Kansas
Grain Sorghum NEWS 

07-27-06--Zimmerman Reelected to Represent Sorghum Industry on US Grains Council

5-25-06--Growers Celebrate Garden City Ethanol Groundbreaking

12-24-03--Kansas Corn, Sorghum Growers Encourage Factual Discussion of BSE

12-4-03--DDGS: Valued ethanol co-product/Valued livestock feed 

11-18-03--Kansas Congressional Delegation Unites Behind Energy Bill

11-3-03--Kansas Growers Welcome EPA's Atrazine Decision

10-31-03--Senator Bob Dole to Speak at Kansas Commodity Classic

10-20-03--Growers Encouraged to Sign Up for Grain Sorghum Commission Election

10-9-03--Exports Remain Important for Grain Sorghum Growers

9-25-03--Bindel Asks for Equal Crop Insurance Treatment for Sorghum

Text of Leo Bindel's NGSP Crop Insurance Testimony

9-18-03--Center to Sustain Grain Sorghum Improvement Efforts

9-15-03--East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC Is Pushing for More Local Investment (EKAE news release)

9-4-03--Sorghum Commission Elects Officers, Reminds Growers of Upcoming Elections

8-20-03--More Sorghum May Head to Spain

8-11-03--KGSPA Scholarship Winner Selected

8-1-03--Energy Bill Is Big Win for Kansas Growers; More Work Ahead

7-28-03--Kansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Host International Trade Team

7-15-03--Kansas Sorghum Growers Encouraged to Enter Yield Contest

7-2-03--2003 Kansas Sorghum Production Should Be Up

6-16-03--Starane Receives Exemption for Use in Grain Sorghum

6-12-03--Sorghum Gains Recognition As Fodder for Ethanol

6-6-03--RFS In Senate Energy Bill Good for Corn, Sorghum Growers

6-6-03--East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC Extends Target Date to September 1

5/21/03--As School Year Ends, KGSC Looks Back on Accomplishments

5-8-03--Sorghum, Corn and Distillers Grains Subject of Course for Mexican, Columbian Buyers

4-28-03--East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC Announces Target Deadline
(EKAE News Release distributed by KGSPA/KCGA)

4-24-03--Kansas Ethanol Expansion Is Good for Sorghum Growers

4-21-03--East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC Schedules Additional Equity Drive Meetings (EKAE News Release distributed by KGSPA/KCGA)

4/10/03--Grain Sorghum Benefits Water, Soil and Air

4/4/03--Pro-Ethanol Legislation Moves Forward in on State and National Levels

03/27/03--Sorghum May Be Next Trendy Food

03/14/03--Washington Trip Allows Sorghum Growers to Discuss Concerns and Opportunities

03/10/03--Grain Sorghum Election Results Final

4/10/03--Grain Sorghum Benefits Water, Soil and Air

4/4/03--Pro-Ethanol Legislation Moves Forward in on State and National Levels

03/27/03--Sorghum May Be Next Trendy Food

03/14/03--Washington Trip Allows Sorghum Growers to Discuss Concerns and Opportunities

03/10/03--Grain Sorghum Election Results Final

02/21/03--Kansas Corn & Grain Sorghum Associations Welcome New Ag Secretary

02/14/03--Disaster Assistance Package Will Help Kansas Corn, Sorghum Growers

02/04/03--Kansas Played Key Role in EPA's Favorable Atrazine Decision

01/31/03--EPA Approach to Atrazine Supported by Growers

1/29/03--Kansas Set for Major Expansion of Ethanol Industry

01/28/03--Western Plains Energy, LLC Purchasing Site for Ethanol Plant

01/27/03--Garnett Group to Begin Equity Drive for Ethanol Plant

1/16/03--Kansas Ethanol Workshop to Offer Information, Insight

12-24-02--Kansas Sorghum Growers Win National Honors

12/10/02--Kansas Grain Sorghum Commissioner Returns from Cuba

11/26/02--Late Kansas Sorghum Harvest Nears End

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®.”

11-16-06--National Grain Sorghum Producers Foundation Announces Collaboration to Develop Non-GMO Traits in Grain Sorghum

The National Grain Sorghum Producers Foundation (NGSPF) and Cibus LLC today announced their collaboration to develop and commercialize a new type of Non-GMO grain sorghum using technology known as Rapid Trait Development System (RTDS).

"Cibus, the company that developed RTDS, has some outstanding scientists who were able to develop herbicide resistance without going to another species," said Dr. Bruce Maunder, President of NGSPF and formerly Sorghum Research Director/Breeder for DEKALB Genetics. "They have a proven track record and they've already successfully done this with both rice and canola."

Maunder said that the Cibus technology provides an easier way to obtain desirable traits and when successful, it will also take less time to get into producers' fields.

The collaboration between NGSPF and Cibus grew out of a need to control weeds and grasses in sorghum so that growers could realize improved yields and better profitability.

"Every time we have a weed problem, we have a tendency to reduce yields," said Maunder. "Since we grow sorghum under less rainfall than other crops, the competition from weeds causes us even greater losses because the weeds have a tendency to go after that moisture in many cases faster than the sorghum crop does. Anytime we can make the crop more drought tolerant by giving it less competition, its going to just enable sorghum to be a better fit for the producer."

Maunder said that current grass control options for sorghum are incomplete and expensive.

The new trait will be a departure from the glyphosate-tolerant varieties developed in other crops, and will help producers who have problems with johnsongrass, shattercane, sorghum aulum and volunteer glyphosate-tolerant crops. "It gives them more ease of control," said Maunder.

“Like many farmers, I need sorghum in my crop rotation,” said National Sorghum Producers (NSP) President Greg Shelor of Minneola, Kansas. “But to increase profitability, we have some basic needs like better grass and weed control technology. We also need to increase our yields.” These comments are consistent with a recent market research study conducted by Kansas State University surveying more than 600 sorghum producers from across the United States that identified grassy weed control, improved yield, drought tolerance and new uses or markets for sorghum grain as the most important areas for
research.

NGSPF was established to promote and fund the improvement of sorghum and its uses both nationally and internationally. It is affiliated with the National Sorghum Producers, an organization that works to ensure the profitability of sorghum production through market development, research, education and legislative representation.

Follow this link for more information and audio clips

11-2-06--Kansas Commodity Classic to Feature National Leaders, Farm Bill Discussions
Corn, wheat, grain sorghum and cotton producers will gather in Salina on Tuesday, Nov. 14 to discuss a variety of issues including farm policy, marketing, ethanol and legislative issues at the Kansas Commodity Classic. The Classic will begin at 9 a.m. on November 14 at the Salina Holiday Inn.

Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky will start off the event, followed by a market briefing by ProExporter’s Bill Holbrook, and a farm bill panel of Kansas growers who are in national leadership positions with the National Sorghum Producers (NSP), National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG).

“We have a unique situation this year. Kansas growers are in leadership positions for the NCGA, NSP and NAWG. These growers are on the forefront of national discussions of many issues, including the upcoming farm bill discussions,” according to Jere White, executive director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association.

NSP President Greg Shelor of Minneola, NCGA President Ken McCauley of White Cloud, and NAWG President-Elect John Thaemert of Sylvan Grove, will be featured on a panel discussion of the national associations’ plans for the upcoming farm bill discussions.

Following a luncheon, participants can participate in two of six breakout sessions.
The first session will feature, Market Outlook for Kansas Commodities with Dr. Mike Woolverton, KSU; Biofuels & Other Value-Added Investment Opportunities for Kansas Farmers with Jesse McCurry, Kennedy and Coe, and Kansas Water Update with Tracy Streeter, Kansas Water Office. The second session will feature Transportation Outlook for Kansas Commodities with Dr. Michael Babcock, KSU; Kansas Legislative Outlook with Jere White, KCGA & KGSPA; Dana Peterson, KAWG; Brad Harrelson, Kansas Farm Bureau, and Carbon Sequestration Credits, A New Opportunity
for Kansas Farmers with Chad Martin, Iowa Farm Bureau.

“Every year, we work to put together a program that will benefit our growers in many ways,” White said. “You won’t find a program that offers more in one day than the Kansas Commodity Classic.”

This program is offered free to growers, and membership in an association is not required. Participants will be treated to a buffet lunch and an ice cream break sponsored by the Kansas Dairy Association and Commission. 2006 Kansas Commodity Classic sponsors are: Syngenta Crop Protection, Monsanto, ICM, Inc., CoBank and the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC).

8-28-06--Kansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Associations Support EPA’s Favorable Atrazine, Triazine Findings

The Kansas Corn Growers Association (KCGA) and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association (KGSPA) submitted comments in support of EPA’s favorable Cumulative Risk Assessments for the triazine herbicides. The comment period ended August 21.

In its assessment released in June, EPA concluded, "..the Agency has found that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result to the general U.S. population, infants, children, or other major identifiable subgroups of consumers from aggregate exposure…to cumulative residues of atrazine and the other chlorinated triazine pesticides."

EPA also released a Reregistration Eligibility Decision for simazine and a tolerance assessment for propazine that could lead to EPA issuing a label allowing the use of propazine on grain sorghum. These actions bring the special review of the Triazine near an end.

“We weren’t asking for much, just that EPA used good science to make a decision on the Triazine herbicides,” White said. “If sound scientific research proved that the Triazines posed a danger, we were ready to accept that. However, the research proved what we believed all along—the triazines are safe.”

KCGA and KGSPA were founding members the Triazine Network, a nationwide coalition of state and national commodity and farm organizations, as well as hundreds of individual farmers. The Triazine Network was formed in 1995 after the EPA announced the special review of the Triazine herbicides atrazine, simazine and cyanazine. Cyanazine was later removed after the registrant voluntarily offered to phase out its use. Propazine was added based on the intent of a registrant to expand the existing greenhouse label to include grain sorghum. The Network made the unprecedented move of bringing growers of more than 30 commodities to the table for the special review.

Jere White, Executive Director of KCGA and KGSPA has been chairman of the Network since its inception and on many occasions participated in meetings, hearings and technical briefings giving the growers’ perspective, including the importance and usage, to EPA officials.

“EPA told us they had never had grower involvement like this,” White said. “The special review process is open to stakeholders and I can’t think of anyone who had a bigger stake in this process than growers. Our network included some of the top names in agriculture across the board. Without the expertise and commitment of our members, we would not have succeeded.” “We’ve had a lot of things thrown at us since 1994 from fear mongering to frogs,” White said. “But it all comes down to using good scientific studies to reach the decision. We applaud EPA for sticking to the science.”

In their comments, the associations supported EPA’s positive risk assessment of the triazines. In addition, KGSPA also supported the registration of propazine for use on grain sorghum.

