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OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sue Schulte
Date: 1/21/10 Phone: 785-448-6922

1-21-10--AGRICULTURE GROUPS DEFEND ATRAZINE AGAINST AGENDA-DRIVEN ATTACKS
53 groups representing tens of thousands of farmers in nearly every state and commodity call for decisions based on science, not politics

Washington, D.C. – A broad coalition of agriculture groups have written to Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in defense of the herbicide atrazine, which has become the target of a coordinated attack by environmental groups seeking to eliminate its use. See copy of the letter to the EPA here: http://www.ksgrains.com/corn/Lisa%20Jackson%20Agriculture%20Letter%201-15-2010.pdf). Atrazine, a critical tool in growing crops as diverse as corn, sorghum, sugar cane, and citrus, has been used safely in over 60 countries for 50 years.

The EPA will begin a re-re-evaluation of atrazine as part of a series of Scientific Advisory Panels, which will begin on February 2nd. Recent media events by agenda-driven organizations such as the Natural Resources Defense Council, Land Stewardship Project and Pesticide Action Network North America suggest a coordinated campaign to call atrazine’s safety into question and politicize what should be a scientific process. In fact, in an unprecedented move, the EPA itself identified NRDC material as part of its justification to launch the new review.

“We want to set the record straight on the agriculture community’s broad support of this very effective herbicide that has been used by farmers for more than 50 years,” said Jere White, executive director of the Kansas corn and grain sorghum growers associations. “Atrazine is used on more than one-half of all U.S. corn and two-thirds of sorghum. It is one of the primary elements that make American agriculture so phenomenally productive. Every EPA Administration since the EPA was founded – Republican and Democrat – has endorsed atrazine’s safety and that is why we join together to pledge our support and confidence in this product.”

“Atrazine is the foundation for weed control programs in Florida sugarcane and has withstood thorough scientific testing in the U.S. and around the world,” said James M. Shine, Jr., Agriculture Division Vice President for Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida. “Extensive research conducted by scientists inside and outside the government have weighed all the data and concluded that it is safe for the environment, human health, and crop protection. Our communities should feel confident that rigorous science has determined its safety.” It is estimated that atrazine is used in 90 percent of U.S. sugar cane production.

"The use of atrazine and the triazine family herbicides in citrus production have dramatically reduced the need for cultivation and water applications, provided protection against freeze damage, and created a better quality product," said Joel Nelsen, President of California Citrus Mutual.  "Their loss would have a devastating impact on our growers."

The coalition of agriculture groups will be actively involved in the EPA re-evaluation of atrazine and will insist that transparent, peer-reviewed science utilizing accepted practices govern regulatory decision-making.

For more information on this coalition or on atrazine, please contact Sue Schulte at sschulte@ksgrains.com or 785-448-6922.

 

Over 50 Ag Groups Call on EPA to Continue to Use Science, Not Politics in Atrazine Review
Jan. 15, 2010--Agricultural groups from Kansas and across the nation signed onto a letter to EPA clarifying growers’ support for atrazine. The letter was sent to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson today. Earlier this month, environmental activist groups submitted a letter to EPA saying growers oppose the use of atrazine.

“It is truly disheartening when political agendas attempt to overturn scientific process,” the letter states. “Such is the case in the January 5th letter submitted to the EPA by a handful of special interest groups misrepresenting themselves as the voice of the agriculture community in an attempt to negate the overwhelming support and confidence in the herbicide atrazine and to gain media attention for themselves.”

Jere White, executive director of the Kansas corn and grain sorghum growers associations said farmers have been involved in EPA’s reviews of atrazine since the mid-1990s. The groups that signed the letter in support of atrazine represent a very large number of farmers and agricultural producers.

“Over 50 national, state, and local grower and agricultural groups signed on to this letter which reaffirms their support of the use of atrazine. These groups represent hundreds of thousands of farmers from Hawaii to Pennsylvania,” White said. “Many of these grower groups have been involved in the EPA’s repeated studies and reviews of atrazine for more than 15 years. I don’t think the environmental activist groups understand that there are trade-offs. For example, removing atrazine would actually hinder many of our row crop farmers’ efforts to use conservation no-till and reduced-till practices. Without atrazine, many would have to return to tilling their land, increasing the risk of erosion and runoff.”

The groups signing the letter asked EPA to understand that the majority of farmers support the use of atrazine and asked EPA to use science, not politics, to arrive at a decision on the safety of atrazine.

The letter states: “Our growers have actively participated in the process and supported the safety and scientific approval of atrazine by the EPA over the last fifteen years and three White House Administrations. Mainstream agriculture has participated in every Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) concerning atrazine since the beginning of the Special Review in 1994. As stated clearly to the November 3, 2009 SAP, we strongly believe the scientific weight of evidence, based on EPA's own analysis for decades, shows atrazine to be both safe and effective and that it is the best kind of tool that farmers can have.

We are troubled by the activist forces that seem to be guiding the very intensive and urgent re-evaluation (actually a re-re-evaluation) of atrazine despite its recently completed re-registration, which provided for its continued safe use.

. . . The benefits of atrazine use to agriculture are well documented and part of existing EPA record. Recent efforts to downplay these benefits in the media are simply the wishes of activists who suggest they have better insight on producing abundant food, fuel and fiber from their comfortable desk than the farmer who has been doing it all his life. It should be noted that our farmers consider themselves the ultimate conservationists, for without the careful cultivation of their land...their own livelihoods are at risk.”


Read the Ag Groups' Letter to EPA Here

1-14-10--Kansas Sorghum Growers Recognized Nationally in Yield Contest
The National Sorghum Producers (NSP) has announced winners of its 2009 Sorghum Yield and Management Contest. Kansas sorghum growers are among the cream of the crop and are showcasing some of the nation’s best management practices.

Gerald Simonsen, chairman of the NSP Board of Directors, congratulated the winners, saying that each farmer who entered the contest brought a great value to the competition.

“These winning yields represent high personal achievement for these farmers,” said Simonsen. “Every producer who entered the contest was measured against a county average yield, which levels the playing field and ensures that the contest honors the best yields compared to local averages and conditions. Producers who choose to enter the NSP Yield and Management contest represent a commitment to this crop and the business of farming.”

The NCP yield contest varies from many other contests. The contest levels the playing field by scoring a contestant’s yield against his county’s 5-year county average yield.

Ki Gamble, of Kiowa County, was awarded second place in the Reduced-Till Irrigated with a yield of 210.73 bushels per acre, beating the county yield by 107.73 bushels per acre. Stanely Brandyberry Farms, of Graham County received second place in the No-Till Non-Irrigated category with a yield of 165.16 bushels per acre, beating the county average by 105.36 bushels per acre. From Saline County, Clayton and Louanne Short obtained second place in the Conventional-Till Non-Irrigaged category with a yield of 170.32 bushels per acre and surpassing the county average by 101.02 bushels per acre. In the Conventional-Till Irrigated category, Bibb-Nighswonger, of Comanche County, received third place with a yield of 197.75 bushels per acre which was 115.45 bushels per acre over the county average.

National, state and county yield contest winners will be honored with a dinner at Commodity Classic in Anaheim, California on March 5, 2010. In addition, winners will receive plaques and first place national winners will be highlighted in the Spring issue of Sorghum Grower magazine.

Kansas overall sorghum production was estimated at 224.4 million bushels, up from 214.5 in 2008. Full contest results are posted at www.sorghumgrowers.com

11-6-09--Kansas Corn, Sorghum Groups Boost Outreach Efforts with New Staff Member
GARNETT, Kansas (Nov. 6, 2009)- DeEtta Bohling from Greenfield, Iowa recently joined the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association as Communications and Marketing Associate. The associations represent Kansas sorghum and corn producers in legislative and regulatory issues.

“Our goal was to find a person who could help us beef up our communications efforts while boosting our association’s internet presence, especially in social media,” according to KCGA/KGSPA Director of Communications Sue Schulte. “DeEtta is a great fit and brings a lot of enthusiasm and knowledge in these areas.”

Bohling is a 2009 graduate from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Here she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts with an emphasis in Public Relations. She received a minor in Business Administration and a Leadership Education Program certificate.

Bohling has been an active member of 4-H, FFA, Adair County Youth Action Committee, Friends of the Library, Wartburg College Student Senate, Entertainment ToKnight, the Volunteer Action Center, Tower Agency Public Relations, Wartburg Television, and served as an ambassador for Wartburg College.

In 2003, Bohling received the Iowa Governor’s Youth Leadership Award. In 2004 she was inducted into the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame and in 2007 she was awarded with a Wartburg College Nobility Award for her service and leadership.

Before joining the Kansas corn and sorghum associations, Bohling was the Marketing and Social Networking intern for the Iowa 4-H Foundation in Ames, Iowa.
 

Comments on FIFRA SAP on Atrazine Review
Docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0759-0001
November 3, 2009
Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, my name is Jere White. I am the executive director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association and also serve as chairman of the Triazine Network. My expenses to be here are covered by Kansas farmers.

The Triazine Network was formed in 1995 as a response by growers of over 30 commodities and from over forty states, to provide input to the US EPA special review of the triazine herbicides. Our objective is to ensure that EPA has and utilizes the best science. That's why we are here today. We have participated in every SAP concerning atrazine since the beginning of the Special Review in 1994. We believe the scientific weight of evidence shows atrazine to be both safe and effective and that is the best kind of tool that farmers can have.
Last month EPA announced their decision to pursue a very intensive and urgent reevaluation (actually a re-reevaluation) of atrazine, in disregard to it’s recently completed reregistration which provided for its continued safe use. It clearly appears the normal process which included internal review (i.e. data evaluation records) of new studies by EPA, and when deemed appropriate, a further review by its SAP, has been cast away. It seems now that the an NRDC seeded story in the New York Times is all the peer review needed in order to tee up a minimum of five SAPs in just over a year (four indicated in the FR Notice and a minimum of one additional in FY-2011 indicated in the Agency's stakeholder conference call).

