Revised FARRM Act Passes House of Representatives

In an astonishing move to push a bill forward, the U.S. House of Representatives managed today to pass H.R. 2642, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, excluding the nutrition title. Democrats spent most of the day employing procedural tactics to slow debate and delay a vote on final passage, yet leadership still managed to garner enough votes to move the bill forward by a vote of 216-208.

The revised bill included every title except the highly debated nutrition title and included amendment provisions that passed when the bill was brought to the floor the week of June 17. It also repealed the1938 and 1949 permanent farm laws with new Title I language.

National Sorghum Producers Chairman Terry Swanson released the following statement in response to the bill’s passage:

“While the road leading to this point in the farm bill process is unconventional, National Sorghum Producers supports the revised bill that was before Congress today and thanks the Members of the House of Representatives for passing the bill. We stand behind the leadership of Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas and his decision to move forward in this way as a means to getting a bill to conference committee that will ultimately result in a comprehensive, five-year farm bill.”

Sorghum Checkoff, USDA-ARS Team Up to Enhance Sorghum Genetics

The Sorghum Checkoff will fund a five-year, $1.21 million project with the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) station in Lubbock, Texas, that will continue and expand research ARS has conducted on sorghum cold and drought tolerance and the identification of unique sorghum genetics.

The project will seek to continue drought and cold tolerance research, while also working to develop and mark key genes in sorghum, such as Tri-Seed. The effort will be led by Lubbock USDA-ARS Laboratory Director, John Burke, Ph. D.

"Dr. Burke and his team have become leaders in public sorghum research, working intimately with private industry and other public institutions to release game changing genetics to the sorghum industry," said Stewart Weaver, Sorghum Checkoff chairman and sorghum grower from Edmondson, Ark. "This is another great example of how producer dollars are being used to enhance sorghum genetics."

International Trade Teams Tour U.S. Sorghum

At the end of June, the U.S. Grains Council, the Sorghum Checkoff and Texas Grain Sorghum Producers hosted an international group from  the largest feed milling company in Colombia, ITALCOL. The groups toured various segments of the sorghum industry, including sorghum farms, elevators and ports across southern and central Texas. Hosting international trade teams continues to be an important effort by the USGC and the Sorghum Checkoff by focusing on international marketing and allowing other countries to see the U.S. sorghum industry first-hand while making purchasing decisions. Another trade team from the large Japanese company Zen Noh will visit Texas and Kansas later this month to hear the U.S. sorghum story.

Crop Report

Nationally, producers had planted 97 percent of the sorghum crop by June 30, on par with last year but 2 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Nearly one-quarter of the sorghum crop was at or beyond the heading stage. With hot weather spurring a rapid crop maturity pace, harvest was underway in southern Texas by month’s end. Overall, 49 percent of the sorghum crop was reported in good to excellent condition on June 30, compared with 53 percent on June 16 and 34 percent at the same time last year.

Upcoming Sorghum Events

July 19              Dean Lee Research and Extension Center Crop Production Field Day, Alexandria, La.

July 22-27         U.S. Grains Council and Sorghum Checkoff Japanese Trade Team Tour
Aug. 28-30        Sorghum Improvement Conference of North America (SICNA), Lubbock, Texas

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

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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.