The comments submitted to the EPA docket stated: “The Triazine herbicides are a vitally important tool for our growers here in Kansas, especially the herbicide atrazine. We would like to applaud the EPA’s careful and science-based review of the triazines. We were pleased to see EPA’s favorable Triazine Cumulative Risk Assessment comments that show that EPA finds no measurable risk from exposure to Triazine herbicides. This determination was based on sound science.”

The associations applauded EPA for the openness of the process and for its willingness to use sound scientific research: “. . .the positive outcome in this process has bolstered growers’ confidence in EPA and has created an improved feeling of trust as our growers now are assured that EPA is using a thoughtful and science-based process to arrive at decisions that affect their farming operations.”

8-22-06-- NSP Board Votes Unanimously to Proceed with Creating a National Sorghum Checkoff

At their summer board meeting, the National Sorghum Producers (NSP) Board of Directors voted unanimously to proceed with the process of creating a national sorghum checkoff to fund critical research for sorghum producers.

"Like many farmers, I need sorghum in my crop rotation," said NSP President Greg Shelor of Minneola, Kan. "But to increase profitability, we have some basic needs like better grass and weed control technology. We also need to increase our yields."

In May, Shelor appointed NSP President-Elect Dale Murden of Monte Alto, Texas to serve as Chairman of the National Sorghum Checkoff Committee. The committee, made up of producers and state sorghum staff, was charged with the task of assessing if a national sorghum checkoff would help meet critical producer needs. The committee was asked to offer its recommendations at the August board meeting held in Lubbock, Texas.

"After several meetings, phone calls and a lot of research, our committee felt that a national sorghum checkoff would help producers across the country to realize better returns and profitability through a more focused research approach," said Murden. "Profitability is certainly what drives producers and what will drive the priorities of a national sorghum checkoff."

NSP CEO Tim Lust said that the NSP board has been evaluating the possibility of a national sorghum checkoff for quite some time. "If we can meet our most pressing needs, producers will continue to see expanded opportunities for sorghum. There is substantial growth in the forage sorghum market and with the utilization of sorghum for ethanol production."

Lust said that there is a need to increase sorghum's fermentable, extractable sugars to compete with other feedstocks utilized in ethanol production. He also said with the sorghum genome being fully sequenced soon, it will be critical to exploit this scientific breakthrough to help sorghum producers become more productive and profitable in the future.

Directors on the NSP board are now getting feedback from their sponsoring organizations to bring recommendations forward. If you have any questions regarding the process of creating a National Sorghum Checkoff, please call the NSP office at (806) 749-3478.

8-4-06--Kansas Corn, Sorghum Groups Applaud Liberal Ethanol Groundbreaking
Two Conestoga Plants Will Add 165 Million Gallons of Production 
Over 100 people gathered Thursday to witness the groundbreaking ceremony of Conestoga Energy Partners LLC second ethanol plant project near Liberal. The plant, named Arkalon Energy, will produce 110 million gallons of ethanol per year. Its sister plant at Garden City, which broke ground in May, will produce 55 million gallons per year. These two plants will produce 165 million gallons of ethanol, which would nearly double the state’s current production of 170 million gallons of the renewable fuel.

The Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association support the increase in use and production of ethanol in Kansas to build markets for corn and grain sorghum. A bushel of corn or sorghum will produce between 2.7 and 2.8 gallons of ethanol, a clean burning, renewable, domestically produced fuel.

Governor Kathleen Sebelius, who chairs the Governors’ Ethanol Coalition, spoke at the event and commended the group for its accomplishment.

"If biofuels are in the future for the United States, and I think they are, then Kansas is at the forefront of that future,” she said.

The plant will be located about 7 miles east of Liberal on Highway 54. The $170 million project will produce 110 million gallons of fuel grade ethanol per year, and 840,000 tons wet distillers grains that will be marketed to livestock producers. Once in operation, the plant will hire 50-55 employees with total annual salaries of over $2 million. Colwich-based ICM, Inc. will supply the plant technology, engineering and construction services. Rail service will be provided by Union Pacific Railroad. The plant is expected to begin producing ethanol in early 2008. 

Mike Bryan of BBI International, the company that facilitated the group’s efforts on both plant projects, said the plant would bring positive economic growth to Liberal and the surrounding area. In addition to the jobs and increased markets for grains, Bryan said the community would see other tangible results that as a result of the ethanol plant. “You will see new businesses in your community,” he said. “Businesses like a new restaurant, a new electronic shop, or maybe a new hotel.”

 ICM is completing construction on the Prairie Horizons Agri Energy’s 40 million gallon plant in Phillipsburg. That plant, which was also developed with the assistance of BBI International, is expected to begin producing ethanol this month.

07-27-06--Zimmerman Reelected to Represent Sorghum Industry on US Grains Council

Jay Zimmerman, sorghum producer from South Haven, was reelected to represent the sorghum industry on the U.S. Grains Council at the Council’s annual meeting this week. The council works around the world to build international markets for U.S. barley, corn and sorghum and their products.

Zimmerman is a member of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, representing growers in south-central Kansas (District 6).

USGC officers and board members elected are:
Vic Miller of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board was elected chairman and will provide leadership as well as speak and travel on behalf of the Council and in support of its efforts. Also elected were Dale Artho of the Texas Grain Sorghum Producers Board as vice chairman; Jim Broten of the North Dakota Barley Council as treasurer; Rick Fruth of the Ohio Corn Marketing Board as secretary; and Kenneth Hobbie of the U.S. Grains Council as the president and CEO. Davis Anderson of GROWMARK, Inc. will serve as past chairman.

In addition, six directors were elected to serve two-year terms on the USGC Board of Directors. Jay Zimmerman of Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission was elected as the sorghum sector director; Gary Marshall of Missouri Corn Merchandising Council as state checkoff sector director; and Don Fast of the Montana Wheat & Barley Committee as the barley sector director. Elected as at-large directors were Alan Tiemann of the Nebraska Corn Board and Terry Vinduska of the Kansas Corn Commission.

Current directors Kenneth Greene, Illinois Corn Marketing Board (at-large director), Gerry Salzman, Case IH and New Holland (at-large director), David Lyons, Louis Dreyfus Corporation (agribusiness sector director) and Tim Burrack, Iowa Corn Promotion Board (corn sector director), will complete their terms in July 2007.

The U.S. Grains Council is a private, non-profit partnership of farmers and agribusinesses committed to building and expanding international markets for U.S. barley, corn, grain sorghum and their products. The Council is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has 10 international offices that oversee programs in more than 80 countries. Support for the Council comes from its members and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission is a nine-member growers board that determines how to use the half-cent per bushel grain sorghum checkoff in the areas of foreign and domestic market development, research, promotion and education.

5-25-06--Growers Celebrate Garden City Ethanol Groundbreaking
About 150 people attended a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for a 55 million gallon ethanol plant at Garden City. Dirt work being done on the site went on while leaders of Conestoga Energy Partners LLC outlined their plans for the plant. The Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association congratulated the group on beginning the construction phase of the project.

The Garden City ethanol plant will use over 19 million bushels of corn and grain sorghum to produce 55 million gallons of ethanol and 420,000 tons of wet distillers grains per year. The total cost of the project is $85 million and will be built by Kansas-based ICM, Inc. When completed, the plant will hire between 33 and 40 employees with a payroll of over $1.4 million.

“This is a positive for the economy of Garden City area and its surrounding agricultural industry. This plant will bring increased revenues and jobs for the community, build markets for growers and offer a high quality feed for livestock feeders” according to KCGA/KGSPA Executive Director Jere White. “At the same time, this plant will help us increase our energy independence by producing a clean, renewable and domestically produced fuel.”

Organizers expect the plant to be completed and operational by August of 2007. The plant is being built next to WindRiver Grains, LLC. The ethanol plant plans to source its grain from WindRiver.

Kansas currently has seven ethanol plants that produce 170 million gallons of ethanol per year. A 40 million gallon plant at Phillipsburg is under construction and expected to be completed this summer. Other plant projects are in various stages of planning in Kansas. In addition to the Garden City project, Conestoga Energy Partners LLC is working to complete plans for a 110 million gallon ethanol plant located near Liberal. Conestoga Energy Partners LLC is working with Colorado-based BBI International to develop both the Garden City and Liberal projects.

For more information on Kansas corn, grain sorghum and ethanol, visit www.ksgrains.com.

5-18-06--Kansas Sorghum Producers Applaud Emergency Exemption for Lumax

The Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association leaders say they are pleased with the Enviromental Protection Agency’s approval of an emergency exemption that allows Lumax, a pre-plant herbicide, to be used on grain sorghum in Kansas. KGSPA submitted a letter supporting the exemption and worked with the interested parties to obtain the emergency exemption.

KGSPA Executive Director Jere White praised EPA for their action. “This is a case where we took a weed control issue to EPA, and the agency listened and responded,” he said.

White reminds growers that this is an emergency exemption, and requirements must be followed.

“You can’t just go out and use Lumax on grain sorghum,” White said. “This is an emergency exemption and there are very specific requirements a grower must meet. In fact, before the producer can even get a copy of the label he must register and accept a liability agreement for this product.”

Kansas State University and the Kansas Department of Agriculture issued a detailed news release about the emergency exemption, printed below:


Lumax Herbicide Now Registered For Use On Grain Sorghum In Kansas

MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Kansas Department of Agriculture has announced
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approval of a section 18 emergency exemption allowing Lumax herbicide use on grain sorghum in Kansas, said Dave Regehr, K-State Extension weed management specialist.

Lumax is a product of Syngenta. When applied according to the label and after proper activation, this herbicide controls annual grass (excluding shattercane) and broadleaf weeds in grain sorghum, including triazine-resistant, glyphosate-resistant, and ALS-resistant Palmer amaranth and waterhemp, Regehr said.

There are special conditions pertaining to Lumax use on sorghum, he said.

"The section 18 is an indemnified label, meaning that end users must accept all responsibility for failure to perform and for crop damage from Lumax use on sorghum," the agronomist said. "Applicators must be in possession of the label at the time of application. The label can be accessed online at www.farmassist.com only after indicating acceptance of liability. Applicators without internet access will need to obtain the label from their retailer, who will walk them through the process."

To access the Lumax on sorghum label:

1) Go to http://www.farmassist.com Web site.

2) If a first-time user, register as a new user.

3) On the left side of the screen, select Products, then Special Labels.

4) Near the top of the ensuing screen, click the "here" which will bring up a page called "My Product Labels." Select "Section 18," State: "Kansas," Product: "Lumax," and Crop Groups "Sorghum." On the ensuing screen, locate the "For Use On" section and select "Sorghum." This will bring up the Waiver of Liability and Indemnification Agreement.

5) If you choose to accept this agreement, scroll to the bottom and click "Accept." On the next page, under the heading "My Product Labels," you´ll find a link titled "Lumax Section 18 Indemnified Label on Sorghum." Click on that link to download the pdf section 18 Lumax label.

