Farmers Nationwide Send a Strong Message to EPA on Atrazine
More than 16,000 farmers and agricultural organizations representing corn, citrus, grain sorghum, sugarcane, and other crops recently united against EPA’s proposed revision to its 2020 atrazine registration review decision, submitting comments calling for the agency to base decisions on credible scientific evidence. Efforts to help farmers speak out against the proposal were coordinated by the Triazine Network, a diverse coalition of state and national agricultural groups, including National Sorghum Producers, across the nation that rely on atrazine and other triazine herbicides to control weeds. The atrazine comment period ended October 7. The next step is a Scientific Advisory Panel, which EPA has committed to convening to examine the science behind its proposed 3.4 ppb level of concern. NSP will keep its members updated as the process moves forward.
Farmers Can Now Make 2023 Crop Year Elections, Enroll in Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs
Agricultural producers can now change election and enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2023 crop year, two key safety net programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Signup began Monday, and producers have until March 15, 2023, to enroll in these two programs. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has started issuing payments totaling more than $255 million to producers with 2021 crops that have triggered payments through ARC or PLC. Full details are available here.
USDA Will Keep County Committees
According to an Agri-Pulse report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will USDA's county committee structure that insures farmers have a say in the administration of farm programs. USDA’s Equity Commission recently approved a draft recommendation that Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack consider replacing the committee system. In an interview with Agri-Pulse Newsmakers, Vilsack said there does need to be an “appropriation representation” of the minority farmers in each county. “I think that's the critical concern. I don't think it's a situation of essentially doing away with the county structure. It's just making sure that it works fairly and justly,” he told Agri-Pulse.
USDA Provides Payments of nearly $800 Million in Debt Relief to Farmers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced this week that distressed borrowers with qualifying USDA farm loans have already received nearly $800 million in assistance, as part of the $3.1 billion in assistance for distressed farm loan borrowers provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA directed USDA to expedite assistance to distressed borrowers of direct or guaranteed loans administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) whose operations face financial risk. Learn more about the details of this initiative here.
Mississippi River Flow a Continuing Concern as Rising Dollar Impacts Food Importers
Water levels on the Mississippi River have reached the lowest level in three decades, putting a serious strain on the movement of agriculture products, oil and other materials. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting emergency dredging to resume the flow of goods in some areas, but the impacts on the transportation of goods, and subsequently food prices, have been far-reaching. Learn more from Farm Policy News here.
Sorghum Crop Update
By October 16, eighty-nine percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage was mature, 3 percentage points behind last year but 2 points ahead of the 5-year average. Fifty-seven percent of the 2022 sorghum acreage had been harvested by October 16, one percentage point behind last year but 8 points ahead of average. Sorghum harvest advanced 10 percentage points or more during the week in five of the six estimating states. Texas leads at 98 percent harvested followed by South Dakota at 61 percent, Oklahoma at 40 percent, Colorado and Kansas at 39 percent and Nebraska at 34 percent.
National Sorghum Foundation Appoints Jeff Dahlberg as Chairman
The National Sorghum Foundation recently announced a leadership transition as Jeff Dahlberg, Ph.D., begins his role as chairman of the foundation, replacing Larry Lambright. Dahlberg worked as the research director for National Sorghum Producers and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program for more than 20 years and recently retired as director of the University of California Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier. Read more here.
Last Call! Send Us Your Sorghum Photos
Get your camera (or even your phone camera) ready. We want to see your sorghum farm life! Submit your 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! Photos can include your crop, equipment, yourself, your families etc. Submit at SorghumGrowers.com/thisissorghum.
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.