FINAL COUNTDOWN! Comment Today to Protect Your Access to Atrazine
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 online and join us in stopping EPA from limiting your access to atrazine. The deadline to comment is Oct. 7.
Don't Count Yourself Out! Enter the Sorghum Yield Contest Today
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. Don't count yourself out! Enter today at SorghumGrowers.com/yieldcontest.
ICYMI: Sorghum Smart Talk: Policy Edition - New Episode! Tackling Weeds in Sorghum
In this episode, John Duff hosts Scott Staggenborg, product marketing manager for Sorghum Partners, to discuss weed control in sorghum and Sorghum Partners’ product Double Team. Learn more about this herbicide tolerant sorghum technology and the path our industry is taking to provide farmers more weed control options in sorghum.
POLICY, REGULATORY AND ISSUE UPDATES
Senate Passes Short-Term Funding Bill, House Action Today
The Senate on Thursday approved a short-term government funding bill, less than two days ahead of a looming shutdown deadline tonight. Senators voted 72-25 to advance the bill, sending the must-pass legislation to the House where it also passed this afternoon and will head to President Biden’s desk for signature. The bill will temporarily allow the government to remain funded at the current spending levels through mid-December. Farm state lawmakers are expected to push extension of the Emergency Relief Program to cover 2022 losses in a December omnibus appropriations bill. Although Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) had wanted the Senate to return to session after the Columbus Day holiday, campaign pressures precluded this with the Senate now expected to return on November 14. Read more here and here.
White House Hosts Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health Amidst Controversy
The Biden Administration this week hailed the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, attended by National Sorghum Producers CEO Tim Lust, as a key moment to elevate the conversation about solutions to hunger, health, and nutrition issues. The Administration states that its goal is to eliminate hunger in the U.S. by 2030 while also reducing diet-related illnesses. Key proposals include expanding free school meals to 9 million more children by 2032; expanding food stamps; broadening the Summer Expanded Benefit Transfer program to more kids; and increasing funding for nutrition programs for senior citizens.
The White House and Agriculture Department Secretary Tom Vilsack touted the $8 billion in public and private sector commitments in reaching Administration objectives, of which at least $2.5 billion will be invested in "start-up companies that are focused on solutions to hunger and food insecurity" and more than $4 billion will be dedicated toward "philanthropic efforts to improve access to nutritious food, promote healthy choices and increase physical activity”. Despite the exuberance, the conference was not without controversy. Republican lawmakers expressed concern that the conference was put together in a partisan fashion and did not generally include agriculture groups, producers, or food makers in the program. The controversy is problematic for the Administration because many of its proposals would require the approval of Congress in order to be implemented. Read more here.
FSA to Consider Recommendation to Dismantle County Committees
Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Zach Ducheneaux told lawmakers Thursday he would give “due consideration” to the USDA Equity Commission's recommendation to study replacing FSA's county committee system, but he also said the local panels are “integral” to the agency’s delivery of programs. At a House Agriculture subcommittee hearing, Mr. Ducheneaux said he sees the county committee system as an opportunity for producers to be a meaningful part of the process, though he noted that it is important for the committees to be “truly representative of those who are producing.” Media reports indicate that the FSA office in Washington has sent to state and local offices instructions on how to achieve equity in the delivery of farm programs with the instructions reportedly distinguishing “equity” from “equality”, explaining that the latter only achieves equal opportunity while the former achieves the same outcomes for everyone participating. FSA in Washington also reportedly hired a full time “equity officer”. View the hearing here.
EPA Declines to Regulate Treated Seeds but Plans New Scrutiny
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided against regulating the use of pesticide-treated seeds under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), but the agency is looking into whether the seeds are being sold and used in ways that violate existing restrictions. EPA said it already assesses “the use of the treating pesticide and the treated seed and impacts to human health and the environment.” But the agency said it was evaluating label requirements for pesticides “to ensure there are complete and appropriate instructions for the distribution, sale, and use of both the treating pesticide and the treated seed.” Read more from EPA here.
Rep. Hartzler Publishes Letter from USDA Secretary Supporting Chlorpyrifos
Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) this week published a letter she received from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack responding to her July 2022 letter questioning the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to ban chlorpyrifos use. “USDA-Pest Management Policy (OPMP) scientists believe EPA could retain certain chlorpyrifos uses that meet EPA’s safety standard, based on the EPA’s proposed interim decision (PID),” Secretary Vilsack wrote. “We will work to make the case to follow the science and maintain safe use of chlorpyrifos for those 11 crops, and any others that might still be adjusted or refined to meet EPA’s safety standard.” Chlorpyrifos is a vital tool used in rotation to control damaging pests such as sorghum midge, various aphid species, and sorghum webworm and headworm. Read more here.
Agencies Release Roadmap for SAF Development
The Biden Administration laid out its plans for scaling up Sustainable Aviation Fuel production, including increasing production of “energy crops” and collecting more agricultural residuals. In a new report, several agencies wrote that research and development are needed on how to produce and collect more biomass resources. The report specifically calls for “coordination of U.S. government support” for oilseed cover crops and other near-term lipid crops.