"If producers have trouble getting the label, they should be sure they did not miss Step 4," Regehr said. If they´ve tried these steps and still have problems, he suggested they call the Syngenta Customer Resource Center at 1-866-796-4368.

The label spells out use directions, Regehr said, including:

* Apply at the rate of 2.5 quart Lumax per acre.

* Make applications 7 to 14 days preplant.

* Use Concep III-treated grain sorghum seed only (not forage sorghum or sudangrass)

* Minimize disturbance of the herbicide-treated soil barrier at
planting.

* If emerged weeds are present, the label has recommendations
adjuvant to improve burndown activity.

* Do not apply to emerged grain sorghum.

* Do not apply on coarse-textured soils.

If a Lumax-treated sorghum crop is lost to a natural disaster, grain sorghum may be replanted immediately, Regehr said. In that event, producers should see the federal label for Lumax on corn (http://www.cdms.net/manuf/manuf.asp) for crop rotation guidelines and weed response tables, he explained.

Regehr advised that adequate precipitation is needed for activation.

"Approach Lumax on sorghum with caution," he added. "Lumax has been tested on grain sorghum largely under optimum conditions. As with any new herbicide, we should expect some surprises."
 

5-5-06--Ethanol Featured at Kansas Corn, Sorghum Exhibit at Great Bend 3i Show
A large outdoor exhibit at the 3i Show will feature ethanol-powered vehicles and information on ethanol. The booth, sponsored by Kansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Commissions and Associations will be located outside the main exhibit building.

“If you have questions about ethanol, you’ll want to visit this booth,” according to Sue Schulte, KCGA/KGSPA Director of Communications. “We’ll be ready to answer your questions about Kansas ethanol, E10 and E85 ethanol blended fuels and flexible fuel vehicles.”

On display will be the Chevrolet Tahoe that GM has provided to the State of Kansas and other states that belong to the Governor’s Ethanol Coalition. Kansas Corn Commission will also have an flexible fuel vehicle on display. The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition and Kansas Department of Agriculture will assist in the exhibit.

The Kansas Corn Commission, United Bio Energy and the NEVC are working on an effort to add at least 20 E85 stations in Kansas in 2006.

“Consumer awareness and interest in ethanol and especially E85 fuel continues to grow,” Schulte said. “We’ve been promoting ethanol since the 1970s. Increasing production and use of ethanol in Kansas continues to be a priority for our organizations.”

AgriTalk, the nationally syndicated agriculture talk radio program will broadcast live from the ethanol exhibit on Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m. On Friday, the Kansas Corn Commission will host an AgriTalk Ethanol Pump Tour stop at the Golden Belt 66 station located at 10th and Main in Great Bend from 9 a.m. to noon. Agritalk will broadcast live from the event. E85, 85 percent ethanol fuel, will be sold for $1.85 from 9 a.m. to noon. In addition to the discounted price, drivers with flexible fuel vehicles will receive prizes and giveaway items when they fill up with E85.

Visit www.kgsrains.com for more information on Kansas corn, sorghum and ethanol.

3-30-06--Western Kansas Grain Sorghum Commissioners Elected

 The Kansas Department of Agriculture today announced the names of producers from the western third of the state who were elected to the state’s five commodity commissions – corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers and wheat.

Ballots were cast between January 15 and March 1 and were counted at the Kansas Department of Agriculture during March. The newly elected commissioners will take office April 1 and will serve for three years. This was the second election cycle for districts one, two and three under the new law that privatized the commissions in July 2000. Previously, commissioners were appointed by the governor.
 

Commissioners-elect for the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission are:
District one – Richard Calliham, who grows corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers and wheat in Thomas County. Calliham was reelected.

District two – Greg Graff, who grows grain sorghum, corn and wheat on a family farm in Wichita County. Graff was reelected.

District three – Boyd Funk, who grows grain sorghum with his wife, Jeanine, in Finney County. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1975 with a degree in agricultural engineering, and he also serves on the county drainage ditch board. Funk fills a seat vacated by Don Rome of Garden City.

Corn, grain sorghum, soybean, sunflower and wheat growers in the eastern third of the state can expect to receive information by mail this fall outlining the 2007 election procedure. Also, commission representatives will visit field day events to distribute information.

Affected by the 2007 election will be districts seven, eight and nine. District seven includes Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Jackson, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Marshall, Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Riley and Wyandotte counties. District eight includes Anderson, Chase, Coffey, Douglas, Franklin, Geary, Johnson, Linn, Lyon, Miami, Morris, Osage, Shawnee and Wabaunsee counties. District nine includes Allen, Bourbon, Butler, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Cowley, Crawford, Elk, Greenwood, Labette, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson and Woodson 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 2007 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 Nov. 30, 2006.

3-24-06--Corn, Sorghum Growers Applaud Passage of Bill to Lower E85 Fuel Tax
A bill that will lower the fuel tax on E85 ethanol fuel passed the Kansas House and Senate and is on its way to the governor. The Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association worked for passage of the bill and applauded the legislature’s action. The bill would change the way the state taxes E85, 85% ethanol fuel, by basing the tax on energy content instead of a flat tax rate. The result is a drop in the tax for E85 from 24 cents per gallon to 17 cents per gallon, a seven cent savings for E85 users.

“This bill does two things. It addresses an inequity in the state motor fuels tax, and it will encourage the use of E85 fuel,” according to Jere White, Executive Director of KGSPA and KCGA.”E85 fuel does have a lower energy content than gasoline and a car travels fewer miles on E85 than it does on gas. If a state motor fuel tax is based on a per-gallon fee, the E85 users are are being unfairly penalized because they are paying more taxes per mile.”

E85 fuel is used in flexible fuel vehicles that operate on any combination of gas and ethanol up to 85 percent ethanol. The use of E85 fuel is expanding in Kansas, and is now available at ten stations in nine cities across the state of Kansas. At least 20 more E85 stations are expected to come on line this year thanks to an effort by the Kansas Corn Commission, United BioEnergy and the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition.

While E85 fuel offers slightly lower mileage than regular unleaded, motorists find the drop in mileage is often offset by a lower price at the pump. The ethanol in E85 is domestically produced, boasts over 100 octane and is a cleaner fuel.

Kansas currently has seven ethanol plants that produce 170 million gallons of ethanol per year. An eight plant is under construction at Phillipsburg and several others are on the drawing board.

The climate for expanding ethanol fuel use in Kansas continues to improve.

--The state offers a 40 percent tax credit to fuel retailers to offset infrastructure costs of adding E85 fuel. Retailers can couple the state credit with a 30 percent federal tax credit to offset up to 70 percent of their E85 infrastructure costs.

--The state offers a $750 tax credit for taxpayers who purchase a flexible fuel vehicle and use at least 500 gallons of ethanol.

--In 2005, the Kansas Legislature approved a bill that removed the labeling requirement for 10 percent ethanol blended fuel. Since the law was enacted in July, 2005, ethanol sales in Kansas have increased over 600 percent.
Kansas E85 Stations (as of March 2006)

COFFEYVILLE
Bordertown II, 2708 South Walnut

BIRD CITY
Frontier Equity Exchange, 209 West Highway 36

EMPORIA
S & S Oil Cardlock #1, 711 Anderson Street

GARNETT
Petro Plus, 120 S Maple Street (Highway 59)

GIRARD
Producers Coop, 300 E. St. John,

GREAT BEND
Bird Express, 1000 Main Street

Moeder Oil Company, Inc., 2302 Rail Road Avenue

HAYS
Power Plus, 3505 Vine St (I-70 access)

MAIZE
Maize Kwik Shop #728, 5340 N. Maize Rd

TOPEKA
Capital City Oil, 4141 NW Lower Silver Lake Road

E85 coming soon to Brewster, Goodland & Sublette. At least 20 more on the way!
 

2-10-06--Kansas Grower is National Sorghum President
Minneola grain sorghum grower Greg Shelor became the new National Sorghum Producers president at the NSP delegate session during Grain Congress in San Anotonio Saturday. Shelor is also president of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association. Before being elected NSP President, Shelor served as NSP’s Vice President of Legislation.

Shelor’s presidency marks a new beginning for NSP. In August 2005, the national organization celebrated its 50th anniversary, changed its structure and also changed its name from the National Grain Sorghum Producers to National Sorghum Producers. The result was a streamlined board of directors and the creation of a delegate body that guides association policy. Shelor is the first president to be elected under NSP’s new structure.

Kansas growers now serving on the new NSP Board of Directors are Shelor; Jeff Filinger, Cuba, both of whom represent Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association, and representing the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission are Bill Greving, Prairie View, and Jeff Casten, Quenemo.

The delegate body is formed from members and industry supporters. The delegates will serve one-year terms, elect the the board of directors and president-elect and recommend organizational direction and bylaw changes to the board of directors. The smaller, elected board made up of 15 directors will set the organizational direction and will ensure the organization is staying on mission. Standing committees and work teams, made up of producers and professionals, also will contribute to the work of the organization by planning and implementing programs to meet member needs.
 

1-17-06--Kansas Growers Join Coalition Seeking Suspension of On-Farm Fuel Storage Rule
The Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association have requested that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suspend compliance with a fuel spill prevention rule which could have big financial impacts on growers. The Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule is already causing problems from some growers whose on-farm fuel tanks are being subjected to strict and costly regulations. KCGA and KGSPA are among a coalition of agricultural groups that recently submitted a letter seeking a suspension of the SPCC rule.

In 2002, the EPA issued the SPCC rule designed to prevent spills from facilities that store, transfer, distribute or consume oil and oil products and could reasonably be expected to discharge oil into navigable waters. Under this rule, impacted entities include any facility, including farms, with a total of 1,320 gallons of oil or oil products on its property in above-ground tanks of 55 gallons or greater, where the spill may reach navigable waters.

In 2005, the rule was amended to allow some growers an indefinite suspension from compliance with the rule, if they had a spill plan in place. EPA’s 2005 proposed rule grants farms with 10,000 gallons or less of storage and a spill plan, an indefinite extension of compliance deadlines. Farms with 10,000 gallons or less and without a plan, or farms with more than 10,000 gallons of storage will not be afforded the indefinite compliance extension deadline. However, many farmers don’t have plans in place because they are unaware that the SPCC rule applies to them. The coalition said it was pleased with the changes, but said consideration should be given to farms of all size.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture study estimates growers could see a cost of nearly $4.5 billion to implement the EPA’s rule. Citing statistics that show production agriculture has a history of spills of less than 1 percent, the coalition believes delaying compliance dates for all of agriculture, including farmer cooperatives and other agribusinesses, is fair and will give the agency time to gather additional data to determine if agriculture needs regulating and if it does, how best to regulate different segments within the industry.

1-12-06--2005 Kansas Sorghum Crop Outperforms Expectations
According to the Kansas Ag Statistics annual crop production report released Jan. 12, production of sorghum for grain in Kansas totaled 195.0 million bushels in 2005.