The Agency describes this as a "kickoff" meeting which was certainly new terminology in my fifteen years of participation. This seems highly unusual. Perhaps even festive and goal oriented.

Some countries abandon science in their process and subscribe to a precautionary principal that puts at risk their own people. The benefits of atrazine to agriculture are well documented and part of existing EPA record. Recent efforts to downplay the benefits in the media are simply the wishes of activists who suggest they have better insight on producing abundant food, fuel and fiber from their comfortable desk than the farmer who has been doing it all his life. It should be noted that farmers have been some of the best early adopters.

The Triazine Network is disappointed that there appears to be a major departure in process at EPA in regards to the recently announced SAPs re-reassessing atrazine. However, we commit to engage all processes and all options in order to see a science based outcome continue during all Administrations and keep all those we represent and all that represent us informed of the progress.

Oct. 1, 2009--Grower Leaders Voice Atrazine Support
Growers from Kansas and four other states left their combines this week to talk to leadership from Syngenta Crop Protection about the importance of atrazine to their farming operations. A roundtable meeting was held at the National Corn Growers Association office in Chesterfield, MO, followed by an informal meeting at the Keith Witt farm in Warrenton, MO.

While atrazine was successfully re-registered by EPA in 2006, recent attacks by environmental activists including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) have brought the issue to the forefront. Trial attorneys also continue their efforts for legal action against the makers of atrazine.

Growers represented at the meeting included four past NCGA Presidents: Ron Litterer, Iowa; Ken McCauley, Kansas; Dee Vaughan, Texas and Fred Yoder, Ohio. Three past presidents of the National Sorghum Producers were present: Greg Shelor, Kansas; James Vorderstrasse, Nebraska, and Bill Kubecka, Texas.

Atrazine is used to help farmers grow crops in a way that protects the environment, especially with no-till practices, McCauley said. “Environmental activists would like you to believe that farmers don’t need atrazine, so we might as well get rid of it. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not only is it important to our growers’ bottom lines, it is vital to the practices we use to protect the environment,” McCauley said. “The NRDC says we can use another chemical, but ask NRDC what chemicals they do approve of.”

Southwest Kansas sorghum producer Greg Shelor told the group that his no-till practices would not be possible without atrazine. “I can’t no-till without atrazine,” he said. “With no-till there is not near the runoff and without no-till I will have 50 or 60 bushel sorghum instead of the 100 to 120 bushels I have now.”

Iowa grower Ron Litterer said many people don’t understand atrazine’s role in reducing rates of herbicides. “For me atrazine is an enhancer for weed control. Years ago, my dad used it as his sole product. Now we use much lower rates and have better weed control. As an enhancer, atrazine has allowed us to reduce the rates of other chemicals and has made them more effective.”

Atrazine allows Nebraska sorghum farmer James Vorderstrasse to use moisture conserving no-till practices on his farm. “There is no alternative to atrazine,” he said. “Every time you till the soil you lose an inch of moisture. Without atrazine, you’d have to till two or three times pre-plant plus cultivate a couple of times and that amounts to a loss of 5 inches of moisture.”

Ohio Grower Fred Yoder said atrazine has been important to his family farm for years. “I’m trying to remember if we have ever grown corn without atrazine. It’s been around such a long time. But does that mean we need to look at something else? I don’t think so,” he said.

Syngenta CEO Mike Mack and President of Crop Protection Valdemar Fischer participated in the roundtable discussion by phone. Travis Dickinson, Vice President of Marketing; Tim Pastoor, Principal Scientist; Steven Goldsmith Senior Communications Manager and Todd Barlow, State Government Relations Manager participated in a meeting with growers at the National Corn Growers Association offices in Chesterfield, MO. The Syngenta executives reaffirmed their commitment to defending the use of atrazine.

9-11-09--Kansas Sorghum to Hit Record Yield in 2009 Crop

The September 11 crop production report pegs the Kansas grain sorghum crop at 221.4 million bushels with a record yield of 82 bushels per acre. Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association Executive Director Jere White said the sorghum crop looks good across the state.

“All you have to do is drive down the road to see the quality of this year’s sorghum crop. You can see some beautiful sorghum fields across the state,” White said. “Sorghum has always been a popular choice for Kansas growers because it can produce a crop in the worst years. This year, it is really shining because of the excellent conditions throughout the growing season in most parts of the state.”

Efforts are underway to improve sorghum through research funded by the United Sorghum Checkoff Program. The checkoff completed its first year of existence in July. Research is a priority with the checkoff which hopes to make sorghum more profitable by improving genetics and making improvements in areas like cold tolerance, nitrogen use, and new herbicide options.

The U.S. sorghum harvest is expected to be at 389.6 million bushels, with a national yield of 65.5 bushels per acre. Kansas is the leading producer of grain sorghum, and will harvest more than 56 percent of the nation’s crop this year.

Sorghum remains an important part of many Kansas growers’ crop rotations and is valued by ethanol plants and livestock producers and has a strong export market.

The Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association is a member-based organization that represents growers on the state and national level. For more information, visit www.ksgrains.com.
 

8-25-09--Kansas Growers Say Activist Groups Twist EPA Atrazine Data to Alarm Consumers
Three media events on August 23-24 highlighted activists’ efforts to raise public concern about the herbicide atrazine. The New York Times, Huffington Post and National Resources Defense Council all release reports about atrazine on Sunday and Monday. The stories were based on data from a monitoring program that Syngenta, the maker of atrazine, entered into with EPA in 2003. The Atrazine Monitoring Program (AMP) is an intensive monitoring program currently focusing on about 100 community water systems located primarily in the Midwest.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum contaminant level (MCL) for atrazine at 3 parts per billion (ppb) based on an annual average in public drinking water. Atrazine is among a list of 87 drinking water contaminants routinely monitored by the EPA. Jere White, executive director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association said results of the two testing programs should not be used to confuse consumers. READ MORE!

“The focus of the AMP program is different than the normal water sampling that is done to determine the annual MCL for drinking water systems,” White said. “This study is focused on areas with higher atrazine usage—basically a closer look. The EPA set a guideline under this program of 37.5 ppb atrazine plus three metabolites (breakdown products) over a 90-day period as a benchmark for a level of concern.”

The activist groups used two sets of data to cause concern among consumers, White said.

“You can do anything with numbers. There are spikes, but those spikes were taken into consideration by EPA when the 3 parts per billion annual drinking water level for atrazine was set. That’s why it is an annual average and not a daily or weekly number. But to then take data from an entirely different program, and suggest that the levels were above the EPA’s MCL for atrazine is simply misleading.”

In its July 2009 update, EPA stated, “Through its review of this data, the Agency has confirmed that none of the systems have exceeded OPP's level of concern, a 90-day average of 37.5 parts per billion (ppb) of atrazine and its degradates. Concentrations below this 90-day average are considered to be safe.”

“If you look at the data, you see that atrazine levels in raw (untreated) water have decreased. Farmers are using practices that reduce the amount of runoff from fields, and that keeps chemicals out of surface water,” White said. “This is actually very good news, which has gone unreported.”

Atrazine is crucial to the success of no-till farming operations that have a wide range of environmental benefits. No-till is a practice that leaves crop residue, like corn stalks, in the field to cut down on soil erosion and runoff of fertilizers and farm chemicals.

“When you talk about soil conservation and reducing runoff, you have to talk about no-till farming practices,” White said. “This practice is making a real difference when it comes to conservation. But many growers say without residual weed control that atrazine offers, they would not be able to continue their no-till practices. Farmers have a good story to tell, producing more with less. For example, look at what corn producers have done in the last 10 years. For the same bushel of corn produced in 1987, today our land use is down 37 percent, soil loss is down 69 percent.”

For more information and background on this issue, visit this Atrazine Blog

4-24-09--Growers Say Out of State Trial Attorneys Miss the Point in Kansas Atrazine Lawsuit

Two out-of-state law firms are now saying that two Kansas grower groups are simply trying to protect the financial success of a Swiss chemical company after the corn and grain sorghum associations blew the whistle on an effort to sign up Kansas towns to join a lawsuit against the maker of atrazine. Nothing could be farther from the truth, according to Jere White, executive director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association. Instead, corn and sorghum farmers are working to protect access to an important herbicide that has been safely used to control weeds on Kansas farms for years.

“The financial success we are concerned about is a lot closer to home. It is in the corn and sorghum fields of Marion County, Kansas,” White said. “A frivolous lawsuit like this can result in taking atrazine off the shelves in Kansas and throughout farm country. That would have far reaching consequences with our growers who rely on atrazine for weed control and conservation tillage.”

KCGA and KGSPA were surprised to learn earlier this month that the farming communities of Hillsboro and Marion had signed on to a lawsuit against the makers of atrazine alleging contamination of their drinking water. Atrazine levels in the drinking water of both cities are well below the 3 parts per billion drinking water standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

In a statement to the media, the trial attorney firms of Baron and Budd, P.C. and Korein Tillery claimed that Kansas corn and sorghum farmers are only interested in protecting the financial interests of a Swiss company.

“Law firms whose office locations include Dallas, Chicago, Beverly Hills and St. Louis are claiming that they are just trying to protect the little guy in Marion County? I find that hard to swallow,” White said.

According to published reports, the law firms, headquartered in Dallas and St. Louis, will retain a third to a half of all the winnings if the lawsuit is successful.

