Missouri, Georgia Receive Section 18 Exemptions for Use of Transform WG to Control Sugarcane Aphids

The Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency have approved a specific Section 18 exemption for the use of Transform WG to control sugarcane aphids in sorghum Missouri. Likewise, Georgia was granted a Section 18 exemption on Sept. 11 allowing growers to apply Transform WG to sorghum until Nov. 30, 2014. The aphid has been confirmed in 26 counties in Georgia, mainly in the southwest part of the state. Missouri and Georgia join other states including Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee who have received Section 18 exemptions for the use of Transform. We would like to remind growers in other states to continue to monitor fields through the end of the season. 

Bill to Stop Clean Water Act Expansion Passed by House

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation Tuesday by a vote of 262-152 that prohibits the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers from finalizing and enforcing a proposed rule that would redefine “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act, or using the rule as a basis for future administrative actions. The bill (H.R. 5078, the Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act) also requires the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw the Interpretive Rule related to agriculture. It also requires the EPA and the Army Corps to work with states and local officials on the development of new regulation addressing the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. 

NSP Staff Update

It is with much sadness that we share the news that Shari Connell, National Sorghum Producers operations director, will be leaving her position on staff as of Sept. 12, 2014, to take her new post as executive associate for the Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement for the Texas Tech University System. Shari has played an important role on the NSP staff, providing key leadership in the coordination of NSP’s role in Commodity Classic and other NSP programs. We congratulate her on a job well done at NSP and wish her the best in her new endeavors.

Southwest Council of Agribusiness Meeting Set for Sept. 15

 The Southwest Council of Agribusiness, an alliance of agricultural organizations, financial institutions, and businesses, established to actively advocate for strong agricultural policy, will host their annual meeting Monday, Sept. 15, at the Bayer Museum of Agriculture in Lubbock, Texas, starting at 8:30 a.m. The focus of the morning program will be the policy choices contained in the 2014 Farm Bill. Dr. Joe Outlaw of the Ag and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University will lead a panel discussion with Bart Fischer and Matt Schertz, senior professional staff with the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture. Another panel will follow at 10:30 a.m., with Tiffany Dowell, Agriculture Law Specialist at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Jeff Harrison with Combest, Sell & Associates in Washington, D.C., discussing Federal Environmental Regulation and Land Use Policy and their Implications for the southwest region. Jim Wiesemeyer, senior vice president for policy and trade issues at Informa Economics in Washington, D.C., will be the keynote speaker for the luncheon. See the complete meeting agenda and list of speakers here.

Don’t Forget: NSP Yield Contest Seeking 250-Bushel Mark

It’s time to consider entering the NSP Yield Contest, and National Sorghum Producers would like to remind growers about some significant changes made to this year’s contest. NSP has set a new yield goal of 250 bushels per acre or more to illustrate sorghum’s yield potential. All division standings will be determined by yield only.

NSP is offering incentives with support from the United Sorghum Checkoff Program to award growers who reach this new benchmark. Contestants successfully participating in this category will receive a three-year truck lease (Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, or Toyota) for first place, an all-terrain vehicle for second place and a riding lawn mower for third place.

With the new provisions, there are many new rule changes that growers should be aware of, and NSP asks entrants to pay close attention to this year’s contest rules. Visit http://sorghumgrowers.com/yield-contest/ to learn more, and be sure to read the extended version of the yield contest rule changes. If producers have questions, please call NSP headquarters at 800-658-9808.

Sorghum Crop Report

Nationally, 95 percent of the sorghum crop was at or beyond the heading stage by week’s end, 2 percentage points behind last year but equal to the five-year average. Sixty-nine percent of the crop was coloring by Sept. 7, 6 percentage points ahead of last year and 4 points ahead of the five-year average. By week’s end, 40 percent of the crop had reached maturity, 7 percentage points ahead of both last year and the five-year average. Nationally, 26 percent of the sorghum crop had been harvested by week’s end, 4 percentage points behind last year but slightly ahead of the five-year average. Overall, 57 percent of the sorghum crop was reported in good to excellent condition, unchanged from last week but 3 percentage points better than the same time last year.

Upcoming Sorghum Events

Sept. 15            Southwest Council of Agribusiness Annual Meeting, Lubbock, Texas

Sept. 16            Sorghum Field Day, Hazard/Litchfield, Neb.

Sept. 17            Sorghum Field Day, Orleans, Neb.

Sept. 18            Sorghum Field Day, Farwell, 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.