That production figure was up 7.5 million bushels from the November forecast but 25.4 million bushels below last year. The yield, at 75 bushels per acre, was 1 bushel less than a year earlier. Kansas farmers planted 2.75 million acres, 450,000 acres fewer than last year. Harvested area for grain was 2.60 million acres, down 300,000 from 2004. Sorghum silage production, at 780,000 tons, was down 14 percent from last year.

U.S. sorghum production was 303.9 million bushels. Kansas is the #1 producer of grain sorghum and harvested 49.5 percent of the nation’s crop in 2005.

Other crops in Kansas: corn production was a record 465.8 million bushels with a yield of 135 bushels per acre; soybean production was 105.5 million bushels with a yield of 37 bushels per acre; wheat production was 380 million bushels with a yield of 40 bushels per acre.

12-15-05--Kansas Producer Testifies on Sorghum LDP Issues
The USDA’s regional approach to setting grain sorghum LDPs is hurting growers and needs to be fixed, according to Minneola grain sorghum grower Greg Shelor. Shelor testified Wednesday about problems producers are having with sorghum loan deficiency payments before the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Hearing. The hearing, chaired by Congressman Jerry Moran, was held to review technical procedures of USDA's establishment of posted county prices. Shelor is the president of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association and National Sorghum Producers Vice President of Legislation for National Sorghum Producers.

According to NSP, USDA’s regional LDP process has made the Posted County Price process ineffective because USDA now calculates the regional LDP and then adjusts the Posted County Price for each county to assure that all counties have the same LDP in a region. NSP recommended that USDA return to a more local approach to setting LDPs. Shelor pointed out that on October 20, the LDP rate for sorghum was the same through most of an eight-state region where 95 percent of the nation’s sorghum is grown. That area is too large to accurately reflect local prices. Shelor gave the committee an example to show how the regional system ignored pricing differences in Kansas.

“On Oct. 20, the cash price for sorghum in Dodge City, Kan. and Russell, Kan., was the same at $1.52 per bushel. The LDP was also the same at 30 cents per bushel. However, the loan rate in Russell is 15 cents per bushel less than the loan rate in Dodge City. This means there was a 15 cent per bushel discrepancy in the LDP. Dodge City was 11 cents per bushel too low and Russell was 4 cents a bushel too high. The Russell market is influenced by a local ethanol plant and this is reflected in its cash price. As currently implemented, a regional LDP system cannot accommodate such variations in local markets and weakens farmers’ confidence in the system.”

Shelor said as of Tuesday, the regional LDP system was taking 7.5 cents per bushel from his crop. That type of loss can cause cash flow problems for growers, and could impact planting decisions.

“With cash flow being such an issue this year, the errors in the LDP rates add up to a large cash flow issue for farmers,” Shelor said.

Shelor acknowledged USDA had been working with NSP to try to find ways to correct the problem. NSP is asking that USDA uses smaller regions to set LDPs to more accurately reflect local pricing of sorghum.
 

11-9-05--KGSPA to Hold Farm Bill Forum and Annual Meeting Nov. 16 at Ellinwood
Sorghum growers will discuss farm policy and hold an annual meeting on Nov. 16 in Ellinwood. The Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association will conduct a Farm Bill Forum and Annual Meeting Wednesday, November 16 at St. John's Lutheran Church Youth Center, 510 N. Wilhelm in Ellinwood.

The KGSPA Farm Bill Forum will begin at 10 a.m. and will be moderated by Tim Lust, ExNational Sorghum Producers and Greg Shelor, KGSPA President and NSP Vice President of Legislation. A lunch will be served at noon. All interested sorghum growers are invited to participate in the Farm Bill Forum.

KGSPA members may participate in the KGSPA Annual Meeting beginning at 1 p.m. Participants will hear updates on association activities and elect board members for the northwest, central and southeast districts. Members also will discuss and vote on KGSPA resolutions which guide association policy.

10-28-05--Great Plains Sorghum Initiative Promises to Help Move the Industry Forward
Congress appropriated $736,000 in funds this week to create the Great Plains Sorghum Initiative, a collaborative project that will bring together researchers from Kansas State University, Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University together focusing on sorghum. The goal is to help U.S. sorghum farmers produce a more productive and profitable crop that will benefit the nation's economy.

Greg Shelor, KGSPA President and National Sorghum Producers (NSP) Vice-President for Legislation from Minneola, Kan., said, "We would like to thank Henry Bonilla, Chairman of the House Ag Appropriations Committee and other sorghum belt Representatives for their support. Also, I would like to thank Kansas Senators Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback for their efforts."

According to Gerald Simonsen, NSP Vice-President for Research and Education and a producer from Ruskin, Neb., the team approach will help the entire sorghum industry move forward. "We all benefit when we pool our resources and work on issues for the good of all. This team approach will help us create some new synergy. With the sorghum genome map being targeted for completion next year by the Department of Energy, we've got a lot to be excited about."

Jeff Dahlberg, NSP Research Director, said each university would have specific research responsibilities. "Instead of all of the universities working on the same issues, we think that the team approach will allow each university to shine where they have the most expertise and passion. This approach allows researchers to focus on their strengths-- whether that's sorghum breeding, utilization or marketing."

The initiative will allow Kansas State University to lead efforts in plant breeding, genetics, and sorghum utilization; Texas Tech University to lead efforts on marketing, policy analysis, risk management and water use efficiency management; and Texas A&M University to lead efforts on sorghum cropping systems plus weed and pest management. Funding includes $736,000 for the project in the FY '06 bill to include $377,000 for Kansas State University, $210,000 for Texas Tech University and $149,000 for Texas A & M University.
 

10-26-05--Sorghum Association, USDA Work Together to Fix Sorghum LDP Problem

When producers noticed a problem with regional LDPs for grain sorghum, they used their clout through their national association to fix the problem. This week, sorghum producers are receiving an average of 15 cents per bushel more thanks to actions taken by National Sorghum Producers (NSP).

Last week, many sorghum producers were getting discounted sorghum LDPs that did not accurately reflect market conditions in their local areas. The problem with the regional LDPs was especially noticeable in Kansas, according to KGSPA President Greg Shelor of Minneola. Shelor is also Vice President for Legislation for National Sorghum Producers. NSP asked elevators in the impacted area for their cash bids. After analysis of the cash price, loan rate and LDP data, NSP presented this information and analysis to USDA and asked for quick action in correcting the deficiencies in the sorghum LDP.

Shelor was in Washington, DC this week and discussed the issue with First District Representative Jerry Moran.

"Last Thursday, the cash price for grain sorghum in Dodge City was $1.52,” Shelor said. “With a loan rate set at $1.93, the LDP should have been the difference, which would have equaled 41 cents. But, because the regional LDP was set at 30 cents, I would have been discounted 11 cents on every bushel of grain I sold. Today, I have a 45 cent LDP and it's right on the money."

According to NSP officials, the association worked with producers and elevators in the impacted areas and analyzed cash price, loan rate and LDP data. NSP then presented this information and analysis to USDA and asked for quick action in correcting the deficiencies in the sorghum LDP. USDA officials listened and made needed adjustments to how the payments are calculated.

NSP CEO Tim Lust said that he appreciated USDA's help in correcting the situation this week.

"When presented with the facts, USDA rose to the occasion and made adjustments. We appreciate their timely attention to finding a workable solution for producers."

The Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association and the National Sorghum Producers represent growers on many issues, including legislative and regulatory matters.

10-25-05--Corn, Grain Sorghum, Wheat and Cotton Producers to Meet at Kansas Commodity Classic November 8 at Garden City

A slate of agricultural leaders will be on hand to discuss farm policy, value-added agriculture and more at the Kansas Commodity Classic on Tuesday, November 8 at the Garden City Plaza Inn, 1911 E. Kansas Ave. The Classic is the annual convention of the Kansas corn, grain sorghum, wheat and cotton associations. Growers are invited to attend the day-long event with the morning general session focusing on the upcoming farm bill, the future of FSA and value added agriculture. Speakers include Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky, Senator Pat Roberts (invited) and KSU’s Grain Economist Mike Woolverton, Kansas Farm Service Agency Director Bill Fuller and KSU’s Value-Added Business Development Program Director Vincent Amanor-Boadu.

In the afternoon, participants can participate in two of six breakout sessions to be offered with the following topics: Value Added Opportunities (two sessions) with Amanor-Boadu; Kansas Water Issues with Tracy Streeter, Kansas Water Office; Managing Risk with David Spears, Kansas Farm Bureau; Kansas Legislative Issues with Kansas Senator Steve Morris, and a Cotton Profitability panel.

Growers will be treated to a buffet lunch and the popular afternoon ice cream break sponsored by the Kansas Dairy Association and Kansas Dairy Commission. The Kansas Commodity Classic is offered free to growers due to the support of its sponsors: Syngenta Crop Protection; Monsanto; Seaboard Foods; United Bio Energy, LLC and Ethanol Products.

While registrations will be taken at the door, participants are encouraged to pre-register to guarantee a seat at lunch. Participants will be registered in a drawing to win valuable door prizes from Seaboard Foods. To pre-register for the Kansas Commodity Classic, call 866-759-4328, or visit the Kansas Commodity Classic web site at www.ksgrains.com.

9-15-05--Prairie Horizon Agri-Energy, LLC Breaks Ground on Phillipsburg Ethanol Plant

Construction will begin soon on a 40 million gallon ethanol plant near Phillipsburg. Prairie Horizon Agri-Energy, LLC held a ground breaking ceremony  Wednesday, Sept. 14. The event was held at the plant site located at 1600 East 100 Road, one-half mile northeast of Phillipsburg. This plant is another step forward for a rapidly growing ethanol industry in Kansas, according to the Kansas Corn Growers Association (KCGA) and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association (KGSPA).

“This project is an example of why we are so excited about the ethanol industry—it brings real economic growth to our rural communities,” according to Jere White, KCGA and KGSPA Executive Director. “It brings jobs, adds a market for grain, brings in revenues and it helps us meet our energy needs by turning grains into fuel.”

When completed, the plant will use 15 million bushels of grain sorghum and corn to produce 40 million gallons of ethanol per year. The plant will also produce 125,000 tons of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a high nutrient livestock feed. The cost of the project is $56 million. The group began its equity drive in July of 2004 and has over 300 investors.

Construction of the plant is expected to begin in early October and should be completed and in operation by July 2006, according to Monte Abell, Prairie Horizon Agri-Energy LLC President.. Colwich-based ICM, Inc. has been contracted to design and build the plant. About 35 people will be hired to operate the plant.

Kansas currently has seven ethanol plants that produce about 170 million gallons of ethanol per year. The plants are located in Atchison, Campus, Colwich, Garden City, Garnett, Leoti and Russell.
 