“It sounds to me like these big city lawyers are the ones protecting their financial interests in this case,” White said. “They are in Kansas trolling for water systems to sign on to their lawsuit because it is in their financial interest to do so.”

Kansas farmers use atrazine to control broadleaf weeds in corn and sorghum. Growers have funded research in Kansas to develop best management practices that help keep atrazine on the fields and away from sources of drinking water. In addition, atrazine is a crucial tool for conservation tillage in Kansas.

“We’re in this to protect our growers’ interests,” White said. “Atrazine is a safe, effective and affordable herbicide that helps our growers control weeds in their crops. What’s more, our growers are using practices that are keeping the levels of atrazine well below EPA’s drinking water standard. That means even according to EPA’s extremely strict standards, atrazine at these levels presents no threat to drinking water.”

The trial attorneys have told cities they are only after compensation from a foreign herbicide maker and no one else will be hurt by this lawsuit.

“I’m not so sure that is true,” White asserted. “The contract entered into by the cities of Marion and Hillsboro states that damages may be sought not only from the maker of atrazine, but also anyone who sells it. They are talking about the ag retailers in our state, the local dealers like farmers cooperatives who provide our farmers with their crop protection tools.”

The Baron and Budd and Korein Tillery law firms asserted that cities are required to add filtration systems just to get atrazine levels within federal standards.

“If your atrazine levels are well within the federal standards anyway, why would you invest in new filtration systems to meet those standards,” White said. “Their premise is flawed in that they believe water should be completely free of all levels of contaminants. The list of contaminants that EPA monitors is six pages long with a total of 87 contaminants with maximum contaminant levels designated. That’s good news for Baron and Budd and Korein Tillery—once they are done with atrazine, they have a lot of other moneymakers to go after.”

The trial attorneys in their statement asserted that Syngenta, one of the makers of atrazine is boosting its efforts to sell the herbicide in the U.S. since they no longer sell it in Europe.

“I listen to a lot of ag radio and read a lot of ag publications, and I can’t remember the last time I heard or saw an ad for atrazine,” White said. “It’s an ingredient in several herbicide products, but you just don’t see companies out there pushing atrazine on our farmers. Ads are focused on newer technologies. Farmers are already aware of atrazine because they have used it safely for years.”

City officials claim that their communities’ drinking water is safe, but are seeking damages in a lawsuit that claims that atrazine at any level makes drinking water unsafe.

“Hillsboro and Marion are suing on the assumption that the drinking water is contaminated with atrazine. The cities signed on to the lawsuit over drinking water contamination, but then say their water is safe. They are right, their water is safe because atrazine levels are far below the federal drinking water standard. So why are they in this lawsuit?”

The law firms also commend the cities for their compliance with the Kansas Open Records Act and Kansas Open Meetings Act. The growers associations have formally requested that the Marion County Attorney’s office investigate alleged violations of the open meetings and records act.

“It shouldn’t take almost a month and filing a formal complaint to get public documents,” White said. “If these out-of-state law firms think that is commendable, maybe they need to become more familiar with Kansas law.”

The growers associations are continuing their dialogue with cities and water systems in Kansas. “We are encouraging cities and other water systems to talk to the experts at EPA or the Kansas Department of Health and Environment before jumping onto the trial attorneys’ bandwagon,” White said.

 

4-23-09--City of Hillsboro Supplies Atrazine Lawsuit Records to Growers Associations

After nearly a month of efforts, the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association received information used by the Marion and Hillsboro city councils when they joined a lawsuit against the makers of the herbicide atrazine.

On April 13, the associations asked the Marion County Attorney to investigate alleged violations of the Kansas Open Records Act, and the Kansas Open Meetings Act by the cities of Marion and Hillsboro. The city councils met in a closed session last month to discuss entering into a lawsuit against the manufacturers of atrazine. Later, both cities voted in open sessions to join the lawsuit being initiated by the Texas law firm Baron and Budd, P.C.

“I made an informal request to Hillsboro city manager Larry Paine for certain meeting materials on March 27. On April 2, I mailed to both cities a formal request asking for the materials in accordance with the Kansas Open Records Act,” White said. “The City of Marion denied the existence of documents, and the City of Hillsboro denied us access, although the documents were given to the local newspaper. This led to our request to the Marion County Attorney for an investigation into open records and meetings violations.”

The associations received the requested materials from the City of Hillsboro on April 23. The City of Marion has told us through their legal counsel that certain requested items were not retained after the March 12 meeting.

It is a fundamental right to all Kansans to have access to records and meetings of their elected officials in a timely manner. The state law gives only a small set of circumstances in which access may be denied and the state law requires that public bodies respond to an open records request within three business days.

“We began requesting these materials nearly a month ago, and we were ignored until we asked for an investigation by the county attorney,” White said.

The growers associations are hoping other communities that are contacted make better informed decisions on the atrazine lawsuit.

“We are trying to let other communities know about this issue so they can make informed decisions on whether to join the lawsuit, urging them to talk to experts at EPA or the Kansas Department of Health and Environment who understand the drinking water standards,” White said.

In his request to the Marion County Attorney, White also questioned the legality of the two councils meeting together in a closed session to discuss the lawsuit. To date, the Marion County Attorney has not responded to the association’s request, but County Attorney Susan Robson told the Marion County Record that she is looking into the matter.

“Regardless of the recent receipt of materials, we fully expect that the issue of compliance with our states “sunshine” laws will be explored and determined,” added White. “Citizens should not have to jump through so many hoops to have access to public documents.”
 

4-14-09--Kansas Growers Ask Marion County Attorney to Investigate Open Records, Open Meeting Violations

The Marion County Attorney has been asked to investigate alleged violations of the Kansas Open Records Act, and the Kansas Open Meetings Act by the cities of Marion and Hillsboro. Kansas Corn Growers Association Executive Director Jere White made the request on Monday. The city councils of Marion and Hillsboro met in a closed session last month to discuss whether to enter into a lawsuit against the manufacturers of atrazine, a herbicide used by corn and grain sorghum farmers.

White requested from both cities copies of all materials relating to the health effects of atrazine that were provided to the Councils. The City of Hillsboro did not respond to the formal request, but in response to an earlier informal request, City Administrator Larry Paine said the documents were reviewed in executive session and were protected by attorney-client privilege. The City of Marion denied the existence of any documents.

“Although one city official denied the existence of documents, and another denied us access, these documents were provided to the local media,” White said. “You can’t pick and choose. You can’t deny one person the documents, and then give them to someone else.”

White also requested and did not receive a response to his request for a copy of the contract that the City of Hillsboro entered into with the law firm. In his letter to the county attorney, Susan Hobson, White also challenged the legality under the Kansas Open Meetings Act for two separate councils to meet together in executive session.

“I’ve served in local government myself and I understand how important it is to follow the open records and open meetings laws,” White said. “We have tried to do things properly by making formal requests for information to the cities. When we were denied or ignored, we talked to the Kansas Attorney General’s office which recommended asking the Marion County Attorney to investigate the matter.”

The Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association became involved when the two cities agreed to join in a lawsuit against the makers of atrazine. Both towns’ water systems fall well below the 3 parts per billion drinking water standard for atrazine. City officials were reportedly told that atrazine is more dangerous at even lower levels. White, who has been involved in EPA’s Special Review of atrazine since 1995, said he had not heard any substantiated research to back those claims.

“Basically you’ve got trial attorneys looking to make some money by convincing people their drinking water is unsafe,” White said. “EPA sets stringent standards for safe drinking water and the water that is provided to the people of Marion and Hillsboro is well within those standards. Instead of taking the word of these Texas trial attorneys, the city councils should have also consulted with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment or EPA.”
 

4-2-09--Kansas Farming Communities Targeted by Trial Attorneys for Atrazine Lawsuit
News that two Kansas agricultural communities have signed on as participants in a class action lawsuit against the maker of the farm herbicide atrazine came as both a surprise and a disappointment to the Kansas Corn Growers Association and the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association. The cities of Hillsboro and Marion were selected by a group of Texas trial lawyers seeking drinking water systems to sign on to their case.

Jere White, executive director of KCGA and KGSPA has been involved with atrazine issues on a national level since 1995 when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began a Special Review of the triazine herbicides including atrazine.

“What concerns me is that these city councils only heard one-sided information provided by the Texas law firm of Baron and Budd, which will reportedly collect a third of any winnings of the lawsuit,” White said. “Why not also get information from experts that don’t have a monetary interest, like Kansas Department of Health and Environment or EPA?”

In 2006, the Environmental Protection Agency gave a favorable risk assessment to the triazine herbicides including atrazine concluding that they pose no harm that would result to the general U.S. population, infants, children or other consumers.

After the EPA’s positive science-based findings on atrazine, activists have turned to the legal system in hopes of finding another way to ban the herbicide, White said.

“When we became involved in the Special Review of atrazine, we simply wanted EPA to make a decision on scientific fact regardless of the outcome,” he said. “Now the debate has moved into the legal arena, where fear and misinformation can sometimes carry more weight than proven scientific fact. EPA assembled numerous expert science panels to review and advisee the agency in its decision. Their science is sound.”

Media reports state that the city officials were told their communities had nothing to lose by getting involved in the lawsuit.

“From reading the news reports, it appears the councils had been convinced that no one loses in this lawsuit except for a big foreign-owned chemical company. That could not be further from the truth. Farmers rely on atrazine for safe and economical weed control, and lawsuits like this threaten their ability to buy and use this product. Any costs incurred with this lawsuit will be borne by farmers, regardless of the outcome,” White said. “The Texas trial attorneys made it sound like the lottery—but the jackpot will go to Baron and Budd.”

