Senate Begins Debate on FY 2013 Continuing Resolution

The Senate began debate Tuesday, March 12 on a $982 billion spending package that would continue funding for federal departments, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the end of September. The legislation, H.R. 933, seeks to avoid a scheduled government shutdown on March 27.

Under the House continuing resolution bill approved on March 6, the USDA and other departments would face line-item cuts of between 5 percent and 9 percent, as a result of sequestration. The Senate bill would provide $20.5 billion in FY 2013 for agriculture, rural development, the FDA and related agencies. The bill would also provide $1.4 billion for foreign food assistance, $1.2 billion for the National Institute on Food and Agriculture, nearly $1.1 billion for the Agricultural Research Service, $801 million for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and $824 million for the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Final Rule Regarding MAP-21 Agricultural Exemptions

The Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration transmitted a final rule to be published in the Federal Register on March 14. The rule amends the federal regulations to reflect the statutory exemptions provided under sections 32101 and 32934 of MAP-21 that are applicable to certain drivers transporting agricultural commodities. Individual states will adopt compatible regulations no later than three years after the effective date of the final rule (March 14, 2013). 

This action follows an Oct. 1, 2012 Federal Register notice from FMCSA alerting motor carriers and enforcement officials of the two statutory exemptions in MAP-21. Specifically, section 32101 provided a statutory exemption from the hours-of-service regulations for certain carriers transporting agricultural commodities and farm supplies, and section 32934 provided a statutory exemption from most of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) for the operation of covered farm vehicles by farm and ranch operators, their employees, and certain other specified individuals under certain specific circumstances. These statutory provisions were self-executing and took effect on Oct.1, 2012. 

To see the final rule in its entirety, click here.

Chromatin Signs Pact with POET to Use South Dakota-grown Sorghum in Ethanol Production

Chromatin Inc. announced March 11 it has entered into an agreement with POET LLC, one of the world’s largest ethanol producers, to use sorghum grown in South Dakota in the production of ethanol. The agreement covers up to 4,400 acres of sorghum grain that will be grown in South Dakota. It will be used in POET’s Chancellor plant, which is the company’s largest plant and utilizes about 35 million bushels of corn to produce 110 million gallons of ethanol annually.
 

“POET is one of the most experienced and respected bio-refiners in the U.S., and our agreement with them is a significant step in our commitment to expand the use of grain sorghum in the production of energy-efficient biofuels,” Chromatin CEO Daphne Preuss said. “Ethanol producers are embracing the benefits of sorghum as a drop in replacement for corn.”

To read the full press release from Chromatin, click here.

Researchers Develop Sorghum Headworm Decision Support System and Calculator

The Sorghum Headworm Decision Support System is a new tool available for sorghum producers, crop consultants, and others involved in sorghum insect pest management. The system was designed by the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Oklahoma State University, West Texas A&M University, and Kansas State University and utilized funds from the Sorghum Checkoff.

The system can help users identify sorghum pests, learn more about their biology, and determine the economic threshold for headworms in a sorghum field. The tool is online at http://entoplp.okstate.edu/shwweb/index.htm.

Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board Seeks Applicants for Open Board Seats

Three directorships on the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board are open for appointment. The appointments will fill directorships to represent Districts 2 and 3 and a governor-appointed at-large seat. The term for the members currently filling these seats will expire July 1, 2013. The filing deadline is no later than 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 15, 2013.

District 2 includes the counties of Knox, Antelope, Pierce, Madison, Boone, Platte, Nance, Merrick, Polk, Hamilton, York, Adams, Clay, Fillmore, Webster, Nuckolls and Thayer. District 3 includes the counties of Keya Paha, Boyd, Brown, Rock, Holt, Blaine, Loup, Garfield, Wheeler, Custer, Valley, Greeley, Sherman, Howard, Dawson, Buffalo, Hall, Gosper, Phelps, Kearney, Furans, Harlan and Franklin.

Sorghum growers interested in appointment to fill the open seats may place their name on a candidacy list by submitting to the board a completed application for gubernatorial appointment, a letter or statement of interest in serving on the board, two letters of endorsement from grain sorghum growers, and documentation substantiating qualification to serve as a member of the board (sales receipts, warehouse receipts, government loan documentation, or acreage certification). Qualified candidates include those who are citizens of Nebraska, are at least 21 years of age, and derive a portion of their income from growing grain sorghum.

Applications for appointment can be obtained from the Nebraska governor’s office by writing Kathleen Dolezal, staff assistant for boards and commissions, Nebraska Governor’s Office, State Capitol, Box 94848, Lincoln, NE 68509-4848, 402.471-1971; or the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board, P.O. Box 94982, Lincoln, NE 68509, 402.471.4276; or email: sorghum.board@nebraska.gov. Applications may also be made on-line by clicking here.

Upcoming Sorghum Events

March 27-28                  Concho Valley Producer Meeting, San Angelo, Texas

March 28                       Sorghum Meetings – Dairy and Forage, Muleshoe, Texas

April 8-10                      International Biomass Conference & Expo, Minneapolis, Minn.

April 18-19                    Ethanol 2013: Emerging Issues Forum, Omaha, Neb.                 

Market News - To view this week’s Gulf export grain report, click here.

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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 contact info@sorghumcheckoff.com and provide your email address or 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.