8-22-05--Sorghum to be the Second Cereal Crop Sequenced

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - The National Sorghum Producers (NSP) announced that sorghum will be the second cereal crop genome to be sequenced.

Citing information from the Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (JGI) Computation Genomics Program Head Dr. Daniel Rokhsar, sorghum has been targeted for sequencing in 2006. The JGI was instrumental in sequencing the human genome.

According to NSP Research Director Dr. Jeff Dahlberg, the project will engage an international consortium led by Dr. Andrew Paterson from the University of Georgia. Dahlberg said the project is a logical outgrowth of long-term research efforts that have been supported by NSP to enhance the knowledge of the hereditary information of the sorghum plant. In the past, genomics research has been funded by sources including the National Science Foundation Plant Genome Research Program, the United States Department of Agriculture National Research Initiative, and the International Consortium for Sugarcane Biotechnology.

"This is as important as the advent of sorghum hybrids 50 years ago," said Dahlberg. "Sequencing sorghum is a critical step in building our knowledge base on how plants function and, like the use of hybrids, will allow us to make significant advancements in crop improvement for the next 50 years. This project will be valuable as we move from fundamental studies of genome organization and gene discovery to applied efforts in sorghum."

Rice was the first cereal grain to be sequenced and Dahlberg said that sorghum is the most logical choice for the next sequencing project because the crops are so complementary.

"Sorghum is an important bridge to closely-related large-genome crops in its own tribe such as maize and sugarcane. Analysis of the levels and patterns of genomic diversity within and between sorghum, sugarcane, rice, and maize promises to advance our understanding of the biology and evolution of Poaceae grain and biomass crops, and create new opportunities for their improvement. Sorghum is one of the world's leading grain crops, and is an important model for tropical grasses worldwide."

8-22-05--Sorghum Producers Approve Name Change and New Structure

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - Today, the National Sorghum Producers (NSP) changed its name, adopted a new governing structure and celebrated its 50thanniversary. "As they say, it's all in a day's work," said NSP President James Vorderstrasse of Hebron, Neb.

Vorderstrasse said that the name change from the National Sorghum Producers to the National Sorghum Producers recognizes the sustained growth of the forage segment of the industry.” We made the change to recognize our ongoing commitment and involvement to both grain and forage sorghum producers."

As part of the new structure, a delegate body will be formed from members and industry supporters. The delegates will serve one-year terms and meet annually. They will be charged with electing the board of directors and president-elect. They will also recommend organizational direction and bylaw amendments to the board of directors.

According to Vorderstrasse, the new structure will make room for industry participation in the organization." Corporate partners who stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us will now get a seat at the governing table. We think this will only make us stronger and better equipped to meet challenges. We are moving in the right direction for our industry."

The smaller, elected board made up of 15 directors will set the organizational direction and will ensure the organization is staying on mission. Officers will serve one-year terms with a formal rotation of president-elect, president and past president. Standing committees and work teams, made up of producers and professionals, will also contribute to the work of the organization by planning and implementing programs to meet member needs.

"In recent years, the board has grown to more than 30 directors. Our new smaller board will operate more efficiently and will allow the organization to respond to issues in a more timely manner," said NSP Executive Director Tim Lust. "I believe that these changes will allow our board to continue moving our industry forward."

A transition team was appointed to manage the implementation process. The new structure will take effect Oct. 1. The first delegate body meeting will take place at the North American Grain Congress in San Antonio, Texas next February. Board terms will begin March 1.
 

8-1-05--Grain Sorghum Wins with Energy and Trade Bills

The ethanol industry will continue to grow as a market for grain sorghum thanks to the 7.5 billion gallon renewable fuels standard included in the Energy Bill that passed on Friday. Export markets for grain sorghum will benefit from the passage of the Central America –Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) on Thursday.

“With the passage of CAFTA-DR on Thursday, and the Energy Bill on Friday, sorghum growers should be very happy,” according to Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association President Greg Shelor. “While livestock remains our number one customer, these two bills do a lot to strengthen exports and the ethanol industry.”

Kansas is the nation’s leading producer of grain sorghum, harvesting about 45 percent of the nation’s crop each year. While most ethanol plants in the Midwest use corn to produce ethanol, more ethanol in Kansas is made with grain sorghum. Corn and grain sorghum are interchangeable in the ethanol-making process.

“There continues to be a lot of interest in building additional ethanol plants in the sorghum belt,” Shelor said. “The RFS in the Energy Bill will help the industry grow which will help our rural Kansas communities.”

Exports also play a significant role in marketing grain sorghum. The United States is the leading producer and exporter of sorghum on the world market. The U.S. share of world trade in sorghum has not dropped below 70 percent in the last decade.

KGSPA and the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission work with the US Grains Council to build export markets for grain sorghum.

###

 

8-1-05--Kansas Delegation Key to CAFTA-DR Passage

The US House of Representatives’ narrow passage of the Central America –Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) was an important win for Kansas corn and grain sorghum growers. The measure passed the House on Thursday 217-215. Key votes from Kansas representatives tipped the scales in favor of the free trade agreement, according to the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association. The trade agreement, also approved by the Senate, now awaits the signature of President Bush.

According to figures released by the US Grains Council, the agreement will eliminate corn tariffs immediately for Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic (which together import approximately 59 million bushels), and provide initial duty free access for approximately another 43.3 million bushels of corn with that volume increasing yearly as tariffs are phased out in the remaining countries. Also, the valued ethanol co-product, distillers dried grains with solubles will immediately receive duty-free treatment in all CAFTA-DR countries. Additionally, the Dominican Republic and Guatemala will not apply tariffs on sorghum.

The entire Kansas Congressional delegation Rep. Jere Moran, Rep. Jim Ryun, Rep. Dennis Moore, and Rep. Todd Tiahrt supported CAFTA-DR in the key House vote.

“All four of our U.S. Representatives voted in favor of CAFTA-DR. They supported CAFTA-DR because they know how important free trade is to the economy of our state,” according to KCGA/KGSPA Executive Director Jere White. “And while the Senate vote on CAFTA-DR was not nearly as close, we recognize the leadership on this bill by our Kansas Senators Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback.”

CAFTA-DR provides immediate duty-free access to more than half of all U.S. agricultural exports to the region and will enhance U.S. agricultural exports by $1.5 billion when fully implemented.

Benefits of CAFTA-DR include:
Increasing agriculture exports by $900 million annually
Immediate elimination of duties on more than 80 percent of U.S. exports
Increasing exports of U.S. manufactured exports by approximately $3 billion annually
Lowering trade barriers to give growers access to important markets

KCGA and KGSPA are membership-based organizations representing corn and grain sorghum growers in legislative and regulatory issues. KCGA is affiliated with the National Corn Growers Association. KGSPA is affiliated with the National Sorghum Producers.

6-10-05--East Kansas Agri-Energy Takes in First Load of Grain on June 10

June 10, 2005--The East Kansas Agri-Energy’s Garnett ethanol plant took its first load of grain today, marking the startup of the state’s seventh ethanol plant. Local grower Glenn Caldwell delivered a load of corn at 8 a.m. today. The Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association congratulated EKAE on taking its first step toward the production of ethanol.

“The first load of grain is an important milestone for an ethanol plant,” according to KCGA/KGSPA Executive Director Jere White. “Not only does it mark the beginning of the ethanol production process, it is symbolic of the positive impact the plant will have on grain producers.”

The plant held its groundbreaking ceremony just over seven months ago on October 29, 2004. The East Kansas Agri-Energy plant had a pricetag of $46.5 million. Organizers concluded a public offering for investors in January of 2004, resulting in a membership of over 575 businesses and individuals.

The EKAE plant will use about 13 million bushels of corn and grain sorghum per year to produce 35 million gallons of ethanol and more than 115,000 tons of dried distillers grains, a high-nutrient livestock feed.

With the addition of EKAE, Kansas now has seven dry grind ethanol plants in operation with a capacity of 170 million gallons. Kansas ethanol production now creates a market for about 65 million bushels of sorghum and corn. Other potential plants, including projects at Pratt and Phillipsburg, are in various stages of planning.

3-23-05--Corn and Grain Sorghum Growers Applaud Passage of Ethanol Labeling Bill
A bill that would repeal a requirement to label fuel containing ethanol is on its way to Governor Kathleen Sebelius, who is expected to sign it. Senate Bill 56, passed earlier by the Senate, received the approval of the Kansas House in a 110-13 vote today. The Kansas Corn Growers Association (KCGA), and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association (KGSPA) were active supporters of the bill.

“We applaud the Kansas Legislature for passing this bill, which, when implemented, could dramatically expand our in-state markets for Kansas ethanol,” according to Jere White, Executive Director of KCGA and KGSPA.

Before bill goes into law, it must be signed by the Governor. In addition, the Kansas Department of Agriculture must revise its agency rules and regulations regarding pump labeling.

Kansas currently has an ethanol production capacity of 135 million gallons at six plants located in Atchison, Colwich, Russell, Campus, Garden City and Leoti. A 35 million gallon plant is under construction at Garnett and will begin production this year. Plans to build a 50 million gallon at Pratt and a 40 million gallon plant Phillipsburg are underway.

3-24-05--Kansas Sorghum Growers Explore Sorghum Market Opportunities in Africa

Three Kansas growers got a first hand look at efforts to build markets for U.S. sorghum in Africa. The growers returned this week from the US Grains Council’s Sorghum Mission to Africa. Kansas growers on the mission were Greg Graff, Kansas Grain Sorghum Commissioner from Marienthal; Jay Zimmerman, Kansas Grain Sorghum Commissioner from South Haven, and Charles Odgers of Sublette. Participants in the sorghum mission assessed the potential for growth in commercial uses for sorghum as well as food aid efforts.

The US Grains Council group identified export opportunities for U.S. sorghum under the Moroccan Free-Trade Agreement and the United Nation’s World Food Program. During their stop in Zambia, they met with staff from the World Food Program, visiting relief sites in the country where there continues to be great demand and need for food aid sorghum in Zambia.

Participants also attended the grand opening of a commercial beef feedlot that will be jointly managed by the Council and a Moroccan farmer’s coop. They visited with poultry sector representatives from the Moroccan Poultry Federation, an organization founded 10 years ago with the assistance of the Council.

Working with USGC, the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission provided sorghum for successful poultry feeding trials in Morocco in 1997. The Commission has also hosted Moroccan trade teams in Kansas. The feeding trials and other efforts built interest in US sorghum. The elimination of the sorghum tariff, thanks to the US Moroccan Free Trade Agreement, will make U.S. sorghum a very attractive grain to Moroccan grain buyers.

“Morocco is a well-developed market, and it’s a very rewarding thing to be part of building that market,” Graff said during a media briefing.