Water testing shows that both communities fall well below the 3 parts per billion standard for atrazine in drinking water. This Federal standard is an annual average based on lifetime exposure. However, Hillsboro city manager Larry Paine was quoted in news stories saying that even lower levels of atrazine are a concern to public health, claiming that lower levels seem to be more dangerous to higher levels.

“I have personally been involved in the EPA Special Review and Reregistration of atrazine since 1995. I have heard a lot of wild claims, but I have never heard anything like that,” White said. “EPA performed a science-based review of atrazine that spanned well over a decade and concluded that atrazine does not pose a risk even at levels three times higher than those reported at Hillsboro.”

Communities and their water systems also have a stake in making sure that water standards are science-based.

“It is in the best interest of water systems and to public safety to have standards that are set by science-based methods, rather than litigation,” White said. “Water systems themselves add chemicals to the water to make it safe to drink. Those water disinfectants create contaminants, yet within the standards, they are considered safe. If science-based standards are not protective in the eyes of Hillsboro and Marion city leaders, how can they expect their constituents to accept their assurance that their drinking water is safe? Water consumed by their citizens will always contain more than hydrogen and oxygen.”

Cities should be wary of trial lawyer’s tactics and seek information from a neutral party, like KDHE or EPA. “There are volumes of peer reviewed science available on atrazine that were generated throughout EPA’s Special Review of the triazine herbicides, which include atrazine,” White said. “Our growers have worked for years to make sure that we are using atrazine responsibly on our fields. We have funded research at K-State to establish and implement practices to keep atrazine from running off our fields into rivers and streams. Now we have trial attorneys from Texas coming to our rural Kansas towns and apparently feeding them a lot of misinformation to get them to sign on to their lawsuit. Cities and other water systems in Kansas should use diligence if approached by trial attorneys on any issue, including this one.”

12-14-09--Kansas Growers Excel in NSP Yield Contest

Kansas had a first or second place winner in each of the major categories in NSP's Yield and Management Contest. Contestants entered the contest in one of five production categories, and each entry must have harvested for contest purposes a plot of at least five contiguous sorghum acres. The Yield Contest is hosted annually by NSP to recognize outstanding production practices and yield accomplishments by sorghum growers nationwide. 

This year’s national winners from Kansas include: In the Conventional-Till Irrigated Category, Ki Gamble, of Kiowa County placing second; in Conventional-Till Non-Irrigated, Clayton and Louanne Short of Saline County placing second; in Mulch-Till Non-Irrigated, Steve Richard of Cloud County, Kansas placing first; in No-Till Non-Irrigated, Jarrod Spillman of Sheridan County, Kansas; and in Reduced-Till Irrigated, Roger Johnson of SheridanCounty placing 2nd. Mike Fischer of Thayer County, Nebraska took home the first place price nationally in the Food Grade category.

Each national winner will receive a trophy and will also be honored at a dinner at Commodity Classic with the NSP Board of Directors and staff. A breakfast awards ceremony for all county, state and national honorees will be held during Commodity Classic, the premier convention and trade show of the U.S. sorghum, corn, soybean, and wheat industries. The 2008 Commodity Classic will be held in Grapevine, Texas at the Gaylord Texan resort and hotel February 26^th through 28^th, 2008. Sorghum-specific programming begins on February 25^th.

11-20-08--Kansas Sorghum Producer Named President of United Sorghum Checkoff Board

Bill Greving of Prairie View, Kansas was elected chairman of the United Sorghum Checkoff Board of Directors at its first meeting in Washington, DC in November. The Board accomplished many tasks that will allow the checkoff program to efficiently move forward The Board members were sworn in by Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer on Tuesday morning and immediately began their meeting, including orientation by USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Service and election of officers.

“We had a very productive meeting this week at USDA’s headquarters and were able to make important decisions that will allow this checkoff program to accomplish its mission of improving profitability for sorghum producers,” said newly-elected President of the Board, Bill Greving, of Prairie View, Kansas. “I am honored to have been elected President of this Board and look forward to serving sorghum producers nationwide in this critical transition time for the sorghum industry.”

Other officers include Vice President, Bill Kubecka of Palacios, Texas; Secretary, Jeff Casten of Quenemo, Kansas; and Treasurer, Dale Artho of Wilderado, Texas. Besides electing officers, the Board also officially named the program the United Sorghum Checkoff Program. They approved a Request for Proposal process that will enable sorghum research projects to get underway this winter and deliver new technology to sorghum growers’ fields as quickly as possible. The Board also approved bylaws and an initial budget.

Other members of the USCP Board include Gary Kilgore of Chanute, Kansas; Earl Roemer of Healy, Kansas; Greg Shelor of Minneola, Kansas; Billy Bob Brown of Panhandle, Texas; James Vorderstrasse of Hebron, Nebraska; Troy Skarke of Claude, Texas; Louise Rigdon of Blackwell, Oklahoma; Stewart Weaver of Edmonson, Arkansas; and Jerry Van Zee of Platte, South Dakota.

The United Sorghum Checkoff Program commits to invest sorghum checkoff dollars efficiently to increase profitability for sorghum through research, promotion and information.

12-1-08--Kansas Commodity Classic Is Tuesday, December 9 at Salina!
As Kansas farmers look ahead to 2009, a number of key questions are looming: can commodity prices rebound to near-historic highs of 2008? Will input prices stabilize?

Answers to these questions may be found at the annual Kansas Commodity Classic, slated for Dec. 9 at the Holiday Inn, Salina. The Commodity Classic is an annual joint convention of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association.

The day’s educational sessions begin at 9 a.m., when Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky leads off with a recap of 2008 and 2009 outlook. The general session continues with a keynote presentation focusing on the “Strength of the Agricultural Economy,” followed by an Ag Production Issues panel discussion on the relationship between agricultural credit, grain marketing and crop inputs. The morning session concludes with a post-election update on federal government issues.

Following a complimentary luncheon, a series of breakout sessions will allow farmers to gain valuable insight into the 2009 crop year. Sessions include:

--Fertilizer Supply, Demand and Costs;

--Alternative Land Lease Agreements

--End of Year Tax Planning for Farmers

--Rural Development Opportunities

--Marketing Strategies

An ice cream break featuring Call Hall Ice Cream from Kansas State University - a Kansas Commodity Classic tradition – separates the first and second breakout sessions. The Commodity Classic is free to farmers, but pre-registration is encouraged, by calling the Kansas Wheat office at 866-759-4328.

Follow this link for an agenda of Classic events
 

KGSPA Annual Meeting 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, December 9 at the Salina Holiday Inn

7-28-08--Kansans Elected to NSP Board
National Sorghum Producers (NSP) recently elected a new nine member Board of Directors. The new Board will focus solely on legislative and regulatory issues as a new national sorghum checkoff board will assume research, promotion, and education responsibilities this fall. NSP will still work in conjunction with the national checkoff board to advance the industry. Toby Bostwick, the new NSP Chairman of the Board, resides in Melrose, NM. Toby regards his new position as “humbling and exciting”. “I know with the new focus of NSP, that we can and will be even more active in influencing future legislative decisions.” The previous Chairman, Dale Murden, will remain on the new board as the Past Chairman. “It’s been a good two years,” said Dale. “I’ve been proud to be associated with this association and the great people who are its members and leaders.” During his time as Chairman, the industry started a national checkoff on sorghum, made it through the Farm Bill process, and strengthened its membership base.

The seven additional members of the board are: Ken Georg, a sorghum producer from Sabetha, KS; Eric Mork, Director of Domestic Business, ICM, Inc. in Wichita, KS; Daniel Krienke, a sorghum producer from Perryton, TX; Brian McCuiston, the General Manager of Planters Grain Coop in Odem, TX; Gerald Simenson, a sorghum producer from Ruskin, NE; Terry Swanson, a sorghum producer from Walsh, CO; and David Thomas, an owner of Sorghum Partners, Inc. in New Deal, TX.

NSP will remain the voice of the sorghum industry. NSP is focused on representing sorghum producers in Farm Bill implementation and work to continue support for the ethanol industry. Since the checkoff board can focus on research and promotion, the NSP Board can now place more emphasis on legislative and regulatory issues. NSP represents U.S. sorghum producers. The organization works to ensure the profitability of sorghum production coast to coast through legislative representation, regulatory representation, and education. To learn more about NSP, visit www.sorghumgrowers.com.

7-1-08--National Sorghum Checkoff Begins Collections
(National Sorghum Producers News Release)
 
This morning, July 1, 2008, the Sorghum Promotion, Research and Information Order officially began collections for a program that will ultimately contribute to the improved development of the sorghum industry.
 
The National Sorghum Producers Board of Directors has been working toward the creation of a nation-wide sorghum checkoff program for over two years.
 
“The first checked-off load represents a milestone for the sorghum industry,” said NSP President Dale Murden of Monte Alto, Texas. “This step will lead to more research on sorghum, better markets for sorghum, and eventually more acres for this crop.”
 
The checkoff rate for grain sorghum is 0.6 percent of value and is collected at the first point of sale. The checkoff rate for forage sorghum is 0.35 percent of value. In many states, a previously-existing state checkoff was suspended upon commencement of national checkoff assessments.
 
“We have watched the decline of sorghum acres and the sorghum industry for the last 28 years,” said Gerald Simonsen, farmer from Ruskin, Nebraska. “To the producers for whom sorghum is an important part of their operation, the national sorghum checkoff is without any doubt the most positive move we have seen in those 28 years.”
 
Sorghum, deemed the “water-sipping crop,” is especially adaptable in semi-arid climates and uses one-third less water than some of its counterpart grains. It is used for animal feeding, for high-output ethanol production, as a gluten-free alternative food, and has many niche markets such as birdseed and wallboard. Much of the U.S. sorghum crop is also exported to Mexico and Europe for animal feeding and ethanol production.
 
