SORGHUM E-Notes

January 16, 2014

NATIONAL SORGHUM PRODUCERS:
the voice of the sorghum industry

Farm Bill Issues Still Pending

While dairy remains one of the key issues still needing resolve in the farm bill debate, a deal may be close. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) said he is circulating a proposal to protect dairy farmers against a drop in milk prices without government production controls. A farm bill draft is not likely to be released before next week's Martin Luther King Jr. Day recess. Formal legislative work could begin on it the week after, but even this would be complicated by a three-day House GOP retreat in Maryland. A vote is possible either the week of Jan. 27 or Feb. 3. Other lingering issues include final decision on country-of-origin-labeling (COOL), payment limits and actively engaged provisions.

House Passes Omnibus Spending Measure

The House passed a $1.1 trillion omnibus appropriations bill on Wednesday, on a 359-67 vote, that would fund the federal government for the rest of the 2014 fiscal year. The bill, introduced by House Appropriations Chair Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) and Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), establishes discretionary spending at $1.012 trillion as well as an additional $98 billion for defense and disaster relief. The Senate is currently debating the measure, which includes all 12 of the annual appropriations bills and must be passed before Sunday to avoid a government shutdown. This bill also meets the spending cap set by the December budget deal negotiated by Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.). The Omnibus bill provides $20.9 billion in discretionary funding for agriculture programs which is $350 million above the fiscal year 2013 enacted level.

The bill provides $2.6 billion for agriculture research programs, including the Agricultural Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. This includes $316 million for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, a competitive agricultural research grant program supporting research to help stop and mitigate devastating crop diseases and improve food safety and water quality, placing priority on drought, invasive species, and herbicide resistance issues. It also provides $826 million for the Natural Resources Conservation Service to help farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners conserve and protect their land. For a full summary of the agriculture appropriations spending click here.

NSP Urges Members to Comment on RVO Proposal

National Sorghum Producers continues to urge individuals to comment in opposition to the proposed renewable volume obligations under the 2014 Renewable Fuels Standards. The proposed rule, which indicates a 6 percent reduction in the conventional biofuels RVO and a nearly 20 percent reduction in the advanced biofuels RVO was released by the Environmental Protection agency Nov. 15, 2013. The EPA has been accepting comments on the proposed rule and will continue to do so until 11:59 p.m. EST Jan. 28, 2014. To weigh in on this important issue, please visit the NSP website or call our office 800-658-9808.

Sorghum U Series Continues

Sorghum U will head north next week, making stops in Grand Island, Neb., Jan. 21 and in Hays, Kan., Jan. 23. The farmer-focused Sorghum U program is designed to provide producers with resources to explore the production qualities of grain sorghum. Breakout sessions will feature lessons learned from experienced sorghum growers at each Sorghum U event location. The Grand Island, Neb., and Hays, Kan., events will specifically provide informative sessions on no-till, marketing and sorghum management.

Sorghum U is sponsored by the Sorghum Checkoff, Sorghum Partners, CrustBuster/Speed King Inc. and High Plains Journal. Event registration is available at www.sorghumu.com or call 855-422-6652. There is no charge to attend the event and lunch is included.

USDA Crop Production 2013 Summary Positive for Sorghum

USDA's latest reports showed some positive numbers and trends for the sorghum industry. Grain sorghum production in 2013 is estimated at 389 million bushels, up 58 percent from 2012. Planted area is estimated at 8.06 million acres, up 29 percent from last year. Area harvested for grain, at 6.53 million acres, is up 32 percent from 2012. The average grain yield, at 59.6 bushels per acre, is up 9.8 bushels from last year.

Overall, planted and harvested grain and silage acres increased in 11 out of 14 states reported. Sorghum yields also increased in 10 out of 14 states reported. Kansas came in as the top producing state in the nation with 165.2 million bushels, harvesting 90 percent of its crop, which is the best harvest-to-plant ration for the state since 2010. Texas (128.8 million bushels) came in second followed by South Dakota (22 million bushels), Oklahoma (14.9 million bushels) and Arkansas (12.8 million bushels).

The sorghum silage national yield increased for the second year in a row to 14.3 tons per acre-the industry's highest yield since 2009. Sorghum silage was exceedingly competitive with corn silage in four states, including Kansas (14 tons per acre for sorghum versus 13 tons per acre for corn), Missouri (17 tons per acre for sorghum versus 14 tons per acre for corn), Oklahoma (20 tons per acre for sorghum versus 21 tons per acre for corn) and South Dakota (13 tons for acre for sorghum and 13 tons per acre for corn). To see the entire USDA report, click here.

Commodity Classic Early Registration Ends Monday

Commodity Classic is less than two months away, and growers are encouraged to take advantage of the early registration discount, which ends midnight, Jan. 20. NSP will join the National Corn Growers Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers, and the American Soybean Association as hosts at Commodity Classic Feb. 27 - March 1 in San Antonio, Texas. Growers will benefit from a wide variety of educational sessions, networking opportunities and a sold-out trade show with more than 960 booths displaying the newest technology, equipment, ideas and innovations in agriculture. To register online, visit www.CommodityClassic.com.

Upcoming Sorghum Events

Jan. 21             Cover Your Acres, Oberlin, Kan.

Jan. 21             Sorghum U, Grand Island, Neb.

Jan. 22             New Mexico Sorghum Association Annual Meeting, Clovis, NM

Jan. 23             Sorghum U, Hays, Kan.

Jan. 28-29         No-Till on the Plains, Salina, Kan.

Market News - To view this week's Gulf export grain report, click here. Sign Up to Receive the Sorghum Checkoff e-Newsletter

Sorghum producers can also receive monthly e-Newsletters from the United Sorghum Checkoff Program. To receive monthly news and information regarding the Sorghum Checkoff's efforts in sorghum research, education and market development, sign up at www.SorghumCheckoff.com/contact-us. You can also follow the Sorghum Checkoff on Twitter @SorghumCheckoff.

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. To learn more about NSP, visit our website at www.sorghumgrowers.com. Write to us at National Sorghum Producers, 4201 N Interstate 27, Lubbock, TX 79403. To unsubscribe to Sorghum Notes, please reply to jennifer@sorghumgrowers.com. If you have questions about the sorghum industry or the National Sorghum Producers, please do not hesitate to call NSP at 800-658-9808. You can also follow NSP on Twitter @SorghumGrowers, and you can find National Sorghum Producers on Facebook.

Quote of the Week:

"All human wisdom is summed up in two words - wait and hope."

- Alexandre Dumas Peré

Interested in Sponsorship Opportunities?
Call NSP at (800) 658-9808 to learn more.

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