will receive a pre-filled application for Phase 1 ERP and will need to return the completed form signed to their local FSA office.
ERP payments are being calculated similarly to WHIP+ with an ERP factor based on a producer's crop insurance coverage level. The payments will be calculated consistent with the loss procedures for the type of coverage purchased but using the ERP factor in place of the coverage level. ERP payments will be paid on 75 percent of eligible losses at least until USDA is confident that it has enough funding to cover more. NAP payments will be paid at 100 percent. Historically underserved producers, including beginning, limited resource, socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers will receive an additional 15 percent of the calculated ERP payment. One important note in ERP is that the producer-paid premium and fees will be subtracted from the indemnity received under crop insurance, meaning such premiums and fees will not reduce the disaster payment. Payment limits will be $900,000 for each program year for specialty crops and $250,000 for each program year for all other crops as long as 75 percent of AGI is derived from farming, ranching, or forestry related activities. If at least 75 percent of AGI is not derived from farming, ranching or forestry related activities the payment limit will be $125,000 for each program year for specialty crops and $125,000 for each program year for all other crops. If a producer receives an ERP payment, there is a requirement to buy crop insurance for the following two years at 60 percent or higher. Phase 2 of ERP will be announced at a later date and cover producers that were not covered under Phase 1. Find the ERP fact sheet here, the ERP press release here and the ERP website here.
AFPC Releases Study on Impact of Higher Input Prices
The Agricultural & Food Policy Center (AFPC) at Texas A&M University released a new study this week on the economic impact of higher input costs on representative farms. The study estimated the increase of input costs across the country based on producer surveys of the actual increase that producers are paying for inputs. The increases are: 16.58 percent for seed, 133.62 percent for nitrogen fertilizer, 92.75 percent for phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, 64.23 percent for herbicide, 40.25 percent for insecticide, 36.02 percent for fungicide and 86.63 percent for fuel and lube. AFPC used the price projections to estimate the change in net cash farm income (NCFI). Feed grain and oilseed farms see an estimated average decrease in NCFI of $176.64 per acre from 2021 to 2022. Wheat farms see a loss of $83.48 per acre and cotton farms a loss of $175.01. All grain and oilseed, wheat, and cotton farms are predicted to still have positive NCFI for 2022 due to higher prices. Find the full study here.
EPA’s Regan Says Agency Funding Request Shows EPA Serious About Environmental Impact of Pesticides… But, What About Impact on Food Supplies Amidst Expected Shortages?
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan says the agency is putting a priority on re-evaluating pesticides for their environmental impact under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Regan told senators Wednesday that the White House requested 10 full-time staff and $4.3 million in fiscal 2023 to carry out the ESA reviews. Meanwhile, the ratcheting down on crop protection products is occurring at a time when policymakers are deeply concerned about global food shortages. Read more here.
Solicitor General Says Federal Pesticide Law Does Not Preempt State Roundup Claims, Argument Poses Serious Threat to Federal Law in Favor of an Unworkable 50-State Patchwork
The nation’s pesticide law does not preempt state-law claims such as those that have resulted in multimillion-dollar judgments against Monsanto for Roundup exposure, Biden Administration Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar said in a brief urging the Supreme Court not to grant the company's request to reconsider a lower court ruling. Read more here.
Growth Energy, EPA Reach Deal On 2023 Biofuel Target Timeline
A consent decree worked out between the Environmental Protection Agency and biofuel trade association Growth Energy would require EPA to propose the Renewable Volume Obligations for 2023 no later than September 16 and then finalize those targets by April 28, 2023. Growth Energy filed suit against EPA in April, asking a court to impose a schedule on the agency for setting the RVOs. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor called the new timeline a “significant victory in our mission to ensure certainty when it comes to biofuel blending, especially as we face a new era of the RFS.” Read more here.
