Policy, Regulatory and Issue Updates
Congress Expected to Recess Until Mid-November<br>
Beginning Oct. 1, the House of Representatives will be out for six weeks, and the Senate followed suit in order for members to campaign in advance of November mid-term elections.
Labor Department Issues New H-2A Regulations
The Labor Department on Thursday issued new regulations for H-2A workers, tightening housing and food standards. It also stated farm associations can be held liable for violations by individual farmers. The regulations also maintain H-2A workers are still limited to seasonal work and the department does not have the legal authority to allow workers year-round labor employment in the country. The new rules will go into effect Nov. 14.
Comment Today to Protect Your Access to Atrazine
Today is the deadline to comment on the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed revisions to the interim registration review decision regarding atrazine. For more than 50 years, U.S. farmers have safely used atrazine on about 75 percent of sorghum acreage. It is vital to the farm economy and included in more than 90 herbicides across the U.S. National Sorghum Producers submitted comments today and encourages all of our producer and partner members to do the same. You can comment directly here and customize your message if you wish. Every voice matters!
Don't Count Yourself Out!
You may not believe your sorghum crop will be competitive in the National Sorghum Producers Yield Contest, but in a drought year, you might be a national winner contestant! It's anybody's contest, and, don't forget, winners have the opportunity to be recognized at the 2023 Commodity Classic in Orlando, Florida. The Sorghum Yield Contest provides sorghum farmers with the opportunity to showcase their sorghum crop, competing with farmers across the Sorghum Belt. Don't count yourself out! Enter today at SorghumGrowers.com/yieldcontest.
National Sorghum Producers Announces Alta Seeds And UPL Sponsorship of 2023 Sorghum PAC Series and Member Newsletter
National Sorghum Producers announced this week Alta Seeds and UPL NA Inc. (UPL) will co-sponsor the 2023 Sorghum PAC Series and NSP’s member-exclusive, weekly e-newsletter Sorghum Notes. The 2023 Sorghum PAC Series, co-sponsored by Alta Seeds and UPL, will kick off with the annual Sorghum PAC Casino Night & Auction at the conclusion of the 2023 Sorghum Yield Contest Gala to be held March 10 in conjunction with Commodity Classic in Orlando, Florida. This event will be followed by the annual online auction hosted by BigIron Auctions and the Third Annual Sorghum PAC Golf Tournament, scheduled April 29, 2023. More information and updates about the 2023 Sorghum PAC Series can be found at SorghumGrowers.com/sorghum-pac.
This is the first edition of Sorghum Notes with Alta and UPL as our new co-sponsors. Thank you for your support of NSP! Read the full release on our website.
Organization and Industry Updates<br><br>National Sorghum Foundation, BASF Open Joint Scholarship Application
The National Sorghum Foundation (NSF) and BASF are now accepting applications for a joint scholarship that will be awarded January 2023, providing $2,500 for tuition for the 2022-2023 academic year. Scholarship applicants must be the child or grandchild of a National Sorghum Producers member and be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in an agriculturally-related curriculum. Applications must be postmarked by December 1, 2022. More information about scholarship criteria and application forms can be found online at SorghumGrowers.com/foundation-scholarships/.
Harvest Kicks Up Across the Sorghum Belt
Ninety-six percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage was at or beyond the coloring stage by October 2, three percentage points behind last year and 1 percentage point behind the 5-year average. Coloring was at or near completion in all 6 estimating states. By October 2, sixty-nine percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage was mature, 8 percentage points behind last year but 2 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Thirty-four percent of 2022 sorghum acreage had been harvested by October 2, three percentage points behind last year and 1 percentage point behind the 5-year average. Ninety-one percent of Texas’ sorghum acreage was harvested by October 2, eight percentage points ahead of last year and 10 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Twenty percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage was rated in good to excellent condition on October 2, two percentage points below the previous week and 36 percentage points below the same time last year.
We're Hiring! Applications Open for NSP Communications and Member Services Manager
Are you looking for a rewarding career in communications and member relations? National Sorghum Producers is searching for a dynamic leader who will provide a broad range of public relations, marketing communications and member engagement support to the organization. More information is available at SorghumGrowers.com/careers.
Sorghum Checkoff Releases Weekly <br>Sorghum Basis Snapshot
The Sorghum Checkoff, with Southwest Agribusiness Consulting, released its weekly sorghum basis snapshot, available at SorghumCheckoff.com.
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. Learn more at www.SorghumGrowers.com.