By Jennifer M. Latzke
National Sorghum Producers are two steps closer to breeding herbicide tolerance into the sorghum crop.
Jeff Dahlberg, Director of Research, NSP, shared the latest on the two projects concerning new methods of weed control in sorghum with members at the 2008 National Sorghum Producers Annual Convention Feb. 12.
In a survey of producers last year, producers told NSP that weed control and yield were the top issues they would like researched. In November 2006 the Sorghum Foundation collaborated with CIBUS to develop ACCase traits in sorghum, which would provide over-the-top applied chemical weed control.
The technology in use is called Rapid Trait Development Technology or RTDS.
"Here, we're changing just a single base pair in the DNA target sequence," Dahlberg explained. Because the process still uses the information from the sorghum genome, and conventional plant breeding techniques, it's technically not a biotech crop.
On the CIBUS project, scientists have identified a protein in the sorghum plant that when changed makes the sorghum tolerant t ACCase products.
"We're using endogenous genes in the plant, which are stable," Dahlberg said. "From there, we put the trait into a crop like rice and then test. The new trait is highly inheritable and at most times is a dominate gene."
At Kansas State University, scientists are working on developing ALS-inhibiting herbicide tolerance in sorghum. This project uses several germplasm lines and backcrosses the trait into sorghum. Earlier this month, K-State and Dupont announced a partnership to commercialize this trait out of KSU.
Be sure to check back here at www.hpj.com for more updates from the 2008 National Sorghum Producers Annual Conference, here in San Antonio, Texas.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
NFL Referee motivates USGC, NSP memberships
Walt Coleman, at right, a referee with the National Football League, shared his success story with members of the National Sorghum Producers and the U.S. Grains Council Feb. 12. Coleman is a fifth-generation family operator of Coleman Dairy in Little Rock, Ark., and has been officiating with the NFL since 1989. He told producers that to be the best themselves, they need to surround themselves with people who are the best in their fields and not take themselves too seriously while doing so. (Journal photo by Jennifer M. Latzke.)
NSP Checkoff update
By Jennifer M. Latzke
The proposed National Sorghum Checkoff is steps closer to a reality, according to updates from U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Sorghum Producers staff during the 2008 Annual Conference here in San Antonio, Texas.
Craig Shackelford, of the USDA-AMS, spoke to NSP delegates about the timeline for implementation of the National Sorghum Checkoff.
Shackelford's office has analyzed the 221 comments gathered during the official comment period and found that 87 percent of the comments were positive for the checkoff.
Elected officials, organizations, producers, and state orgainzations all commented. "Producers overwhelmingly supported the proposal," Shackelford said. "This sent a signal to USDA that you are ready to move forward."
In an unheard of move, the Congressional delegation from Arkansas sent in a signed letter against the checkoff during the comment period. Shackelford said the office treated this letter as a comment because it made similar points as others. Other entities weighing in included the American Farm Bureau Federation, the U.S. Grains Council and the U.S. Feed Grains Association, all of which were for the checkoff.
"We had seven states where there was not one dissenting comment, of all comments rolled together," Shackelford said. "Kansas and Texas showed overwhelming support for this thng."
NSP and USDA staff hope to have a final rule published by the first part of April. The target date for assessments to start will be July 1, 2008, which will allow enough time to educate first handler grain elevators about assessments. A board of directors will hopefully be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture by the first of November.
NSP Chief Executive Officer Tim Lust told members that while change can be hard, the organization has to be willing to compromise on strategy for the good of the industry. And, while there are questions unanswerd about how the NSP and National Sorghum Checkoff onduct business, setting up the initial structure will be vital to the results.
"We will not be judged by our structure, but by the results it creates," Lust said.
Lust described what he would hope the relationship between NSP and the Sorghum Checkoff would include, for example, the NSP may contract with the checkoff on an annual basis, but Checkoff employeers will not be able to lobby or participate in legislative activities, per the legislation. Additionally, Lust sees NSP taking on more of a legisilative role, while the checkoff would focus on research and education.
For more information, be sure to check out upcoming issues of High Plains Journal/Midwest Ag Journal for coverage of the 2008 NSP Annual Conference.
The proposed National Sorghum Checkoff is steps closer to a reality, according to updates from U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Sorghum Producers staff during the 2008 Annual Conference here in San Antonio, Texas.
Craig Shackelford, of the USDA-AMS, spoke to NSP delegates about the timeline for implementation of the National Sorghum Checkoff.
Shackelford's office has analyzed the 221 comments gathered during the official comment period and found that 87 percent of the comments were positive for the checkoff.
Elected officials, organizations, producers, and state orgainzations all commented. "Producers overwhelmingly supported the proposal," Shackelford said. "This sent a signal to USDA that you are ready to move forward."
In an unheard of move, the Congressional delegation from Arkansas sent in a signed letter against the checkoff during the comment period. Shackelford said the office treated this letter as a comment because it made similar points as others. Other entities weighing in included the American Farm Bureau Federation, the U.S. Grains Council and the U.S. Feed Grains Association, all of which were for the checkoff.