Study Backs USDA Foreign Marketing Programs
A U.S. Grains Council-funded study says the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development program helped increase agriculture exports by an average of $9.6 billion every year from 1977 to 2019. That represents an annual 13.7 percent boost to ag export revenues and translates into a return of $24.50 for every dollar invested in the programs, the study says. Read more here.
CFTC Seeking Advice on Carbon Market Regulation
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is looking for input as it defines its role in the carbon offsets market. Speaking on Wednesday, CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam said the commission will be releasing a set of questions on which the agency wants feedback. The commission also has a roundtable scheduled for June 2. Read more here.
ORGANIZATION UPDATES
Mental Health and Agriculture
Agriculture is known for having numerous occupational hazards - including mental and emotional hazards associated with working in the industry. The volatile farm economy, long days at work, social isolation and natural disasters can add stress beyond what is expected or tolerated in other industries. May is mental health awareness month and presents an opportunity to foster open dialogue about stress and mental wellbeing which can help reduce stigma in the community, which is often cited as a barrier to seeking care for a mental health challenge. More information and resources to support mental wellness in agriculture can be found at SouthernAgToday.org.
Sorghum Checkoff Continues the Cultivation of Sorghum Leaders
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.
Trade Teams Participate in U.S. Sorghum Tour
The Sorghum Checkoff had the honor of hosting trade teams from Spain, Portugal and Turkey this past week. In response to the ongoing shortages of non-GMO grains, these trade teams are looking for opportunistic purchases of U.S. sorghum. During the visit, teams were able to tour the Quality Beef feedlot, Amarillo Grain Exchange, Hansen Mueller export facility and Anderson export facility, as well as meet with Richardson Seeds, Attebury Grain and Texas Grain Sorghum Producers.
ICYMI! Sorghum Smart Talk: Policy Edition
Tune in now for the newest episode of Sorghum Smart Talk: Policy Edition! This month's episode features National Sorghum Producers CEO Tim Lust and Kansas Big First Representative Tracey Mann in the first episode of our “Meet Your Sorghum Belt Representatives” series. Mann discusses how he went from the farm to the halls of Congress, what he does to represent sorghum producers and all of agriculture on the Hill and his projections for the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill. Listen now on your favorite listening platform or SorghumGrowers.com/podcast.
USDA Seeks Nominees for the United Sorghum Checkoff Program Board
The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking nominees for the United Sorghum Checkoff Program Board to succeed four members whose terms expire in December. Nominees are needed to succeed members that include two to represent Kansas, one to represent Oklahoma and one to represent Texas. The deadline for nominations is June 3. Sorghum producers within the United States who own or share in the ownership and risk of loss of sorghum production are eligible for nomination. A sorghum producer must be nominated by a certified producer organization and submit a completed application. The Secretary of Agriculture will select individuals from the nominations submitted. A list of certified producer organizations, the nomination form and information about the Sorghum Board are available on the AMS United Sorghum Checkoff Program webpage and on the board’s website, www.sorghumcheckoff.com. For more information, contact Barbara Josselyn at 202-713-6918 or Barbara.Josselyn@usda.gov.
CROP UPDATES
Sorghum Crop Progress Report
Twenty-six percent of the nation’s sorghum was planted by May 15, equal to the previous year but 4 percentage points behind the 5-year average. Texas had planted 73 percent of its sorghum acreage by May 15, one percentage point ahead of the previous year but 5 points behind average.
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:
Breeding Transforms Sorghum’s Potential As Biofuel Of The Future For Northern Latitudes - Seed Today
Interested in Learning more about Trade? Join us for Trade School! - Oklahoma Farm Report
New CSHL Website Brings Together Sorghum Researchers - Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Upcoming Events
May 22-24 Alltech ONE Conference - Lexington, KY
May 26 2022 UF/IFAS & UGA- Tifton: Corn & Silage Field Day - Citra, FL
May 30 Memorial Day - NSP & USCP Offices Closed
June 13 Culinary Institute of America Healthy Menus R&D Collaborative - Hyde Park, NY
Market News - 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.