The group also participated in the opening of a beef feed lot in Morocco during the mission. The feedlot will have positive repercussions for U.S. grains producers – specifically U.S. sorghum growers. The $5 million feedlot, located at Taroudant, Morocco, has agreed to use U.S. sorghum in its feed rations. The feed lot has a 5,000 head capacity for both fattening as well as heifer conditioning and is run on a contract basis. This is the first type of such a business in Morocco.

“This is a first of a kind deal in Morocco, and in the whole region. You really have to appreciate the work Chris Cory and Kurt Schultz at the Grains Council have accomplished to get this done,” Graff said.

The US Grains Council supplied to steam flakers to the feedlot, and that will help their use of sorghum. “That especially helps sorghum, Graff said. “It should increase sorghum sales, and should also help corn sales.”

Troy Skarke, Texas Grain Sorghum Producers Board said the visit to refugee camps in Zambia drove home the message that U.S. sorghum is critical to food aid efforts. Skarke said the team met refugees who were very thankful for the sorghum they received through World Food Program relief efforts. The group saw the labor-intensive job of distributing food aid.

“The grain sorghum came in 75 pound bags, loaded by refugees themselves and taken to a food mill set up by the World Food Program. We were invited to a couple of homes. They prepared our sorghum into porridge, and it was quite tasty and filled my stomach,” he said. “ . . .We met a few of the refugees to discuss their needs. Over and over they thanked us.”

Skarke said food aid provided needed help for the hungry and also provided an outlet for U.S. grains.

“My personal opinion is that we’re blessed in this country of ours and we need to continue to work in distribution of food aid of our product. When we have a surplus of food, we need to give food and not cash,” Skarke said.

The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission is a nine-member grower board that invests the half-cent per bushel grain sorghum checkoff in the areas of foreign and domestic market development, promotion, research and education. The US Grains Council is a private, non-profit corporation that develops export markets for U.S. grain sorghum, barley, corn and related products. Its membership includes producer organizations and agribusinesses with a common interest in developing export markets. For more information on commission efforts, visit www.ksgrains.com.



 

3-15-05--Kansas Renewable Energy Projects Could Benefit From USDA Grant Program
Renewable energy projects will receive special attention in this year’s Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. USDA Rural Development announced this week informational meetings for people interested in applying for the grants. The Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association and Kansas Corn Growers Association encouraged growers to look into the grants as way to help develop value-added projects.

Priority consideration will be given to Value-Added Producer Grant Program applications that have at least 51% of eligible project costs dedicated to activities for a bio-energy project, according to USDA. The renewable energy projects can involve bio-diesel, ethanol or wind energy production or the use of bio-mass to generate energy.

“This is a good opportunity for groups in Kansas who are looking at the possibility of building an ethanol plant in their community,” according to Robert White, Director of Value Added Programs for KCGA and KGSPA. “Two ethanol projects received value added grants from USDA in 2002. Western Plains Energy, LLC began production in early 2004 and East Kansas Agri-Energy is currently building a plant in Garnett.”

The four USDA Rural Development value-added program informational meetings will be held:

Iola--March 21, 2005: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Allen County Community College, Administration Building, Lecture Hall, 1801 N. Cottonwood

Dodge City--March 23, 2005: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Dodge City Community College Area Technical Center, Student Union Building, Ford County Room, 2501 North 14th Avenue

Colby--March 24, 2005: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Colby Community Building, Little Theater, 285 East 5th Street

Manhattan--March 28, 2005: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Riley County Fairgrounds, Pottorf Hall, Konza Room, Avery Avenue (South of Kimball)

According to Kansas USDA Rural Development, awards under this program will be made on a competitive basis, and applications must be received no later than May 6, 2005. Detailed information about program requirements and the application process can be found in the March 7, 2005 publication of the Federal Register, on the Kansas USDA Rural Development website at www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks , or by calling the Agency in Topeka at 785-271-2744.

2-16-05--Wake Up to Kansas Agriculture Breakfast Brings Together Growers, Legislators
Kansas legislators and staff members were treated to pancakes and sausage at the 10th annual Wake Up to Kansas Agriculture legislative breakfast in Topeka on Tuesday, Feb. 15. The event is hosted by the Kansas Corn Growers Association (KCGA), Kansas Association of Wheat Growers (KAWG) and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association (KGSPA).

Growers participating from the Kansas Corn Growers Association were: Brian and Sheri Baalman, Menlo; Armin Nelson, McPherson; Bill and Liz Pauly, Denton; John Tibbits, Minneapolis; Charles Foltz, Garnett; Bob Timmons, Fredonia; Dan and Kitty Guetterman, Bucyrus. From the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association were: Greg Shelor, Minneola. Participating from the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association were: Greg Shelor, Minneola, Jeff Filinger, Cuba; Kelly Miller, Ellinwood; Ted Birtell, Scranton, and Art and Sidna Small, Neodesha. Participating from the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers was Paul Penner, Hillsboro.

KCGA and KGSPA also held board meetings in conjunction with the event.

1-20-05--Bill to Repeal Ethanol Labeling Introduced in Kansas
A bill that would repeal a law requiring fuel containing alcohol to be labeled was introduced in the Kansas Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday. The bill, SB56, is supported by the Kansas Corn Growers Association, Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association and several other groups that support the use of ethanol.

“The law was enacted nationwide in the early 1980s because of problems caused by gasohol which was used to extend fuel supplies during the oil crisis,” according to KCGA/KGSPA Director of Value Added Programs Robert White. “The label served its purpose at a time when vehicles were less adaptable to the use of such fuels. Many ingredients, including methanol, were used in gasohol, and most were used at levels that would not be safe even today.”

Supporters of the bill argue that the labeling law served its original purpose and is no longer needed. Ethanol is found in over 30% of the gasoline sold nationwide. There are no health, environmental or automobile risks associated with ethanol.

“Today, the only alcohol being added to fuel in the Kansas market is ethanol, a highly refined fuel produced from corn and grain sorghum. There is no legitimate reason to have a label on fuels blended with 10 percent ethanol and below,” White said. “Of all the ingredients in fuel, ethanol is one of the safest.”

Gasoline is also much different than it was 25 years ago. All gasoline today has various detergents already added.

“Ethanol is one that adds octane and extends our fuel supply, while helping our economy and environment,” he said.

White said the associations plan to launch an effort to help fuel retailers understand how they can include ethanol in their fuel blends. Removing the labeling requirement would increase the amount of ethanol sold in Kansas, boosting local and regional markets for the fuel produced at ethanol facilities located in six rural communities.

“One of the benefits of ethanol is that it reduces our reliance on foreign oil and adds stability to our domestic fuel supply,” White said. “Ethanol is already found in a third of our nation’s gasoline. By removing the labeling requirement, fuel retailers will have more flexibility to offer ethanol-blended fuel when the economics allow it.”

E10 Unleaded fuel with 10 percent ethanol is approved for use by all domestic and foreign automakers. It is a renewable fuel and lowers polluting emissions.

Kansas currently has an ethanol production capacity of 130 million gallons at six plants located in Atchison, Colwich, Russell, Campus, Garden City and Leoti. A 35 million gallon plant is under construction at Garnett. Plans to build a 50 million gallon at Pratt and a 40 million gallon plant Phillipsburg also are well underway.
 

1-14-05--New Meeting Dates Added for Silage Sorghum Crop Insurance Pilot Program
Growers will have an opportunity to learn about the Silage Sorghum Pilot insurance contract, a new tool that will allow producers in 37 Kansas counties and two Colorado counties to manage their production risks more effectively. Informational meetings are being held in several western Kansas towns and two Colorado towns in January and February. Dates have been added for meetings in Dodge City, Ulysses, Hugoton, and Lamar, Colo. The lack of insurance for silage sorghum has prevented many producers from growing this drought tolerant crop. Dates and locations are listed below.

The Silage Sorghum Pilot insurance contract is available for Colorado producers in Baca and Prowers counties. Eligible Kansas counties include Barton, Decatur, Ellis, Finney, Ford, Gove, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Lane, Logan, Meade, Morton, Ness, Norton, Osborne, Phillips, Rawlins, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Scott, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Trego, Wallace, and Wichita.

Sorghum varieties grown for harvest as silage will be eligible for coverage under the new pilot program launching in 2005 and continuing through 2008. The definitions for insurability match category 1 or 2 as defined by FSA LP-1955, but the list cannot guarantee insurability.

To inform producers about the pilot program, the National Sorghum Producers (NGSP) has partnered with USDA’s Risk Management Agency, the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association, Kansas State University and Colorado State University to coordinate meetings in January and February. For meeting dates and locations, visit NGSP’s website (www.sorghumgrowers.com) or call the NGSP office at (806) 749-3478 or the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association at (785) 448-6922. Scheduled meetings are listed below:

Sharon Springs: Jan 18 at 9:30 a.m. CAB Building, Fairgrounds
Dighton: Jan. 19 at 9 a.m. at the 4-H Building
Leoti: Jan. 19 at 3:30 p.m. at the Community Building
Lakin: Jan. 20 at 9:30 a.m., at the Fair Building
Walsh, Colo.: Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. at the Community Building
Dodge City: Feb. 8 at 9:30 a.m. at the 4-H Building
Ulysses: Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. at the Civic Center Lawson Room
Hugoton: Feb. 9 at 9:30 a.m. at the Fair Office Building
Lamar, Colo.: Feb. 10 at 9:30 a.m. at the Cow Palace Inn

1-6-05--Sorghum Profit Seminar Scheduled with Silage Insurance Meeting
Jan. 13 at Colby

The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission will host a sorghum profit seminar Thursday, Jan. 13 at the Colby 4-H Building. The seminar, which includes a barbecue lunch, is being held in conjunction with the Silage Sorghum Crop Insurance Pilot Program informational meeting that begins at 9 a.m. at the 4-H Building (see below for more information). The profit seminar will begin around 11 a.m., upon completion of the silage sorghum crop insurance meeting. Growers are invited to attend one or both meetings.

At the Sorghum Profit Seminar, Ken Kofoid, KSU Hays Research Center, will speak on hybrid selection and sorghum breeding priorities. Eric Sperber, Commodities Manager for the Western Plains Energy ethanol plant, will speak on the use of sorghum in ethanol production. Robert White, Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers, will speak on sorghum marketing opportunities, and Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission member Rich Calliham, Colby, will lead a producer panel discussion.

Meal reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling the commission toll-free 866-457-6456 or by calling the Thomas County Extension office at 785-462-4582.

Silage Sorghum Pilot Crop Insurance Informational Meeting
The informational meeting on the Silage Sorghum Pilot crop insurance contract will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 13 at the Colby 4-H building. This new tool will allow producers in 37 Kansas counties and two Colorado counties to manage their production risks more effectively. Informational meetings are being held in several western Kansas towns and one Colorado location in January. The lack of insurance for silage sorghum has prevented many producers from growing this drought tolerant crop.

