Researchers Gather at Annual SICNA Conference

Approximately 100 sorghum researchers from across the U.S. are meeting this week in Lubbock, Texas, for the annual Sorghum Improvement Conference of North America. This two-day conference features speakers from both private industry and university research, covering topics such as breeding and genetics, biotechnology, entomology, agronomy and physiology, pathology and more. The conference will conclude Friday. To learn more, you can visit sicna.net.

Still Time to Register for the Sorghum Insider Program

Sorghum Insider is an exclusive three-day program Sept. 17-19 hosted by the National Sorghum Producers for industry partners, elevators and end-users that will take participants through the U.S. sorghum industry from beginning to end, covering all of the important issues impacting production, policy, markets and much more. Participants will get an insider's look into the new and exciting opportunities on the horizon for sorghum, while gaining a better understanding of how the industry works as a whole. A detailed overview of topics that will be covered during the Sorghum Insider program is available at www.SorghumGrowers.com/sorghuminsider. If you are interested in participating, please call 800-658-9808.

Don’t Forget about the many Contests NSP is Holding:

Enter the NSP Yield and Management Contest

Crop conditions are up, and we have seen a lot of good fields across the Sorghum Belt. Don’t miss your opportunity to showcase your sorghum yields and compete with area farmers in the NSP Yield and Management Contest. This year’s winners will be recognized at the 2014 Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas. Click here to go to the ‘Yield Contest’ page on the NSP website. There, you can download an entry form, instructions, deadlines and rules. Contact 806-749-3478 for more information.

Sorghum Grower Kids Cover Contest

Your farm kids could be on the cover of Sorghum Grower! During this growing season, photograph your kids as they participate in sorghum farming activities. Whether it’s amidst a sea of red sorghum heads in a field or while they help out with harvest, your photo could be a winner. The winning photograph will appear on the winter 2014 issue of Sorghum Grower, which will arrive in mailboxes in January 2014. Photographs receiving second place, third place and honorable mention will be recognized on our website. For more information on contest details and for photo tips, click here.

Show us your #SuperSorghum

Another opportunity National Sorghum Producers if offering this fall is a chance for you to win a “#SuperSorghum” t-shirt. Please use Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to post or tweet using the hashtag “#supersorghum” and let us know how your crop is doing this season. The more you use the hashtag, the greater your chances are to win. NSP will pick a winner at the end of the months of September, October and November.

Photos from the Field

It’s an exciting time for the sorghum industry. Eager to see crop conditions across the Sorghum Belt, we started requesting last week photos from the field. Have photos you would like to share? We're tracking this year's production across the country and want to see the status of your crop. Send us as many photos as you like, and we will share them with the sorghum community via social media. Just e-mail jennifer@sorghumgrowers.com. To view photos already submitted, you can visit our Facebook page.

Crop Report

Nationally, 88 percent of the sorghum crop was at or beyond the heading stage by week’s end, 6 percentage points ahead of last year and 3 points ahead of the 5-year average. Forty-four percent of the crop was coloring by Aug. 25, nine percentage points behind last year and 3 points behind the 5-year

average. In Kansas, warmer weather boosted crop development. By week’s end, 28 percent of the crop had reached maturity, 6 percentage points behind last year and slightly behind the 5-year average. In Texas, harvest was advancing well ahead of the normal pace as a result of hot, mostly dry conditions during the growing season. Overall, 56 percent of the sorghum crop was reported in good to excellent condition, up slightly from last week and 32 percentage points better than the same time last year.

Upcoming Sorghum Events

Sept. 3-5           Crop Seed Tour, Amarillo & Lubbock, Texas

Sept. 8-10         Southwest Ag Issues Summit, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Sept. 5              Edisto Agricultural Research and Extension Center Field Day, Blackville, SC

Sept. 16            Nebraska Sorghum Field Day, Boelus and Farwell, Neb.

Sept. 17            Nebraska Sorghum Field Day, Hazard, Neb.

Sept. 17-19       Sorghum Insider, Lubbock, Texas

Sept. 18            Nebraska Sorghum Field Day, Trenton, Neb.

Sept. 19            Nebraska Sorghum Field Day, Orleans and Blue Hill, Neb.

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.