Investing in Sorghum's Future
The Sorghum Checkoff was established in 2008 to improve the profitability of the sorghum industry through research, promotion and education. With your checkoff dollars, the Sorghum Checkoff is moving sorghum forward with new markets, production tools, post-emergent weed and grass control technology, and research to develop improved hybrids.
So, what has the checkoff accomplished in the last two years? We let the farmer ask the questions.
What is being done to create new foreign markets for my sorghum?
The Sorghum Checkoff has helped open new foreign markets in countries that have never previously imported sorghum.
“We have a product to sell and the more of that product we can export, the more value it will have back to the farm,” said John Ballard, Claude, Texas, sorghum farmer.
The Sorghum Checkoff has hosted grain buyers from both new and existing sorghum importing countries, such as Mexico, Japan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam, which has resulted in a 16 percent increase in U.S. sorghum exports over the last two years.
“It’s good to see the checkoff dedicate producers’ dollars to market development, which is where I’ve seen the most obvious results so far,” said Greg Graff, Marienthal, Kan., sorghum farmer. “We have already seen foreign purchases increase and have addressed domestic market issues. These are excellent examples of how the checkoff is spending funds to increase sorghum farmers’ profitability.”
What solutions are there for the weed and grass control problems in my field?
Post-emergent grass and weed control herbicide technology is just around the corner. The Sorghum Checkoff has sponsored field plots to showcase this new technology as a solution to your weed and grass problems. In addition, the checkoff is taking an active role in developing best management practices to help growers get the most out of the new herbicide once it becomes commercially available in the next couple of years.
“Research dollars for sorghum were declining and the checkoff is putting dollars back into that,” said Jim Sipes, Manter, Kan., sorghum farmer. “I think we will see the biggest benefit from research. One of the most difficult things in raising grain sorghum are the grassy weeds. There is some promising research coming out of the checkoff for herbicides.”
My yields aren’t where they need to be. What work is being done to increase yields?
Cold tolerance and drought tolerance are being researched using Sorghum Checkoff funds so that these hybrids can be found, commercialized and in growers’ fields. The checkoff is working with both private and public sectors to make these hybrids a reality. In fact, this research has found a germplasm for cold tolerance that will allow sorghum to germinate and thrive at soil temperatures as low as 50°F.
Has anything been done to encourage ethanol plants to use sorghum?
Absolutely. The Sorghum Checkoff is helping to bring growers and ethanol plants together to maximize the market potential for sorghum in the ethanol industry.
In addition, the checkoff has funded feeding trials on the performance of beef and dairy cattle fed wet distillers grains with solubles, a co-product created when sorghum is used to produce ethanol.
The goal of these trials is to prove sorghum is nutritious for beef cattle, which could increase the value of sorghum distiller’s grains being sold directly from ethanol plants and allow them to purchase more sorghum at a higher value.
Is the livestock industry utilizing sorghum more than they used to?
Livestock feeding guides containing updated information about the benefits of sorghum as a livestock feed were developed by the Sorghum Checkoff and are being distributed throughout the livestock industry. Both grain sorghum and forage sorghum are being recognized by livestock producers as a valuable feeding option.
“Investing in the Sorghum Checkoff is like investing in your children and grandchildren,” said Stan Fury, Broadview, N.M., sorghum producer. “It is the future. The checkoff is funding research on forage sorghum and promoting the crop through the new dairy feeding guide, which will be helpful to dairy producers and forage growers alike.”
I need higher value market for my sorghum. What new markets are out there?
Sorghum is a gluten-free, high antioxidant food option. The Sorghum Checkoff is working to commercialize sorghum as a viable food product by working with the baking industry to meet consumer needs and increase demand for your grain.
“Even if it’s a small percentage of the sorghum market, the gluten-free market is invaluable to sorghum, because we want continued expansion of markets,” said Clayton Short, Assaria, Kan., sorghum farmer.