The Silage Sorghum Pilot insurance contract is available for Colorado producers in Baca and Prowers counties. Eligible Kansas counties include Barton, Decatur, Ellis, Finney, Ford, Gove, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Lane, Logan, Meade, Morton, Ness, Norton, Osborne, Phillips, Rawlins, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Scott, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Trego, Wallace, and Wichita.

Sorghum varieties grown for harvest as silage will be eligible for coverage under the new pilot program launching in 2005 and continuing through 2008. The definitions for insurability match category 1 or 2 as defined by FSA LP-1955, but the list cannot guarantee insurability.

To inform producers about the pilot program, the National Sorghum Producers (NGSP) has partnered with USDA’s Risk Management Agency, the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association, Kansas State University and Colorado State University to coordinate meetings in January and February.

12-29-04--Kansas Meetings Set For Silage Sorghum Crop Insurance Pilot Program
The lack of insurance for silage sorghum has prevented many producers from growing this drought tolerant and “water-sipping” crop. The Silage Sorghum Pilot insurance contract is a new tool that will allow producers in 37 Kansas counties and two Colorado counties to manage their production risks more effectively. Informational meetings will be held in several western Kansas towns and one Colorado location in January. Dates and locations are listed below.

The Silage Sorghum Pilot insurance contract is available for Colorado producers in Baca and Prowers counties. Eligible Kansas counties include Barton, Decatur, Ellis, Finney, Ford, Gove, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Lane, Logan, Meade, Morton, Ness, Norton, Osborne, Phillips, Rawlins, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Scott, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Trego, Wallace, and Wichita.

Sorghum varieties grown for harvest as silage will be eligible for coverage under the new pilot program launching in 2005 and continuing through 2008. The definitions for insurability match category 1 or 2 as defined by FSA LP-1955, but the list cannot guarantee insurability.

To inform producers about the pilot program, the National Sorghum Producers (NGSP) has partnered with USDA’s Risk Management Agency, the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association, Kansas State University and Colorado State University to coordinate meetings in January and February. For meeting dates and locations, visit NGSP’s website (www.sorghumgrowers.com) or call the NGSP office at (806) 749-3478 or the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association at (785) 448-6922.

Hoxie--9 a.m., Jan. 11 at the 4-H Building
Hays--4 p.m., Jan. 11 at the Extension Office
Stockton--9 a.m., Jan 12 at the 4-H Building
Colby--9 a.m., Jan. 13 at the 4-H Building
Sharon Springs--9:30 a.m., Jan 18, location to be announced
Dighton--9 a.m., Jan. 19 location to be announced
Leoti--3:30 p.m., Jan. 19 at the Community Building
Lakin--9:30 a.m., Jan. 20 at the Fair Building
Walsh, Colo.--6 p.m., Jan. 27 at the Community Building

Meetings are being scheduled for Dodge City, Ulysses, Hugoton and Lamar, Colo. in February.

12-28-04--Kansas Growers Win Honors in National Yield Contest
Three Kansas growers earned national honors in the 2004 National Grain Sorghum Yield and Management Contest sponsored by the National Sorghum Producers (NGSP). NGSP scores each entry by how much it surpasses the county average.

Gary Resco from Cloud County placed first in the Conventional-Till Non-Irrigated division with a yield of 186.98 bushels per acre, beating the county average by 134.98 bushels per acre with Pioneer 84G62.

Roger Johnson of Sheridan County placed third in the Reduced-Till Irrigated division with a yield of 180.74 bushels per acre, beating the county average by 88.74 bushels per acre with Pioneer 84G62.

Ki Gamble of Kiowa County placed third in the Conventional-Till Irrigated division with a yield of 213.55 bushels per acre, beating the county average by 109.05 bushels per acre with Pioneer 84G62. With 213.55 bushels per acre, Gamble had the highest yield among national winners, but not the highest score.

National and state winners will be recognized at an awards banquet to be held Tuesday, February 22nd in conjunction with the first North American Grain Congress in Reno, Nevada.

12-2-04--Winter Storm Doesn’t Dampen Growers’ Enthusiasm for Kansas Commodity Classic

Dec. 2, 2004--Although a snow storm slowed arrivals to the Kansas Commodity Classic in Garden City on Tuesday, the event drew a near capacity crowd by mid morning. The Classic is the annual convention of the Kansas corn, grain sorghum, wheat and cotton producers. Growers heard from Congressman Jerry Moran and also from a panel of lobbyists from the corn, sorghum, wheat and cotton national associations. The morning’s discussions centered on the upcoming legislative session.

“We had a strong morning program with interesting speakers who did an great job of explaining the opportunities and obstacles agriculture will be facing in Congress in 2005,” according to Jere White, Executive Director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association. “Our morning program featured lively discussions between growers, the panelists and Congressman Moran, covering a wide range of topics from renewable fuels, to crop insurance to agricultural leadership.”

Following a lunch, growers participated in two of six breakout sessions with topics ranging from pesticides, marketing, irrigation and aquifer management, state legislative priorities and crop insurance.

“We couldn’t have been more pleased with the growers’ participation in these sessions,” White said. “Thanks to an excellent slate of speakers and topics, each of the sessions was well attended.”

Over 200 producers attended the event. This was the first year of the Kansas Cotton Association’s involvement in the Classic. The commissions and associations for the corn, wheat, sorghum and cotton producers held meetings and dinners in conjunction with the Classic.

“Garden City was an excellent location for this year’s Kansas Commodity Classic,” White said. “Southwest Kansas represents a substantial percentage of our state’s agricultural production, and we appreciate the efforts of the growers who braved a snowstorm and bitterly cold weather to participate in our annual convention.”

Plans are already underway for the 2005 Kansas Commodity Classic. The Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association are based in Garnett.

11-24-04--Sorghum Profit Meetings Slated for Eastern Kansas
The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission (KGSC) is hosting a series of Sorghum Profit Meetings in eastern Kansas, during the week of December 6 in Eastern Kansas. The meetings will feature grower panels and speakers from National Sorghum Producers (NGSP), Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association (KGSPA) and Kansas State University. The meetings, including the meals, will be offered free to growers.

The Northeast Sorghum Profit meeting will be held Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 10 a.m. at Marysville, Kansas American Legion, 310 North 19th Street. Stu Duncan, KSU Area Extension Specialist will talk about sorghum fertility, yield potential, and hybrids. Dave Regehr, KSU Extension Weed Scientist, will talk about crop rotations and herbicides for sorghum. KSU Agronomist Barney Gordon will talk about water requirements and comparisons between sorghum and other spring crops. NGSP will give a presentation on the new Group Risk Insurance Program available in 2005. KGSPA will give a presentation on new and changing marketing opportunities for grain sorghum. KGSC Commissioner Leo Bindel of Sabetha will head the producer panel. The program will finish at 2 p.m. A chili and soup lunch will be served. Meal reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling toll-free 866-457-6456.

The Southeast Sorghum Profit meeting will be held Thursday, Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. at the KSU Extension Office at Fredonia located in the Courthouse basement. Gary Kilgore, Area KSU Extension Specialist will speak on sorghum fertility, yield potential, and hybrid selections. Dave Regehr, KSU Extension Weed Scientist, will speak on crop rotations and herbicides for sorghum. NGSP will give a presentation on the new Group Risk Insurance Program available in 2005. KGSPA will give a presentation on new and changing marketing opportunities for grain sorghum. A producer panel will feature KGSC Commissioner Kathy Claiborne of Fredonia, and two other producers explaining their farming rotations. The program is free, and lunch reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling toll-free 866-457-6456.

The East-Central Sorghum Profit meeting will be held Friday, December 10 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Ottawa’s Celebration Hall at the Ottawa Fairgrounds. The meeting is sponsored by WIBW Radio and KS Grain Sorghum Commission. Kelly Lenz will host WIBW’s Ag Issues program live from the meeting from 6 to 6:30 a.m. Breakfast will be served at 6:45 a.m. The program will begin after breakfast. Gary Kilgore, Area KSU Extension Specialist will speak on sorghum fertility, yield potential, and hybrid selections. Dave Regehr, KSU Extension Weed Scientist, will speak on crop rotations and herbicides for sorghum. NGSP will give a presentation on the new Group Risk Insurance Program available in 2005. KGSPA will give a presentation on new and changing marketing opportunities for grain sorghum. A producer panel will feature Commissioner Jeff Casten of Quenemo; Wes Girard of Lebo, and David Flax of Osage City. The program is free, and tickets can be picked up at WIBW sponsor locations or by calling KGSC 866-457-6456.

11-17-04--Corn, Grain Sorghum, Wheat and Cotton Producers to Meet at
Kansas Commodity Classic Nov. 30 at Garden City
Corn, wheat, sorghum and cotton producers will come together on Tuesday, Nov. 30 for the Kansas Commodity Classic at the Garden City Plaza Inn. This annual event will feature a wide range of topics from legislative and policy issues to production and marketing of Kansas crops. The 2004 Kansas Commodity Classic is hosted by the Kansas Corn Growers Association, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association and Kansas Cotton Association.

The day’s morning activities will feature a general session with Congressman Jerry Moran and Senator Pat Roberts (invited). In addition, a panel discussion will feature agriculture lobbyists from the national wheat, corn, grain sorghum and cotton associations.

After lunch, participants will choose two sessions from the following topics: Living Together in the Neighborhood--with Pesticides; Get More with Your Marketing in 2005; Irrigation Transition Program and the High Plains Aquifer; Applying Herbicides to Improve Efficacy and Minimize Drift; Kansas Legislative Outlook with Senator Steve Morris; and Group Risk Insurance Program Comparisons.

Commodity association and commission meetings will be held Monday, Nov. 29 through Wednesday, Dec. 1 in conjunction with the Kansas Commodity Classic. Visit www.ksgrains.com for a complete schedule.

Growers will be treated to a buffet lunch during the Kansas Commodity Classic. While registrations will be taken at the door, participants are encouraged to pre-register to guarantee a seat at lunch. To pre-register for the Kansas Commodity Classic, call 800-748-8034.

11-5-04--2004 KGSPA Annual Meeting November 30
The Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association will hold its Annual Meeting at 7 am, Tuesday, Nov. 30 at the Plaza Inn, 1911 E. Kansas Ave., Garden City. All members of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association are invited to attend this annual meeting. Participants will hear updates on association activities and elect board members for the West-central, South-central and Northeast districts. Members will also discuss and vote on KGSPA resolutions, which guide KGSPA policy throughout the year.

10-29-04--Garnett Ethanol Plant Organizers Celebrate Groundbreaking

With heavy equipment working in the background, organizers of East Kansas Agri-Energy broke ground on a 35 million gallon ethanol plant at Garnett. EKAE plans to complete the $46.5 million project and begin production by the end of May 2005.

Monte Shaw of the Renewable Fuels Association told the large group of investors gathered at the plant site today that they were part of a national movement that is helping to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.

“We now have 81 plants in operation and 14 plants under construction. In fact, two plants are breaking ground today,” Shaw said.

