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
FSA to Release Additional ERP Phase 1 Applications, Correcting Outstanding Issues
The USDA Farm Service Agency announced yesterday it will begin sending new or updated pre-filled Emergency Relief Program (ERP, previously WHIP+) applications. This covers the outstanding issues from Phase 1 of ERP (this is not Phase 2 of ERP).
In its second stage of Phase 1, FSA will begin mailing pre-filled applications in late August to producers who have potentially eligible losses and fall under one of the following categories:
- Received crop insurance indemnities for qualifying 2020 and 2021 disaster events after May 2, 2022.
- Received crop insurance indemnities associated with Nursery, Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO), Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX), Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) and Margin Protection (MP) policies.
- New primary policyholders not included in the initial insured producer Phase 1 mailing from May 25, 2022, because their claim records had not been filled.
- Certain 2020 prevent plant losses related to qualifying 2020 disaster events that had only been recorded in crop insurance records as related to 2019 adverse weather events and, as such, were not previously provided in applications sent earlier this year.
- New Substantial Beneficial Interest (SBI) records, including SBIs where tax identification numbers were corrected.
Producers are expected to receive assistance direct deposited into their bank account within three business days after they sign and return the pre-filled application to the FSA county office and the county office enters the application into the system.
USDA has yet to release details on Phase 2 of ERP and ELRP which will be aimed at shallow losses that did not receive a crop insurance indemnity and providing assistance to producers who did not participate in or receive payments through the existing risk management programs. Find details on ERP and ELRP here.
Guidance on the definitions of farm adjusted gross income (AGI) were also released. Please find more details here. Although the farm equipment issue remains unresolved, positive movement on prevented plant claims, ERP benefits under Phase I to producers who bought supplemental coverage, and equitable relief for producers with negative adjusted gross income are a credit to lawmakers who pushed for these improvements, including Senators John Thune (R-SD), John Hoeven (R-ND), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tina Smith (D-MN), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Jon Tester (D-MT).
ORGANIZATION UPDATES
NSP Hosts Board of Directors Annual Budget Meeting in Wichita
The National Sorghum Producers board of directors met in Wichita, Kansas, this week to hold its annual budget meeting. The budget for FY 2023 was approved and updates were provided on current legislative and regulatory issues. New officers were also elected and will be announced in October.
Curious Where Sugarcane Aphids are Popping Up?
Defend your crop. Sugarcane aphids are manageable pests we've been treating in sorghum for almost a decade now. For a map showing their reported locations this growing season and other resources, visit our web page, sponsored by Alta Seeds.
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.
Do You Have Ideas for the Next Sorghum Smart Talk: Policy Edition Podcast?
Sorghum Family, we are approaching a milestone for Sorghum Smart Talk: Policy Edition, and we want to know who you want to hear on the next podcast episode or what topic you want to learn more about. Submit your requests here!
Sorghum Checkoff Still Accepting Applications to 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.
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 14, sixty-seven percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage had reached the headed stage, 13 percentage points behind last year and 10 points behind the 5-year average. Thirty percent of the sorghum acreage was at or beyond the coloring stage by August 14, equal to last year but 2 percentage points behind average. Twenty-seven percent of the sorghum acreage was rated in good to excellent condition on August 14, two percentage points below the previous week and 33 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.
NSP Promotes Safe Handling and Storage of Treated Seed During Harvest
As harvest begins across the country National Sorghum Producers is reminding farmers about the importance of taking precautions to ensure treated seed does not enter the grain supply. It’s always important to completely remove, and properly dispose of, all treated seed from containers and equipment that will also be used to handle harvested grain. For educational resources on treated seed stewardship, including videos, graphics, one-pagers and FAQs, visit seed-treatment-guide.com/. To learn more about treated seed benefits and safety, visit https://www.betterseed.org/treated-seeds/.
Sorghum in the Spotlight:
Texas grain sorghum production off 40%, 'Could have been worse' - Southwest Farm Press
CSU Sorghum Field Days - Morning Ag Clips
China last week's top destination for corn, sorghum, soybeans - Brownfield Ag News
Sorghum at center stage in new convenience food products - High Plains Journal
Dry times and what they do to the sorghum crop - High Plains Journal
French sorghum farmer defies drought with sustainable crop - Reuters
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.