“We have watched as public and private funding for the industry has been cut,” said Simonsen. “To me, it is inspiring that producers have taken it upon themselves to invest in their own industry.”
 
NSP represents U.S. sorghum producers. The organization works to ensure the profitability of sorghum production coast to coast through education and legislative and regulatory representation. To learn more about NSP, visit www.sorghumgrowers.com.  

6-26-08-- First purchasers alerted to new sorghum assessment process
(Kansas Department of Agriculture News Release)

TOPEKA -- First purchasers across Kansas will receive information by mail this week explaining a new process for collecting assessments on sorghum that becomes effective July 1 when the state switches from a state-level assessment to the national sorghum checkoff system.

The mailing from the Kansas Department of Agriculture explains how first purchasers must calculate the assessment to comply with the national checkoff. For those who have experience with it, it is similar to the national soybean checkoff.

Under the national sorghum checkoff, the assessment is based on net market value rather than bushels. Net market value is bushels multiplied by price per bushel after adjusting for any premium or discount. The national checkoff is set at .6 percent of the net market value received by the farmer.

Sorghum forage is included in the national checkoff, and its assessment is set at .35 percent of its net market value.

A first purchaser is any entity that buys more than 1,000 bushels of grain sorghum in a year, while a forage first purchaser buys more than 5,000 tons of sorghum forage, hay, aylage, billets or silage.

Also in the mailing is a revised monthly remittance form, which first purchasers must begin using in July and submit by August 20.

The national sorghum assessment has a new refund procedure that can be explained by Craig Shackelford with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He can be reached at (202) 720-1115.

Assessment and refund procedures for corn, soybeans, sunflowers and wheat remain unchanged.

Kevin Lickteig of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission will answer questions about the new grain sorghum assessment procedure. He can be reached at (866) 457-6456. Or, questions can go to Erik Wisner, Kansas Department of Agriculture, at (785) 296-3210.

4-3-08--EPA Grants Label Allowing Lumax on Kansas Grain Sorghum
After a multi-year effort to add Lumax to the grain sorghum grower’s toolbox, the Environmental Protection Agency has labeled the pre-plant herbicide to be used on grain sorghum in Kansas and Nebraska. The Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association thanked those who worked for approval of the label including the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Kansas State University and the National Sorghum Producers.

Lumax includes the active ingredient mesotrione and can be used as a pre-plant herbicide. EPA granted emergency exemptions allowing the use of Lumax on grain sorghum in Kansas in 2006 and 2007.

“Having Lumax labeled for use on sorghum in Kansas and Nebraska reduces the uncertainty you have when you are waiting for an exemption,” according to KGSPA Executive Director Jere White. “Now that Lumax is labeled for grain sorghum in our state, our growers will be able to plan better when making their weed control decisions.”

Because grain sorghum is considered a minor crop, producers have a limited number of crop protection options.

“We’ve been working on getting a label for Lumax on sorghum ever since it was approved for corn. When EPA approved the label for Lumax, that was very good news for our sorghum producers who need pre-plant broadleaf weed control for their crop especially in cases where they are experiencing herbicide resistance issues,” White said. “As with all crop protection tools, we strongly encourage our growers to read and follow label instructions and restrictions.”

Lumax Herbicide, which is manufactured by Syngenta Crop Protection, must be applied following all label directions, restrictions and precautions.

Restrictions and Precautions include:
--Use Lumax only on Concep-treated grain sorghum seed.
--Do not apply to emerged grain sorghum.
--Do not apply to grain sorghum on coarse textured soils (i.e. sand, loamy sand or sandy loam).
--Apply Lumax to grain sorghum only. Lumax is not labeled for other types of sorghum.
--Minimize disturbance of the herbicide treated soil barrier during the planting process.
--Lumax is not approved for aerial application or application through any type of irrigation system.
--Do not harvest within 60 days of application.

The label information for Lumax and other information is available at the KGSPA website at www.ksgrains.com/sorghum

3-21-08--Greving, Short and Siefkes Elected to Grain Sorghum Commission
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Agriculture today announced the names of producers from the central third of the state who were elected to the state’s five grain commodity commissions – corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers and wheat.

This was the third election cycle for districts four, five and six under the new law that privatized the commissions in July 2000. District Four commissioners represent north-central Kansas; District Five commissioners represent central Kansas, and District Six commissioners represent south-central Kanas.

Ballots were cast between January 15 and March 1 and were counted at the Kansas
Department of Agriculture on March 7. The newly elected commissioners will take office April 1 and will serve three-year terms.

Commissioners-Elect for the Kansas Corn Commission
District four – Mike Brzon, who grows corn, soybeans, sorghum and wheat in Republic County. He currently serves on the Kansas Corn Commission and is a director on the U.S. Grains Council and Farmway Cooperative Inc. Brzon also is active in water issues in the Republican River basin in Kansas and Nebraska.

District five – Terry Vinduska, who grows corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa on a family farm in Marion County. He currently serves on the Kansas Corn Commission and is a member of the U.S. Grains Council, Kansas Farmers Union and Kansas Farm Bureau. Vinduska has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural technology from Kansas State University.

District six – Kent Moore, who grows corn, wheat and soybeans in Pratt County. He is a member of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, and he is on the board of directors for the Pratt County 4-H Foundation. Moore has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Kansas State University.

Commissioners-Elect for the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission
District four – William Greving, who grows corn, sorghum, wheat and hay in Phillips County. He currently is secretary-treasurer of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, serves on the board of the National Sorghum Producers and is a member of the Kansas Livestock Association, the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and the Kansas Corn Growers Association. Greving has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Fort Hays State University.

District five – Clayton Short, who grows corn, sorghum, wheat and soybeans in Saline County. He currently serves on the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission and is a member of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Association and Kansas Association of Wheat Growers. Short has a bachelors degree in agriculture from Kansas State University.

District six – Dennis Siefkes, who grows corn, grain sorghum, soybeans and wheat in Stafford County. He is a member of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association, the Stafford County Farm Bureau and the Great Bend Cooperative Association, and a past member of the Kansas Corn Commission. Siefkes has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture mechanization from Kansas State University.

Commissioners-Elect for the Kansas Soybean Commission
District four – Steve Clanton, who grows corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers and wheat in Ottawa County. He currently serves on the Kansas Soybean Commission. He has been involved in many organizations, including the local extension and soil conservation board and the Kansas Soybean Association. He is a past president of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers. Clanton has a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Kansas State University.

District five – Harold Kraus, who grows corn, grain sorghum, soybeans and wheat in Ellis County. He has served on the Kansas Soybean Commission since 1999, is a member of Kansas Farm Bureau and is a voting member of the National Biodiesel Board. Kraus has a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Kansas.

District six – Jerry Wyse, who grows wheat, corn, grain sorghum and soybeans in Reno County. He currently serves on the Kansas Soybean Commission and is past president and CEO of Kauffman Seeds Inc. Wyse has an associate’s degree in liberal arts from Hesston College.

Commissioners-Elect for the Kansas Wheat Commission
District four – Steve Clanton, who also was elected to the Kansas Soybean Commission.
He grows corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers and wheat in Ottawa County. He currently serves on the Kansas Soybean Commission. He has been involved in many organizations, including the local extension and soil conservation board and the Kansas Soybean Association. He is a past president of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers. Clanton has a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Kansas State University.

District five – Dean Stoskopf, who grows wheat, grain sorghum and alfalfa, and has a cow-calf herd in Barton County. He currently is finishing his second term on the Kansas Wheat Commission, he is a past president of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and is a current member of Kansas Farm Bureau. Stoskopf has a degree in agriculture from Kansas State University.

Distinct six – Scott Van Allen, who grows sorghum and wheat in Sumner County. He is a past president and current member of the Sumner County Farm Bureau. Van Allen has also been on Kansas Farm Bureau’s wheat advisory board for the past two years. Van Allen is a graduate of Clearwater High School.

Commissioner-Elect for the Kansas Sunflower Commission
There were no candidates for commissioner in districts four, five and six. Commissioners will be appointed by the Kansas Sunflower Commission.

2009 Election Will Cover Western Third of State
Corn, grain sorghum, soybean, sunflower and wheat growers in the western third of the state can expect to receive information by mail this fall outlining the 2009 election procedure.

District one includes Cheyenne, Decatur, Graham, Norton, Rawlins Sheridan, Sherman and Thomas counties.

District two includes Gove, Greeley, Lane, Logan, Ness, Scott, Trego, Wallace and Wichita counties.

District three includes Clark, Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Meade, Morton, Seward, Stanton and Stevens counties.

Grain growers who plan to campaign for a seat on one of the commissions must collect on an official petition form 20 signatures from eligible voters to be included on the 2009 ballot. Official petition forms will be available through the Kansas Department of Agriculture or one of the grain commodity commissions.

No more than five signatures from any one county will be used to qualify a candidate. Eligible voters are Kansas residents who will reach age 18 before the election and have been growing corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers or wheat during the last three years. The filing deadline for candidates is November 30, 2008.