Federal Reserve Officer: “High Level” Farm Economy Strong, But Risks also High
“At a high level, economic conditions in agriculture are remarkably strong,” said Mr. Nathan Kauffman, Omaha Branch Executive and Kansas City Fed Vice President. But there are also troubling macroeconomic trends that could impact agriculture, Mr. Kauffman noted. In recent years, the general expectation was interest rates would remain at about zero, he said, but now it is more than 4%. Inflation is also a significant concern, Mr. Kauffman stressed. Whereas inflation has been below 2% for much of the past decade, it's now at about 8%. “I think the risks are growing … but I still would suggest that ag is in a pretty good position,” Mr. Kauffman said, adding that agriculture is “in a solid financial position for the most part … but there are things to pay attention to.” Read more here.
USDA Makes $500 Million Available to Increase Domestic Fertilizer Production
USDA has launched the Fertilizer Product Expansion Program (FPEP) which provides a total of $500 million in grants to help eligible applicants increase or expand the manufacturing and processing of fertilizer and nutrient alternatives and their availability in the United States. The FPEP application window will open “in the coming days” and will include two opportunities for submission: a 45-day window for projects to increase fertilizer availability for the 2023 or 2024 crop years and a 90-day window for applications for “applicants who need more time to make additional capacity available.” More information on FPEP can be found here.
Senators Grassley, Brown Propose Banning Foreign Individuals from Obtaining U.S. Farm Credit
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), a member of the Agriculture Committee, and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), a member of the Agriculture Committee and Chairman of the Banking Committee, introduced legislation that would prevent foreign individuals from obtaining credit and financial services through the Farm Credit System. Since 1997, Farm Credit Administration (FCA) regulations have allowed FCS associations to extend credit to certain foreign nationals who are not permanent residents of the United States and to foreign-owned entities. Read more about the bill here and read about other efforts to curb foreign involvement in U.S. agriculture here.
Rep. Lucas, Senator Braun Introduce Legislation to Exempt Agriculture from SEC Rules on GHG Emission Reporting
This week, Representative Frank D. Lucas (R-OK), the former Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and now Ranking Member of the Science Committee and senior Member on Financial Services, introduced legislation to clarify that new Securities and Exchange Commission regulations cannot require farmers and ranchers to report greenhouse gas emissions on the farm or ranch. Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) has introduced companion legislation. To date, only Republican lawmakers have signed onto the legislation even though SEC Chairman Gary Gensler has stated that the regulation is not intended to cover farms or ranches. Republicans believe the clarification is necessary to provide producers with legal certainty. Meanwhile, some Democrats contend the legislation is not needed in view of Gensler’s statements while others believe the regulation should cover agriculture. Read more here.
ORGANIZATION UPDATES
UPL Joins NSP Industry Partner Program
UPL NA Inc. recently joined the NSP Industry Partner program as a Contributor level sponsor. UPL believes it will generate a deeper impact on society where agriculture is properly valued, food is sustainable and farmers grow and prosper. The company provides the companion herbicide IMIFLEX™ to Alta Seeds igrowth® herbicide-tolerant sorghum and strives to be a leader in technology growth and innovation through the production of more sustainable food products. For more information about the NSP Industry Partner program, contact Jamaca Battin at jamaca@sorghumgrowers.com, or visit SorghumGrowers.com/industry-partners.
Sorghum Crop Update
Ninety-one percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage was at or beyond the coloring stage by September 25, four percentage points behind last year and 3 points behind the 5-year average. By September 25, fifty-six percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage was mature, 7 percentage points behind last year but 1 point ahead of average. Ninety-six percent of Texas’ sorghum acreage was mature by September 25, seven percentage points ahead of last year and 10 points ahead of the average. Twenty-seven percent of the 2022 sorghum acreage had been harvested by September 25, three percentage points behind both last year and the 5-year average. Twenty-two percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage was rated in good to excellent condition on September 25, two percentage points above the previous week but 34 points below the same time last year.
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 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:
How Can Sorghum Mitigate Climate Change Impact? - Feed & Grain
2022 crop year: ‘Worse than 2011’ - Southwest Farm Press
Husker research hones in on sorghum’s genetic makeup to improve nitrogen efficiency - The Fence Post
FFAR Grant Promotes Sorghum Health Benefits - Seed Today
Sorghum Researchers Land $2 Million to Modernize Nitrogen Guidelines - Missouri Ag Connection
Upcoming Events
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
November 16-18 NAFB Trade Talk - Kansas City, Missouri
November 24-25 NSP Office Closed
December 6 Texas Crop Protection Conference - College Station, Texas
December 12-13 NSP Board Meeting - Lubbock, Texas
December 14-15 USCP Board Meeting - Lubbock, Texas
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.