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KANSAS GRAIN SORGHUM
PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT
KGSPA Leads Nation in Membership Growth Dwayne DeTar led the nation in membership recruiting when he signed up 28 new members in the 1997-1998 recruiting year. Using KGSPA's "Free Seed" deal and a lot of hard work, Dwayne won first prize in a recruiting contest sponsored by National Sorghum Producers - 100 hours free use of a Ford/New Holland tractor. He also won a trip for two to the National Sorghum Producers 1998 convention in Reno, Nevada in February. Phil Vetter, Formosa, won second place in the National Grain Sorghum membership recruiting program and received $1,000 worth of Monsanto products. He chose to receive 25 gallons of Roundup Ultra as his reward. Why is membership important? KGSPA represents growers in many areas, including legislative and regulatory issues. Checkoff dollars can not be used in these areas. A strong association membership means a stronger voice for sorghum producers. KGSPA is offering the "free seed" deal again for the 1998-99 recruiting year. See the back page of this newsletter or call 800-489-2676 for details.
Grain Sorghum Producers - Committed to the Future
Producers Save Ethanol Thousands of seed tags and phone calls from Kansas and other farm states flooded Washington with the message "Extend Ethanol to 2007." The association used many methods to spread the message to Kansas farmers. Advertising in farm media, direct mail and newsletters were used. Grain elevators throughout the state used tabletop displays supplied by the association to help mobilize growers to save ethanol. All of the Kansas Congressional delegation voted in favor of the Highway Bill. The Kansas ethanol plants have a combined ability to produce over 50 million gallons of ethanol every year. That's a 20 million bushel market for our grains. Most of the ethanol produced in Kansas is made with grain sorghum.
Congress Approves IMF Funding;
Fast Track
Sanctions Reform Call KGSPA at 800-489-2676 for more information on these and other issues affecting growers. KGSPA Briefs Dumping fees- KGSPA worked to let growers know through the media that grain elevators may be charging illegal dumping fees and encouraged growers to work with their elevators on a local level to resolve any disputes. "The state statute is very clear - public warehouses must file an application for any additional fees or tariffs they wish to charge," KGSPA Executive Director Jere White said. New Markets-KGSPA is working to create partnerships with livestock feeders and to develop new markets for white grain sorghum. State Fair Prize Goes to Mark Stenzel with Novartis sorghum- The KGSPA Best of Show award for the grain sorghum show at the Kansas State Fair was awarded to Mark Stenzel of Bazine. Stenzel planted Novartis K5942. Participation in the grain sorghum competition was up substantially from previous years. A new format with classes by seed company increased interest among growers. Scholarship awarded-The KGSPA Scholarship was awarded to Mario Kenneth Regier, Whitewater. Regier is a junior at K-State, majoring in agronomy. Communications- KGSPA works hard to keep its members and the public informed of issues important to grain sorghum producers. For more information on grain sorghum issues and the association, call 800-489-2676.
Water Quality is a Cooperative Effort The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission and Novartis Crop Protection are among the entities that have funded Kansas State University research activities at the Foster Farm research site near Rossville for several years. Foster Farm is considered one of the nation's leading research facilities for Best Management Practices. KGSPA has been active in promoting the development and use of BMPs through participation in educational projects and through work with Novartis as well as KDA and KSU. Novartis has provided substantial assistance in the development of BMPs by providing support to the association to fund a $73,000 BMP project to support fall application of atrazine. Fall application allows growers to begin weed control for the next year's crops in the fall. Weed control is similar to spring application, but runoff problems due to heavy spring rains are not as likely to occur. "The KDA is very proactive in encouraging BMPs," KGSPA Executive Director Jere White said. "The atmosphere in Kansas is very conducive to the development of methods that give growers more flexibility to control pests and to protect our water sources." KGSPA and the Kansas Corn Growers Association are implementing an EPA water quality grant to develop and distribute educational materials about water quality and BMPs to growers in the Blue River basin and across the state. KGSPA is also developing a web site featuring Kansas BMPs and water quality information.
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