"We had seven states where there was not one dissenting comment, of all comments rolled together," Shackelford said. "Kansas and Texas showed overwhelming support for this thng."
NSP and USDA staff hope to have a final rule published by the first part of April. The target date for assessments to start will be July 1, 2008, which will allow enough time to educate first handler grain elevators about assessments. A board of directors will hopefully be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture by the first of November.
NSP Chief Executive Officer Tim Lust told members that while change can be hard, the organization has to be willing to compromise on strategy for the good of the industry. And, while there are questions unanswerd about how the NSP and National Sorghum Checkoff onduct business, setting up the initial structure will be vital to the results.
"We will not be judged by our structure, but by the results it creates," Lust said.
Lust described what he would hope the relationship between NSP and the Sorghum Checkoff would include, for example, the NSP may contract with the checkoff on an annual basis, but Checkoff employeers will not be able to lobby or participate in legislative activities, per the legislation. Additionally, Lust sees NSP taking on more of a legisilative role, while the checkoff would focus on research and education.
For more information, be sure to check out upcoming issues of High Plains Journal/Midwest Ag Journal for coverage of the 2008 NSP Annual Conference.
NSP to join the Commodity Classic in 2009
Corn, soybeans, wheat—and now sorghum.
The National Sorghum Producers will be part of the Commodity Classic annual convention Feb. 26 to 28, 2009, at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center at Grapevine, Texas.
"We are very excited to be partnering with Commodity Classic in 2009," said NSP President Dale Murden. "We recognize that farmers grow diverse crops and Commodity Classic gives producers the opportunity to network and learn about corn, soybeans, wheat and now sorghum all at the same time."
NSP will work with the other commodity groups to offer joint programming as well as sorghum-specific education and networking. An NSP-only meeting will be held either directly before or after the Classic.
The announcement was made Feb. 12 during the NSP Organizational update.
The 2008 NSP Annual Conference will continue through Feb. 13, here in San Antonio, Texas. Check back with www.hpj.com for more coverage.
The National Sorghum Producers will be part of the Commodity Classic annual convention Feb. 26 to 28, 2009, at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center at Grapevine, Texas.
"We are very excited to be partnering with Commodity Classic in 2009," said NSP President Dale Murden. "We recognize that farmers grow diverse crops and Commodity Classic gives producers the opportunity to network and learn about corn, soybeans, wheat and now sorghum all at the same time."
NSP will work with the other commodity groups to offer joint programming as well as sorghum-specific education and networking. An NSP-only meeting will be held either directly before or after the Classic.
The announcement was made Feb. 12 during the NSP Organizational update.
The 2008 NSP Annual Conference will continue through Feb. 13, here in San Antonio, Texas. Check back with www.hpj.com for more coverage.
Sorghum economic advantage
Barney Gordon, KSU, presented information to the National Sorghum Producers Monday, Feb. 11, showing that sorghum can offer economic and agronomic benefits over corn production. Here, Gordon speaks with an NSP member about his information. (Journal photo by Jennifer M. Latzke.)
National Sorghum winners
National Sorghum Producers awarded trophies and certificates to its winners of its Annual Yield and Management Contest the morning of Feb. 12. Pictured from left are the national first place winners: Gerald Long, Kansas, No-Till Non-Irrigated; Sherwin Ratzlaff, Oklahoma, Mulch-Till Non-Irrigated; Matt Mason, Kentucky, Reduced-Till Irrigated; Roy Robinson, Kentucky, Bin Buster Non-Irrigated; Michael Fischer, Nebraska, Food Grade; and Bob Shearer, Pennsylvania, Conventional-Till Non-Irrigated. Not pictured is Ki Gamble, Kansas, winner of the Conventional-Till Irrigated and Bin Buster Irrigated awards. (Journal photo by Jennifer M. Latzke.)
Monday, February 11, 2008
Climate change can pose challenges, opportunities for ag
By Jennifer M. Latzke
Climate variability and climate change can affect agricultural land use, according to William Hohenstein, director of the Global Change Program Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He spoke during the National Sorghum Producers General Session Feb. 11. Sorghum growers are interested in the environmental side benefits of growing their crop, especially with the threat of Global Warming looming.
"Crops and grazing lands exist in an atmosphere that is increasing in concentration of carbon dioxide," Hohenstein said.
Agriculture is both a source of greenhouse gas emmisions and many instances a "sink" for carbon. Looking at a map of the Earth, we can see that carbon is stored in the northern hemisphere during the spring and summer, and then released during the winter. "The Earth 'breathes' in this manner, but there's a concern that carbon dioxide levels are increasing in the atmosphere dramatically, primarily because of emmissions from fossil fuels," Hohenstein said.
Forestry and agricultural management could potentially offset 10 to 20 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, he added. But, the question is who should pay for carbon sequestration.
There's also more information needed about the permanence of sequestration efforts, or leakage where sequestration benefits may move elsewhere.
A challenge lies in making voluntary greenhouse gas guidelines easy to understand and follow. USDA is working on the rules that could shape how contributions to a carbon credit market credit farmers.
