Comment to Protect Your Access to Atrazine
The Summer 2022 Issue of Sorghum Grower magazine is hitting mailboxes across the country. On that magazine, you will find a wrap with a postcard included. We encourage you to fill out that card and drop it back in the mailbox to us. 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 and join us in stopping EPA from limiting your access to atrazine. Join us in the fight.
POLICY, REGULATORY AND ISSUE UPDATES
NASA Visits Kansas Sorghum Country
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, hosted by Senator Jerry Moran, toured Kansas agriculture last week, visiting with Kansas Sorghum Executive Director Jesse McCurry and his family along with several farmers and ranchers in south central Kansas. They discussed the droughts across the state and how they impact the farming community and the use of NASA satellites to better understand weather patterns, plant crops and utilize fields and land for farmers and ranchers. You can read more about the tour here.
Major Railroads to Meet on Grain Shipping Plans
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) convened a meeting in Kansas City yesterday with the four major railroads—Union Pacific Railroad (UP), Norfolk Southern Railway (NSR), CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSX) and BNSF Railway Company (BNSF)—to address their plans to move this year's harvest to market. Class I railroads have come under scrutiny recently, particularly from agricultural shippers, for inconsistent and unreliable services. The issues, amplified by the pandemic, include staff shortages, steep increases in prices for cars, delayed loading and unloading, and one-sided financial penalties. We wrote about it in the Summer issue of Sorghum Grower. Read more.
ORGANIZATION UPDATES
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.
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.
21st Century Global Sorghum Conference Set for June 2023
The 2023 Sorghum in the 21st Century Global Sorghum Conference has been set for June 5-9, 2023 at the Corum Event Center in Montpellier, France. This year's theme is Resiliency and Sustainability in the Face of Climate Change. More information will become available at 21centurysorghum.com.
ADT Expands Membership Opportunities
Transparency is at the heart of Ag Data Transparent (ADT), established in 2016. The not-for-profit organization focuses on providing information and services to assist farmers with understanding and evaluating contracts associated with collection, storage, transfer, and use of agricultural data. The need for this type of transparency continues to grow, and the organization has announced an expansion of its membership categories. Agricultural organizations who do not directly collect farm data - yet want to advocate for data transparency within their organization and in the agricultural industry - are now invited to join as a supporting member. Learn more about ADT and membership categories.
ICYMI: Sorghum Smart Talk: Policy Edition - New Episode - #015
In this episode, National Sorghum Producers CEO Tim Lust is joined by Triazine Network Co-Chair and Kansas Corn CEO Greg Krissek to discuss the EPA's recent proposal on atrazine and what growers can do to engage in the fight to keep this important tool.
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 August 21, seventy-nine percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage had reached the headed stage, 10 percentage points behind last year and 7 points behind the 5-year average. Thirty-seven percent of the sorghum acreage was at or beyond the coloring stage by August 21, five percentage points behind both last year and the average. By August 21, twenty percent of the nation’s sorghum was mature, equal to last year but 2 percentage points behind the average. Twenty-five percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage was rated in good to excellent condition on August 21, two percentage points below the previous week and 37 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:
Flavonoids from sorghum plants kill fall armyworm pest on corn; may protect crop - Morning Ag Clips
Upcoming Events
September 5 Labor Day-Office Closed
September 7 TAMU Bushland Silage Sorghum Field Day, Bushland, TX
September 8 Biennial Agricultural Field Day, CSU's Arkansas Valley Research Center in Rocky Ford
September 13 CSU Sorghum Field Day, Akron USDA-ARS Station - Akron, Colorado
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
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.