Enter the 2021 Sorghum Yield Contest for a Chance to be Recognized at Commodity Classic!
It's harvest time, which means it's also time to enter the National Sorghum Producers Yield Contest. The contest offers farmers the opportunity to showcase their sorghum crop, competing with farmers across the Sorghum Belt, and winners will be recognized at the 2022 Commodity Classic in New Orleans! Don't wait - you must enter 10 days prior to harvest! For more information or to enter the contest, visit SorghumGrowers.com/yield-contest.
POLICY AND REGULATORY UPDATES
Funding on the Line in Reconciliation Cuts
All items are on the chopping block as Democratic leaders struggle to reduce the size of the reconciliation spending package down to a level digestible by moderate Democrats—about $2 trillion in cuts. The question now is what does this mean for the more than $90 billion in agriculture spending in the package. While there are concerns spending cuts will be made to all items in the package, it is more likely Democrats will discard other provisions to preserve there top priorities, such as climate change mitigation. According to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-NY), Democratic leadership plans to start with the latter approach, which bodes well for agricultural funding as most of it is centered around addressing climate change. Democratic members of the House Agriculture Committee sent a letter to the President and House and Senate Democratic leaders last week urging them to preserve agriculture funding as they restructure the reconciliation package. Read more from Agri-Pulse.
Agriculture Feels Effect of Supply Chain Disruptions
It is no secret delays and congestion in the global supply chain have hit agriculture hard. From low to non-existent inventory of critical machinery parts and chemicals, to outrageous prices for products that can be found, farmers and ranchers are facing serious issues at a harvest when time is of the essence. To address these supply chain disruptions, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced a Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force will be addressing problems from congested U.S. ports to the shortage of truck drivers. Underscoring agriculture's impact from these disruptions, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has been named the co-chair of the task force. Additionally, President Biden announced on Wednesday the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will be moving toward 24/7 operations as the holiday season approaches. USDA announced on Sept. 29 it planned to dedicate $500 million to address “increased transportation challenges, availability and cost of certain materials, and other near-term obstacles related to the marketing and distribution of certain commodities.” Read more here and here. Supply chain disruptions and their rippling impacts in farm country continue to be a major talking point for National Sorghum Producers in meetings with congressional members and agency officals.
EPA Approves RFS Fuel Pathway for Kansas Ethanol Plant
The Environmental Protection Agency recently approved a fuel pathway petition submitted under the Renewable Fuel Standard on behalf of Kansas Ethanol LLC, an 80 MMgy fuel ethanol plant located in Lyons, Kansas. The pathway allows the facility to generate D5 advanced biofuel renewable identification numbers (RINs) for grain sorghum ethanol. The new pathway petition was submitted to the EPA through the Efficient Producer Petition Process. Ethanol plants that have approved efficient producer pathways are able to generate RINs for production volumes above those grandfathered under current RFS regulations. Read more here.
New Proposed WOTUS Definition Under Review at OMB
The Environmental Protection Agency sent forward its proposed rule outlining a revised definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) under review at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). In June, EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said they would remove the Navigable Waters Protection Rule put in place by the Trump Administration and put in place the pre-2015 definition. EPA and the Corps held a series of listening sessions in August and early September on the matter and said they will also hold 10 regionally-focused and inclusive roundtables during the upcoming fall and winter. National Sorghum Producers submitted comments to the EPA and Corps in early September with recommendations as they considered the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule and implementation.
CROP UPDATES
Export Report
Sorghum deliveries were strong last week with China and Mexico taking a total of 2.5 million bushels and the majority going to Mexico. Just over one month into the new marketing year, total purchases are at 92.8 million bushels, or 29 percent what was estimated in the most recent USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE).
Sorghum Crop Progress Report
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Weekly Crop Progress Report said by October 10, eighty-eight percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage was mature, equal to last year but 9 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Forty-nine percent of the 2021 sorghum acreage had been harvested by October 10, two percentage points ahead of last year and 7 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Eighty-eight percent of Texas’ sorghum acreage was harvested by October 10, two percentage points behind last year but 8 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Fifty-five percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage was rated in good to excellent condition on October 10, one percentage point below the previous week but 5 percentage points above the same time last year.
ORGANIZATION UPDATES
Hey farmers, do you call it milo or sorghum? We want to know.
Is it sorghum or milo? Bushels or pounds? There are different nuances across the Sorghum Belt region, and we want to know what you say! Fill out this survey and let us know your fun sorghum facts. Survey results will be published in the Fall 2021 issue of Sorghum Grower magazine.
Sorghum Foundation, BASF Joint Scholarship Application Open
The National Sorghum Foundation and BASF recently announced a joint scholarship program for the 2021-2022 school year. The scholarships will include a $2,500 award for tuition. 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. Undergraduate applicants must be entering at least their second year of study during the 2021-2022 school year. Applications are due Dec. 1 and can be found at SorghumGrowers.com/foundation-scholarships.
2022 Commodity Classic Exhibit Space Still Available, Registration Opens Mid-November
Industry partners interested in exhibiting at Commodity Classic, booth space is still available but limited. Registration and housing for the 2022 Commodity Classic will open in mid-November 2021. Attendees can sign up now to receive email updates at CommodityClassic.com. Established in 1996, Commodity Classic is presented annually by the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers, and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.
ICYMI! Sorghum Smart Talk
Dive in with Dr. Brent Bean as he drives us into sorghum & new seed technology with special guest, Scott Staggenborg from S&W Seed Company! In this episode, they discuss research updates, breeding, current trends, and more. Listen to the full episode here.
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:
History in the making with ’21 sorghum crop value - Kansas Farmer
Multi-purpose sorghum plays tasty role in sweet, spicy dishes - Arkansas Gazette
5 Reasons You Should Be Eating Sorghum. First: It’s Packed With Protein - The Beet
Upcoming Events
Oct. 19-21 Sunbelt Ag Expo - Moultrie, GA
Nov. 10 Sorghum Frontiers Virtual Field Day - Virtual
Nov. 17-18 Sustainable Agriculture Summit - Las Vegas, NV
Nov. 18 NAFB Trade Talk - Kansas City, MO
Nov. 25-26 Thanksgiving - Office Closed
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.