The National Sorghum Producers and the National Grains Council will continue to meet in San Antonio until Feb. 13. Be sure to visit www.hpj.com.
It's good to be a sorghum grower
By Jennifer M. Latzke
It’s a good time to be a sorghum grower.
Tim Lust, chief executive officer for the National Sorghum Producers welcomed members to the NSP General Session Jan. 11. The past year saw record yields across the nation, and record prices. Ethanol and export demand for sorghum have combined to raise the basis.
“Breaking records is exciting because it restores hope that we’re making genetic improvements and it restores our faith that it can rain,” Lust said.
On the legislative side, the new energy bill that passed Congress didn’t have as many of the tax incentives that NSP originally thought would be a part of the bill, but it did classify sorghum as an advanced biofuel crop. This classification will move the industry forward, Lust said.
The farm bill is also important to sorghum producers, but Lust hesitated to make any predictions. “I could be wrong in 24 hours,” he said.
Another hot topic for sorghum producers is the proposed National Sorghum Checkoff, which has passed the comment period and is on to the next stage in approval. Lust explained that a national checkoff is critical for producers to meet the research needs for weed and grass control and other issues.
“It is critical to have producer dollars to leverage with private industry to move forward as an industry,” Lust said.
Membership for NSP has increased by 50 percent in one year, and could double again in 18 months. This bodes well for the industry and for programs at the national level, Lust said.
The NSP and U.S. Grains Council’s meetings continue through Feb. 13 here in San Antonio, Texas. For more on the NSP annual meeting, check back with www.hpj.com.
It’s a good time to be a sorghum grower.
Tim Lust, chief executive officer for the National Sorghum Producers welcomed members to the NSP General Session Jan. 11. The past year saw record yields across the nation, and record prices. Ethanol and export demand for sorghum have combined to raise the basis.
“Breaking records is exciting because it restores hope that we’re making genetic improvements and it restores our faith that it can rain,” Lust said.
On the legislative side, the new energy bill that passed Congress didn’t have as many of the tax incentives that NSP originally thought would be a part of the bill, but it did classify sorghum as an advanced biofuel crop. This classification will move the industry forward, Lust said.
The farm bill is also important to sorghum producers, but Lust hesitated to make any predictions. “I could be wrong in 24 hours,” he said.
Another hot topic for sorghum producers is the proposed National Sorghum Checkoff, which has passed the comment period and is on to the next stage in approval. Lust explained that a national checkoff is critical for producers to meet the research needs for weed and grass control and other issues.
“It is critical to have producer dollars to leverage with private industry to move forward as an industry,” Lust said.
Membership for NSP has increased by 50 percent in one year, and could double again in 18 months. This bodes well for the industry and for programs at the national level, Lust said.
The NSP and U.S. Grains Council’s meetings continue through Feb. 13 here in San Antonio, Texas. For more on the NSP annual meeting, check back with www.hpj.com.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
U.S. Grains Council gathers with NSP in San Antonio
This year, the National Sorghum Producers are meeting in conjunction with the U.S. Grains Council in San Antonio.
The USGC began its International Marketing Conference and Annual Membership meeting the morning of Feb. 10, with a Joint Advisory Team Meeting General Session. During this session a panel of Overseas Directors detailed U.S. market development and activities in several foreign countries. Additionally Erick Erickson, special assistant for planning, evaluation and projects of USGC, discussed the U.S. and world coarse grains outlook.
Erickson started off the session by detailing the market environment that exists today. He explained the world is has seen unrelenting commodity price increases in several sectors, including oil, copper, and agriculture all in the past five years. The world is also undergoing a shift in economic growth, with more than 500 million people in several developing countries shifting from subsistence to middle income growth. This new middle class will increase demand for energy, cement, steel and agricultural products.
"We're seeing a shift in the demand curve, and the power in developing countries is not easily stopped," Erickson said.
Another thing that's affecting world markets is the increasing ethanol industry. Erickson showed how the stocks to use ratio in corn is out of pattern, and the demand for corn is not normal. He said buyers are not so much worried about this year, but more worried about ensuring supplies for the next.
The corn outlook for the United States in 2008 should see record exports, surpassing the high levels of the 1980s, when the former Soviet Union and Europe were our biggest buyers, Erickson said. On the world market, there should be steady growth in the corn supply and demand, with corn imports following suit.
The U.S. sorghum sector saw declines in production the last several years, but that changed with the spike in production in 2007, Erickson said. He predicted that exports will remain strong this year, even as world sorghum production levels spike.
For the most part, the Overseas Directors had positive outlooks for U.S. exports. The real success story across the board in 2007 has been the rise in U.S. exports of distillers grains (DDGS). Several countries are developing markets for U.S. DDGS used in livestock production.
The combined gathering of the U.S. Grains Council and the National Sorghum Producers will continue through Feb. 13. Be sure to check www.hpj.com for updates.
Friday, February 8, 2008
National Sorghum Producers to gather in San Antonio
The National Sorghum Producers are traveling to San Antonio for the annual conference Feb. 9 to 12 at the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk. This year's meeting is held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the U.S. Grains Council.
Be sure to check back here regularly throughout the convention for updates.
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