2-6-08--DuPont Crop Protection and KSU Research Foundation Partner To Commercialize Sorghum Herbicide Tolerant Traits (KSU News release)
WILMINGTON, Del. – DuPont and Kansas State University Research Foundation have signed an agreement giving DuPont exclusive commercialization rights to two new herbicide-tolerant traits in sorghum.
The new traits, developed by Kansas State University researchers, include an ALS-herbicide-tolerant trait and an ACCase-herbicide tolerant trait. Both traits will provide growers with new, more flexible post-emergence herbicide options for grass control in sorghum with no restrictions on export marketing.
Growers will benefit from new herbicide solutions developed with the unique blends technology from DuPont Crop Protection for use on sorghum with the new ALS-tolerant trait. Seed companies will have the opportunity to sub-license both traits from DuPont.
“Our partnership with Kansas State will allow us to deliver solutions for grass and broadleaf weed control in sorghum that have never before been available,” said James C. Collins, vice president and general manager – DuPont Crop Protection. “We are pleased to work with Kansas State researchers as we continue to deliver products that increase grower productivity.”
“One of the greatest challenges sorghum growers have faced over the years is control of weeds in the crop,” said Forrest Chumley, K-State Research and Extension associate director for research. “To solve the problem, we needed to work with a company, such as DuPont, that has optimal herbicide chemistry, access to good crop genetics, and the willingness to make the innovation available broadly. This is a huge step for sorghum production.”
Growers currently rely on pre-emergence grass herbicides that require rainfall for activation. These treatments can be inconsistent, especially in the High Plains where annual rainfall frequently is limited. The new ALS-tolerant and ACCase-tolerant traits will provide sorghum growers with post-emergence grass and broadleaf weed control options needed for more versatile application timing. The new traits, developed using conventional methods, will also allow growers greater rotational flexibility to sorghum from other crops.
The traits were developed by K-State agronomy researchers including Kassim Al-Khatib and his former colleague Mitch Tuinstra (currently at Purdue University).
K-State’s Chumley said the effort was made possible by strong support from the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission and the National Grain Sorghum Producers.
“Through their checkoff dollars, sorghum farmers have provided steady support for research and educational programs aimed at improving this important crop. It’s nice to see this payoff for sorghum farmers,” he said.
Kansas has long been the leading state in grain sorghum production, accounting for nearly half of the U.S. crop. The United States is the world’s largest producer of grain sorghum at about 300 million bushels per year. In 2006, grain sorghum sales pumped $487 million into the Kansas economy, according to the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association. The latest projections by the Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service indicate that Kansas growers produced about 212 million bushels of grain sorghum in 2007.
The mission of the Kansas State University Research Foundation is to promote, encourage and aid scientific investigation, research and technology transfer at Kansas State University to return the greatest advantage to the creators, K-State and the general public.
DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food, building and construction, communications, and transportation.
 

12-20-07--Energy Bill Ensures Strong Biofuels Future for Kansas
Kansas corn and grain sorghum growers cheered the signing of H.R. 6, the energy bill this week. The bill includes a 36 billion gallon Renewable Fuels Standard by 2022. 15 billion gallons of that RFS will be grain based ethanol, creating a strong foundation for ethanol production in Kansas. The remainder of the RFS will be met by other biofuels including cellulosic ethanol.

The Kansas Corn Growers Association (KCGA) and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association (KGSPA) both supported passage of the bill. The Kansas ethanol industry currently provides a market for 117 million bushels of corn and grain sorghum. The state’s corn and sorghum growers produced 710 million bushels of grain this year.

“If you want to see the opportunity for cellulosic ethanol to move forward, you need to maintain a strong grain-based ethanol industry,” according to Jere White, executive director of KCGA and KGSPA. “When the president signed this bill into law, it provided needed stability for the future of ethanol and other biofuels.”

The Energy Bill had strong bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. Senators Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback both voted in favor of the Energy Bill. On the house side three of our four representatives voted for the Energy Bill. Representatives Jerry Moran, Dennis Moore and Todd Tiahrt all supported the bill. Second District Representative Nancy Boyda voted against the Energy Bill.

“Kansans are fortunate to have a senators and representatives who understand the importance of renewable fuels to the economy of our state,” White said. “The ten ethanol plants in Kansas are having a dramatic impact on rural development in Kansas. This industry is bringing jobs and economic activity to communities across the state and has created a strong and stable market for our grains. At the same time, these plants are producing a clean, renewable refined fuel that adds to our fuel supply and stabilizes prices we pay at the pump.”

The bill also includes provisions that will advance E85, 85 percent ethanol fuel, including a provision that prohibits franchise agreements from restricting the sale of renewable fuels.

Kansas currently has 10 plants in operation that produce 329 million gallons of ethanol, creating a market for about 117 million bushels of corn and grain sorghum. Ethanol blended fuels are available across the state of Kansas as E10 for use in all gasoline powered vehicles; and 28 stations now offer E85 fuel for flexible fuel vehicles. For more information on ethanol and locations of E85 fueling sites, visit www.ksgrains.com.

12-9-07--E85 Fuel Now Available at 28 Kansas Stations
Not too long ago, drivers of flexible fuel vehicles were lucky to find a handful of Kansas fuel stations that carried E85, 85 percent ethanol fuel. Today, motorists can find E85 in 28 stations across Kansas, with more on the way.

The newest stations are located in Arkansas City, Burlington, Oakley, Parsons, Thayer and Topeka.

“Our association staff drives flexible fuel vehicles. Thanks to the increase in the number of E85 stations, we can now drive on E85 fuel no matter where we go in Kansas,” according to Sue Schulte, communications director for the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association.

While E85 fuel has many benefits, most drivers notice the price first.

“There are so many reasons to use E85 fuel. It is domestically produced ethanol, made from corn and grain sorghum. It burns cleaner and is better for the environment. But it is the price that is attracting the most attention right now. At 40 to 60 cents below regular unleaded, E85 fuel is a great deal,” Schulte said.

While there is a drop fuel economy for E85 fuel because ethanol contains a lower energy content, KCGA and KGSPA staff have not found the dramatic decreases in fuel economy that is reported by some sources.

“We’ve been using E85 in flexible fuel vehicles for year, and while we see about a small loss in fuel economy, the price of the fuel will normally more than make up for that difference,” Schulte said. “If you live near an E85 station, it will be worth your time to check your owners manual to see if you have a flexible fuel vehicle.”

E85 is 85 percent ethanol fuel that can be used in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) that operate on any combination of gasoline and ethanol up to 85 percent ethanol. There are over 6 million FFVs on the road today.

For a complete list of E85 stations in Kansas, visit the Kansas Ethanol website at www.ksgrains.com.

11-9-07--November Crop Estimate Shows 45% Increase for Kansas Feed Grains
45 percent. That’s the increase in Kansas Corn production over last year’s crop, according to Kansas Agricultural Statistics monthly crop production estimates. Ag Statistics boosted the 2007 Kansas corn crop estimate to 500.4 million bushels, 45 percent over last year’s harvest of 345 million bushels. The estimate is 7 million bushels over last month’s estimate thanks to an increase in expected yield to 139 bushels per acre.
 
45 percent is also the increase for Kansas grain sorghum this year. Ag statistics increased its estimate by 4 million bushels over last month’s guess. The November estimate is at 210.6 million bushels which is 45 percent more than last year’s harvest of 145 million bushels. The November yield estimate is 81 bushels per acre, compared to 58 bushels per acre in 2006. The yield estimate is also 3 bushels per acre higher than the October estimate.
 
Combined feed grain production for Kansas now stands at 711 million bushels of corn and sorghum, compared to a combined 2006 feed grain harvest of 490 million bushels.
 

8-27-07--Kansas Corn and Sorghum Growers Applaud Announcement of Abengoa’s Conventional and Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Project
A new ethanol plant project that would make both grain based ethanol and cellulosic ethanol will be good for Kansas and its agriculture industry, according to corn and sorghum growers. Abengoa Bioenergy announced on Aug. 23 that it would build a hybrid ethanol project that would feature an 85 million gallon grain-based ethanol plant and a 30 million gallon cellulosic ethanol plant. Abengoa officials pointed to the unique synergy between the two ethanol processes. Leaders of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association agree.

“Conventional ethanol has created a good market for my grain sorghum. The cellulosic ethanol would be made from the crop residue, like sorghum and corn stalks, and that can create an additional revenue stream for growers,” KGSPA President Greg Shelor of Minneola said.

Cellulosic ethanol can also be made from grasses, forage sorghums and other cellulosic materials.

“There is a lot of interest in some of the forage sorghum varieties that would produce a very large amount of material for cellulosic production,” he said. “Obviously sorghum producers are following that closely.”

Abengoa officials have said they would place a strong emphasis making sure the right amount of crop residue remains in the fields because it is in their best interest for growers to continue to use the best agronomic and conservation practices.

The Abengoa said the Hugoton plant will be the first cellulosic ethanol plant in the U.S. . The development of the cellulosic ethanol industry will help America meet its goals for producing domestic renewable energy, according to KCGA President Bob Timmons, Fredonia.

“It’s exciting to see companies beginning to move forward in developing cellulosic ethanol plants,” Timmons said. “Our country is setting some aggressive goals for renewable fuels, and cellulosic ethanol will play a big role in meeting those goals.”

Timmons said corn growers see cellulosic ethanol as a new opportunity for those involved in agriculture.

“Some people automatically assume that as a corn grower, I would not be interested in cellulosic ethanol production,” Timmons said. “Whether you’re selling your grain, your stover or both to an ethanol plant, that is a benefit to you as a farmer. Cellulosic ethanol won’t replace conventional ethanol, it will complement it.”

Kansas now has 9 ethanol plants that use 96 million bushels of corn and sorghum to produce over 270 million gallons of ethanol per year. Those ethanol plants are operating in Garden City (2 plants), Russell, Phillipsburg, Campus, Garnett, Colwich, Atchison and Leoti. Plants in Pratt, Hayne near Liberal, Lyons, Scandia and Goodland are under construction. Other plants are in various stages of planning. Visit www.ksgrains.com for more information on Kansas ethanol, KCGA and KGSPA.
 

June 7, 2008

Lumax now can be used on sorghum until June 30

TOPEKA -- The Kansas Department of Agriculture today announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved its request to extend until June 30 the Section 18 emergency exemption for Lumax herbicide use on Kansas grain sorghum. 

An earlier emergency exemption allowed Lumax to be used until June 15.  Sorghum growers may now use it until June 30. 

"Given the planting delays many farmers experienced due to ongoing wet weather, we asked that the deadline to use Lumax be extended from June 15 to June 30," said Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky. 
 
When applied according to label directions – and after proper activation – this herbicide controls broadleaf weeds and annual grasses (excluding shattercane) in grain sorghum.  The controlled weeds include triazine-resistant, glyphosate-resistant, and acetolactate synthase (ALS)-resistant

Palmer amaranth and waterhemp. 

The emergency exemption does outline special conditions for Lumax use on sorghum. Users must have the label at the time of application, and they must accept responsibility for failure to perform and for crop damage.  Applicators can access the label online at www.farmassist.com.  For those who do not have Internet access, their retailer will help them through the process.

The Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association asked the Kansas Department of Agriculture to apply for the exemption, and it was originally granted until June 15, 2007.

Lumax Herbicide, which is manufactured by Syngenta Crop Protection, must be applied following all label directions, restrictions and precautions on the federal label and as outlined in the authorization notice.

The exemption has several conditions which include:

• Application of Lumax® is allowed on grain sorghum fields and has  7-14 day pre-plant application requirement.
• Apply at the rate of no more than 2.5 quarts per acre.
• A 60-day pre-harvest interval must be observed.
• Because Lumax is a restricted-use pesticide, farmers and applicators must be certified and maintain record of applications following standard restricted use pesticide record keeping rules
• June 7, 2008

  ---

  
  Lumax now can be used on sorghum until June 30
  
  TOPEKA -- The Kansas Department of Agriculture today announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved its request to extend until June 30 the Section 18 emergency exemption for Lumax herbicide use on Kansas grain sorghum.
  
  An earlier emergency exemption allowed Lumax to be used until June 15. Sorghum growers may now use it until June 30.
  
  "Given the planting delays many farmers experienced due to ongoing wet weather, we asked that the deadline to use Lumax be extended from June 15 to June 30," said Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky.
   
  When applied according to label directions – and after proper activation – this herbicide controls broadleaf weeds and annual grasses (excluding shattercane) in grain sorghum. The controlled weeds include triazine-resistant, glyphosate-resistant, and acetolactate synthase (ALS)-resistant
  Palmer amaranth and waterhemp.
  
  The emergency exemption does outline special conditions for Lumax use on sorghum. Users must have the label at the time of application, and they must accept responsibility for failure to perform and for crop damage. Applicators can access the label online at www.farmassist.com. For those who do not have Internet access, their retailer will help them through the process.
  
  The Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association asked the Kansas Department of Agriculture to apply for the exemption, and it was originally granted until June 15, 2007.
  
  Lumax Herbicide, which is manufactured by Syngenta Crop Protection, must be applied following all label directions, restrictions and precautions on the federal label and as outlined in the authorization notice.
   
  The exemption has several conditions which include:
  Application of Lumax® is allowed on grain sorghum fields and has  7-14 day pre-plant application requirement.
  Apply at the rate of no more than 2.5 quarts per acre.
  A 60-day pre-harvest interval must be observed.
  Because Lumax is a restricted-use pesticide, farmers and applicators must be certified and maintain record of applications following standard restricted use pesticide record keeping rules
   

  ---

  April 27, 2007--
  EPA Grants Exemption Allowing Lumax on Kansas Grain Sorghum
  The Environmental Protection Agency approved a specific exemption that will allow the use of Lumax, a pre-plant herbicide to be used on grain sorghum in Kansas. Lumax includes the active ingredient mesotrione.
   
  “This is good news for sorghum producers who need pre-plant broadleaf weed control for their crop especially in cases where they are experiencing herbicide resistance issues,” according to KGSPA Executive Director Jere White. “Our growers were able to use Lumax last year through an emergency exemption.”
   
  The Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association had requested that the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) apply for the exemption. KDA received a specific exemption for Lumax this week from EPA. KDA is responsible for making sure the conditions of the specific exemption are met. The exemption is in effect until June 15, 2007 (extended to June 30).
   
  Lumax Herbicide, which is manufactured by Syngenta Crop Protection, must be applied following all label directions, restrictions and precautions on the federal label and as outlined in the authorization notice.
   
  The exemption has several conditions which include:
   
  *Application of Lumax® is allowed on grain sorghum fields and has a 7-14 day pre-plant application requirement.
   
  *Apply at the rate of no more than 2.5 quarts per acre.
   
  *A 60-day pre-harvest interval must be observed.
   
  *Because Lumax is a restricted-use pesticide, farmers and applicators must be certified and maintain record of applications following standard restricted use pesticide record keeping rules.
   
  For more information, contact KGSPA at 800-489-2676.
  
  Steps to Access the Lumax on Sorghum Indemnified Section 18 (Kansas)
  Access to the Indemnified Label
  1. Go to the http://www.farmassist.com website
  2. If first time user, then register as a new user.  Click o the "I accept" button.
  3. On the left side of the screen select Products then Syngenta Crop Protection then Special Labels
  4.  At the top of the ensuing screen, click the "here" (If searching for indemnified labels, click here.)
  5. Click the Section 18 box, select Kansas, select Lumax
  6. Click the Submit button near the bottom.
  7. On the next window you should see information on the Section 18. Then click on sorghum.
  8. Final step is to accept the terms and conditions of the indemnified label by clicking on the “I accept” button. Now the label will be available for viewing and printing.
  Note: If you have trouble getting the label, make sure you did not miss Step 4. If you still have difficulty, then call the Syngenta Customer Resource Center at 1-866-796-4368 (option 2).
   

  ---

  4-20-07
  Kansas Sorghum Producers Welcome Return of MiloPro 4L Herbicide
   
  After being off the market for several years, MiloPro 4L, is once again available to Kansas grain sorghum growers. For over a decade, the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association (KGSPA) and National Sorghum Producers (NSP) have worked to return this important preemergent weed control chemical to the grower’s toolbox.
   
  The product, which contains the active ingredient propazine, has received a section 3 conditional label. The section 3 label is a conditional label for three years while the manufacturer Albaugh Inc. and the National Sorghum Producers (NSP) work with the Environmental Protection Agency to document water safety in certain areas of the Sorghum Belt.
   
  “This is important for our sorghum producers in Kansas,” according to KGSPA Executive Director Jere White. “Our growers need options when controlling weeds,” he said. “It is an important accomplishment to have the use of MiloPro again.”
   
  White is chairman of the Triazine Network, a nationwide coalition of state and national commodity and farm organizations, as well as hundreds of individual farmers who have been instrumental in ensuring the growers concerns were considered in the regulatory effort. The special review is coming to an end with a positive outcome for growers who use triazine herbicides like atrazine, simazine and propazine.
   
  In 2006, EPA released a tolerance assessment for propazine which led to its actions to issue a label allowing the use of propazine on grain sorghum. KGSPA submitted comments in favor of the propazine tolerance assessment.
   
  “Propazine is one of the triazine herbicides that can be of great use to grain sorghum producers. Few crop protection tools have been made available for grain sorghum because of relatively small acreages,” KGSPA stated in its comments to EPA. “A label for the use of propazine on grain sorghum would be a positive step forward for our producers.”
   
  NSP CEO Tim Lust said that sorghum growers have expressed interest in using MiloPro 4L again.
   
  “Producers have continued to ask us over the years to bring this product back to the market. We are excited to communicate that this product is available again for producers who are looking to add sorghum back into their crop rotations.”
   
  Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association represents sorghum growers in regulatory and legislative issues. KGSPA is affiliated with the National Sorghum Producers. Visit www.ksgrains.com for more information.
   
  
   

  ---

5-14-07--Corn and Sorghum Growers Applaud New Kansas Renewable Fuels Standard

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has signed legislation that will give a 6.5 cents per gallon tax credit to fuel retailers who meet a Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) beginning in 2009. The legislation will play a major role in increasing the use of ethanol-blended fuels and biodiesel in Kansas. The Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association supported the creation of an RFS.

“While Kansas is becoming an increasingly influential player in the biofuels industry, the use of biofuels in our state lags behind. It makes sense that our state would encourage the use of these homegrown fuels,” KCGA and KGSPA stated in joint testimony in support of the RFS.

The ethanol RFS will begin in 2009 at 10 percent and would increase annually. A dealer reaching the target would receive a 6.5 cents per gallon tax credit. A retailer coming within two percent of the target would receive a 4.5 cents per gallon tax credit. Retailers that do not meet the RFS will not be penalized, but will not receive the tax credit. The target will increase by one percent every year until 2024 when the RFS target would reach 25 percent ethanol.

“Our associations have endorsed the 25 x 25 initiative that calls our nation to get 25 percent of its energy from renewable resources by the year 2025. By passing this legislation, Kansas will be moving assertively toward that goal.,” KCGA Executive Director Jere White said.

Biodiesel is also a part of the Kansas RFS. The bill gives a tax credit of three cents per gallon of biodiesel if the retailer meets the standard. The biodiesel standard begins at 2 percent in 2009 increasing two percent annually until 2017. Then, the standard would increase one percent annually until 2025, when it would reach 25 percent.

Kansas currently has eight ethanol plants producing 215.5 million gallons of ethanol fuel annually. This summer two more plants, Pratt and Garden City, are expected to begin production adding an additional 105 million gallons per year, bringing the Kansas production total to 320.5 million gallons per year. Plants in Hayne near Liberal, Lyons, Goodland and Scandia are currently under construction and will add another 195 million gallons per year of production.

6-7-07--Lumax now can be used on sorghum until June 30
 
TOPEKA -- The Kansas Department of Agriculture today announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved its request to extend until June 30 the Section 18 emergency exemption for Lumax herbicide use on Kansas grain sorghum. 
 
An earlier emergency exemption allowed Lumax to be used until June 15.  Sorghum growers may now use it until June 30. 
 
"Given the planting delays many farmers experienced due to ongoing wet weather, we asked that the deadline to use Lumax be extended from June 15 to June 30," said Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky. 
 
When applied according to label directions – and after proper activation – this herbicide controls broadleaf weeds and annual grasses (excluding shattercane) in grain sorghum.  The controlled weeds include triazine-resistant, glyphosate-resistant, and acetolactate synthase (ALS)-resistant Palmer amaranth and waterhemp. 
 
The emergency exemption does outline special conditions for Lumax use on sorghum. Users must have the label at the time of application, and they must accept responsibility for failure to perform and for crop damage.  Applicators can access the label online at www.farmassist.com.  For those who do not have Internet access, their retailer will help them through the process.
 
The Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association asked the Kansas Department of Agriculture to apply for the exemption, and it was originally granted until June 15, 2007.

Lumax Herbicide, which is manufactured by Syngenta Crop Protection, must be applied following all label directions, restrictions and precautions on the federal label and as outlined in the authorization notice.
 
The exemption has several conditions which include:
Application of Lumax® is allowed on grain sorghum fields and has  7-14 day pre-plant application requirement.
Apply at the rate of no more than 2.5 quarts per acre.
A 60-day pre-harvest interval must be observed.
Because Lumax is a restricted-use pesticide, farmers and applicators must be certified and maintain record of applications following standard restricted use pesticide record keeping rules

4-27-07--EPA Grants Exemption Allowing Lumax on Kansas Grain Sorghum
The Environmental Protection Agency approved a specific exemption that will allow the use of Lumax, a pre-plant herbicide to be used on grain sorghum in Kansas. Lumax includes the active ingredient mesotrione.
 
“This is good news for sorghum producers who need pre-plant broadleaf weed control for their crop especially in cases where they are experiencing herbicide resistance issues,” according to KGSPA Executive Director Jere White. “Our growers were able to use Lumax last year through an emergency exemption.”
 
The Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association had requested that the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) apply for the exemption. KDA received a specific exemption for Lumax this week from EPA. KDA is responsible for making sure the conditions of the specific exemption are met. The exemption is in effect until June 15, 2007 (extended to June 30).
 
Lumax Herbicide, which is manufactured by Syngenta Crop Protection, must be applied following all label directions, restrictions and precautions on the federal label and as outlined in the authorization notice.
 
The exemption has several conditions which include:
 
*Application of Lumax® is allowed on grain sorghum fields and has a 7-14 day pre-plant application requirement.
 
*Apply at the rate of no more than 2.5 quarts per acre.
 
*A 60-day pre-harvest interval must be observed.
 
*Because Lumax is a restricted-use pesticide, farmers and applicators must be certified and maintain record of applications following standard restricted use pesticide record keeping rules.
 
For more information, contact KGSPA at 800-489-2676.

Steps to Access the Lumax on Sorghum Indemnified Section 18 (Kansas)
Access to the Indemnified Label
1. Go to the http://www.farmassist.com website
2. If first time user, then register as a new user.  Click o the "I accept" button.
3. On the left side of the screen select Products then Syngenta Crop Protection then Special Labels
4.  At the top of the ensuing screen, click the "here" (If searching for indemnified labels, click here.)
5. Click the Section 18 box, select Kansas, select Lumax
6. Click the Submit button near the bottom.
7. On the next window you should see information on the Section 18. Then click on sorghum.
8. Final step is to accept the terms and conditions of the indemnified label by clicking on the “I accept” button. Now the label will be available for viewing and printing.
Note: If you have trouble getting the label, make sure you did not miss Step 4. If you still have difficulty, then call the Syngenta Customer Resource Center at 1-866-796-4368 (option 2).
 

4-20-07--Kansas Sorghum Producers Welcome Return of MiloPro 4L Herbicide
 
After being off the market for several years, MiloPro 4L, is once again available to Kansas grain sorghum growers. For over a decade, the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association (KGSPA) and National Sorghum Producers (NSP) have worked to return this important preemergent weed control chemical to the grower’s toolbox.
 
The product, which contains the active ingredient propazine, has received a section 3 conditional label. The section 3 label is a conditional label for three years while the manufacturer Albaugh Inc. and the National Sorghum Producers (NSP) work with the Environmental Protection Agency to document water safety in certain areas of the Sorghum Belt.
 
“This is important for our sorghum producers in Kansas,” according to KGSPA Executive Director Jere White. “Our growers need options when controlling weeds,” he said. “It is an important accomplishment to have the use of MiloPro again.”
 
White is chairman of the Triazine Network, a nationwide coalition of state and national commodity and farm organizations, as well as hundreds of individual farmers who have been instrumental in ensuring the growers concerns were considered in the regulatory effort. The special review is coming to an end with a positive outcome for growers who use triazine herbicides like atrazine, simazine and propazine.
 
In 2006, EPA released a tolerance assessment for propazine which led to its actions to issue a label allowing the use of propazine on grain sorghum. KGSPA submitted comments in favor of the propazine tolerance assessment.
 
“Propazine is one of the triazine herbicides that can be of great use to grain sorghum producers. Few crop protection tools have been made available for grain sorghum because of relatively small acreages,” KGSPA stated in its comments to EPA. “A label for the use of propazine on grain sorghum would be a positive step forward for our producers.”
 
NSP CEO Tim Lust said that sorghum growers have expressed interest in using MiloPro 4L again.
 
“Producers have continued to ask us over the years to bring this product back to the market. We are excited to communicate that this product is available again for producers who are looking to add sorghum back into their crop rotations.”
 
Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association represents sorghum growers in regulatory and legislative issues. KGSPA is affiliated with the National Sorghum Producers. Visit www.ksgrains.com for more information.
 

1-31-07--National Grain Sorghum Producers Foundation Announces Alliance with Valent to Develop Herbicide Tolerant Grain Sorghum

Innovative Non-GMO with High Crop Tolerance to Valent's Leading Grass Herbicide

San Diego, California; Walnut Creek, California (January 31, 2007)—Cibus LLC, the U.S. plant breeding technology company and The National Grain Sorghum Producers Foundation (NGSPF), which is affiliated with the National Sorghum Producers, today announced a partnership with Valent U.S.A. Corporation, a leading provider of innovative crop protection products, to develop non-GMO herbicide tolerant grain sorghum.

Valent brings its expertise in herbicide development and management to an alliance between Cibus and NGSPF. The collaboration pioneers a new standard for providing valuable traits to farmers while avoiding the unknown and potentially unintended consequences associated with GMO crops. Cibus’ proprietary gene conversion technology, known as the Rapid Trait Development System (RTDS), will be used to develop this new trait in grain sorghum, providing high tolerance levels to Valent’s leading postemergence grass herbicide brand, Select Max® Herbicide with Inside Technology™. This will significantly enhance the productivity and profitability of sorghum farming operations.

“With both Valent and Cibus’ missions to provide innovative and sustainable technologies to the agribusiness community, this collaboration will benefit growers and be a natural fit for us,” says Trevor Thorley, President/COO, Valent U.S.A. Corporation. “Cibus’ proven technology opens new doors for all parties, and will help growers more easily produce safe and abundant food. Given the global reach of Valent’s parent company, Sumitomo Chemical Company, Ltd., a world leader in the discovery of crop protection and plant enhancement products, we look forward to exploring opportunities with Cibus for other crops around the world.”

“Sorghum producers have needed some new grass control options for quite some time,” said NGSPF President Bruce Maunder. “Our partnership with Cibus and now Valent will allow for much-needed technology development in our crop. Once it makes its way into producer fields, it should help increase both yields and profitability for sorghum producers.”

“This is an exciting project,” said NSP CEO Tim Lust. “With new grass control options, producers will begin considering planting sorghum in fields where that may not be an option now. This is a clear win for sorghum producers.”

NGSPF plans to use revenues derived from this partnership to reinvest in sorghum research and development as part of a long-term program for sorghum improvement. And since RTDS can develop non-GMO traits faster and at lower cost than transgenic alternatives, this will save farmers an estimated $25 million per crop.

The RTDS process works through the cell’s natural process of gene repair. Every time a cell copies DNA, it makes “scrivener” errors or spelling mistakes. These variations happen all the time, which is how natural variation occurs. Cibus’ technology harnesses the cell’s own natural DNA repair machinery to correct such spelling mistakes, thus directing DNA repair enzymes to correct and repair the targeted gene in a specific way in order to produce a desired trait. The process, in its precision, is similar to altering a single letter in a word contained within a large book. Nothing in the genome, other than the changes directed by the process, is altered by this approach.

“RTDS promises a revolution in genetics—a limitless range of value added new products that are acceptable to environmentally-conscious consumers and governments, and help farmers solve their toughest pest management problems,” says Dr. Keith Walker, President of Cibus. “RTDS technology can be used to create non-GMO plants tolerant to most herbicide chemistries currently marketed to farmers, such as a Select Max® tolerant grain sorghum. But the opportunities also include healthier oils and nutraceutical oils in crops such as canola and soybeans plus many other valuable traits.”

“A recent Kansas State University survey of more than 600 sorghum producers from across the United States identified grassy weed control for grain sorghum as their No. 1 research priority. Select Max® provides fast and complete control of emerged annual and perennial grassy weeds in over 100 crops, including soybean, sunflower, cotton, and sugar beets,” says Joseph Short, Product Manager for Valent. “Sorghum producers will see increased convenience, yield and profits when they can selectively control grasses with an over-the-top application of Select Max®.”

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