A 50 million gallon plant in Goldfield, Iowa also broke ground today. Kansas-based ICM, Inc. is involved in the construction of the both the Garnett plant and the Iowa plant. In remarks at the groundbreaking event, ICM’s David VanderGriend said there was a strong demand for ethanol and that the plant would boost the local economy. “The money stays here when the ethanol leaves the county,” he said.

Ron Lamberty of the American Coalition for Ethanol reminded investors that there were many untapped markets for ethanol, some close to Garnett.

“Kansas City could use 150 million gallons, but right now they’re probably only using about 20 million gallons,” Lamberty said. “There is plenty of market out there.”

Kansas currently has six ethanol plants located in Russell, Colwich, Campus, Garden City, Leoti and Atchison. The six plants have a capacity to produce 130 million gallons per year. Jere White, Executive Director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Commission and the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association said the state could double its ethanol production in the next year.

“Right now our ethanol production uses 48 million bushels. When we double that and get to the point where we’re using 100 million bushels, that’s going to have a big impact,” White said.

The EKAE plant will create a market for 13 million bushels of grain per year to produce 35 million gallons of ethanol and more than 100,000 tons of dried distillers grains, a high nutrient livestock feed. A public offering for investors concluded in January of this year resulting in a membership of over 575 businesses and individuals.
 

10-12-04--Kansas Growers Applaud Congressional Approval of Disaster Assistance
A disaster assistance package has passed the House and Senate and is on its way to the President’s desk for signing. The Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association supported the legislation. The disaster assistance package includes $2.9 billion in disaster assistance that growers can claim for 2003 or 2004. This legislation will have a direct impact on Kansas growers who realized terrible losses in 2003 and many who experienced losses this year as well.

“Kansas growers have suffered consecutive years of drought. Getting disaster assistance for 2003 was a priority for the Kansas Corn Growers Association,” according to KCGA President Brian Baalman. “Our Kansas Senators and Representatives recognized the need and supported disaster assistance for our growers.”

Senator Pat Roberts and Senator Sam Brownback cosponsored disaster assistance on in the Senate. Representative Jerry Moran and Representative Dennis Moore cosponsored disaster assistance in the House. The entire Kansas Congressional delegation voted in favor of disaster assistance.

Although many corn and grain sorghum producers are enjoying good harvests this fall, there are still growers in some areas who are still not enjoying a recovery from the drought.

“In 2003, every county was made eligible for disaster assistance,” KGSPA President Greg Shelor of Minneola said. “The good 2004 yields don’t make up for the catastrophic losses we saw nearly statewide in 2003.”

The bill requires that farm disasters be paid out of the Conservation Security Program, a stipulation KGSPA and KCGA opposed.

“A drought isn’t as dramatic as a hurricane, although those who saw the dust storms this spring may disagree. Regardless, both drought and hurricanes are natural disasters,” according to KCGA and KGSPA Executive Director Jere White. “While the disaster assistance will definitely help our growers, we are disappointed that funding for our type of disaster must be paid for by other farm programs.”

In 2003, every county in Kansas county qualified for disaster assistance.

10-11-04--Corporate Tax Bill Victory Is Win for Kansas Growers

The Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association applauded Senate approval of the Corporate Tax Bill today. The bill contained important ethanol provisions. The bill, passed by the House of Representatives last week, will now go to the President for his signature.

The tax bill contains the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC), which extends the current blender’s tax credit for ethanol until 2010 and restructures those tax incentives to eliminate the impact on the Highway Trust Fund. The small ethanol producer credit provision included in the bill will make farmer-owned cooperatives eligible for this tax credit, which will provide millions of dollars per year in tax relief to the farmer owners.

“This bill is a big win for Kansas—for farmers, ethanol producers and the rural communities where they are located,” according to KGSPA President Greg Shelor.

Senator Pat Roberts and Senator Sam Brownback both voted in favor of the measure, which passed 69-17 today. Last week, Rep. Jerry Moran, Rep. Dennis Moore, Rep. Jim Ryun and Rep. Todd Tiahrt all voted in favor of the bill in the House.

“This was a complex bill, and we appreciate the unanimous support from our Kansas Congressional delegation,” KCGA President Brian Baalman of Menlo said.

While the ethanol provisions in the Corporate Tax Bill will help the ethanol industry, association members will continue to work for passage of the Renewable Fuels Standard in the Energy Bill. The RFS would create a demand for 5 billion gallons of ethanol per year.

“There is no doubt that VEETC and the small producer credit will help our growing ethanol industry,” according to KCGA Executive Director Jere White. “Passing an energy bill with the Renewable Fuels Standard remains a priority. Not only do our growers and the ethanol industry need the RFS, our country needs a sound, comprehensive energy policy.”

Kansas now has six ethanol plants that produce 130 million gallons of ethanol per year and create a market for 48 million bushels of grain sorghum and corn.

10-11-04--East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC Announces Groundbreaking – October 29, 2004
(EKAE NEWS RELEASE)

(Garnett, KS) – East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC (EKAE) a Kansas Limited Liability Company, has announced the official Groundbreaking ceremony for a 35 million gallon per year ethanol plant to be built in the Golden Prairie Industrial Park located in Garnett, KS. The event will be held on Friday, October 29, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at the plant site.

“We are truly excited to be able to make this announcement, this is a significant event in our project development and we would like to thank all the investors and project supporters for their continued support of our project and the ethanol industry,” said Bill Pracht of Westphalia who serves as chairman of EKAE.

HDB Construction of Topeka, KS was awarded the contract for site excavation. Preliminary site work has begun which includes construction layout, plant access roads, soil stabilization, site grading and replacement fill. The construction phase of the project will have a significant economic impact on the region. It is anticipated during the peak construction phase there will be approximately 150-200 workers on site.

ICM, Inc. of Colwich, KS and Fagen, Inc. of Granite Falls, MN will respectively be the plant designer and general contractor. Each of these companies have extensive ethanol background and have recently constructed and engineered ethanol facilities in Russell, KS, Oakley, KS and Trenton, NE. An aggressive construction schedule is planned with June 1, 2005 as the target date for plant start-up.

The $46.5 million dollar project will create a demand for more than 13 million bushels of grain annually which will be used to produce 35 million gallons of ethanol, more than 100,000 tons of dried distillers grains and the plant will also produce and capture carbon dioxide.

The concept of building an ethanol plant in Garnett, KS was an initiative of the Anderson County Economic Development (ACED) committee. Upon completion of the feasibility study, ACED handed the project over to what is now known as EKAE. The company was formed as a Limited Liability Company in October, 2001 by 122 regional farmers, ranchers, businesses and individuals for the purpose of building the ethanol plant. A public offering concluded on January 24, 2004 resulting in a membership of over 575 business and individuals.

This announcement comes at a time of record growth in the ethanol industry. The U.S. currently has 81 facilities that have the capability to produce 3.4 billion gallons annually. EKAE will be the 7th ethanol plant in Kansas.

For more information contact EKAE toll free at (877) 352-3552.

9-16-04--Governor Recognizes Biofuels with Proclamation
Governor Kathleen Sebelius signed a proclamation recognizing the importance of biofuels including ethanol at the Kansas State Fair on Wednesday. The Governor applauded the impact ethanol production has on the state’s economy.

“The growing ethanol industry provides growers, rural communities and the state with opportunities to improve their economic well-being,” according to Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission Chairman Jeff Casten of Quenemo. “We have seen firsthand the benefits of ethanol production in Kansas.”

Most of the ethanol produced in Kansas is made from grain sorghum. Six plants, located in Atchison, Campus, Colwich, Garden City, Leoti and Russell produce more than 130 million gallons of ethanol per year. Those plants create a market for more than 48 million bushels of sorghum and corn.

Nationally, ethanol production continues on a record breaking pace. The U.S. ethanol industry set an all-time monthly production record in June of 222,000 barrels per day, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. June represented the ninth consecutive all-time monthly production record. Production was up nearly 23 percent compared to last June.

“We look forward to continued growth in ethanol production as more plants come on line in Kansas communities,” Casten said. “These plants definitely have a positive impact on the price we receive for our sorghum. That’s why the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission has been involved in expanding the ethanol industry in Kansas.”

The State of Kansas supports the use of ethanol and biodiesel by requiring state vehicles and equipment to use these fuels when they are available as long as they are priced no more than ten cents per gallon higher than regular fuel.

Nine growers, representing the state’s nine crop reporting districts, serve on the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission. The commission determines how the half-cent per bushel grain sorghum checkoff is invested in the areas of domestic and foreign market development, promotion, research and education.

9-1-04--Great Plains Sorghum Symposium, September 14 and 15

The Great Plains Sorghum Symposium, September 14 and 15 at Manhattan will bring together individuals interested in grain sorghum production to showcase challenges and opportunities in sorghum improvement, production and marketing.  This includes producers, private industry, and public research and extension personnel.

The focus of the 2004 meeting will be sorghum utilization with local, regional and international speakers. The event organizers are hopeful to get several growers at the event to let them know what is going on in grain sorghum research and to get growers’ feedback. Projects funded by the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission and National Sorghum Producers are included in the program.

Activities on the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 14 will be held at KSU’s Ashland Bottoms Research Farm near Manhattan. Topics covered will be cropping systems, weed control, corn-sorghum comparisons, sorghum response to environmental stress, cold tolerance and drought tolerance.  The afternoon’s events will wrap up with a social hour and barbecue at the farm. Wednesday morning’s events will be held at the K-State Student Union and will wrap up by noon. Topics covered include tannins, food uses, insect research, food grade sorghum, feed value, and commercial uses. Registration is $45 at the door.

The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission is a nine-member grower board that invests the half-cent per bushel grain sorghum checkoff in the areas of foreign and domestic market development, promotion, research and education.

8-12-04--Grain Sorghum Commission Looks Forward to Trade with Morocco
The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission (KGSC) and US Grains Council have laid the groundwork for sales of sorghum to Morocco when tariffs are eliminated thanks to the passage of the US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement. The US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement recently passed by Congress will eliminate the tariff on grain sorghum when it goes into effect January 1, 2005. The FTA also phases out tariffs on corn and barley over a period of years.

“The sorghum commission has been working with the US Grains Council to build trade with Morocco for several years,” KGSC Chairman Jeff Casten, Quenemo, said. “But the tariff on sorghum made it difficult to sell large amounts of sorghum to that country. Soon that trade barrier will be gone, and we’ve already laid the groundwork to become a major feed source for Morocco’s poultry industry.

The language that eliminates and phases out grain tariffs was the product of several years of work by the US Grains Council and groups like the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission. While the USGC worked with the U.S. trade negotiators to ensure that sorghum, corn and barley received favorable treatment in the agreement, our counterparts in Morocco lobbied for the same thing with their Moroccan trade negotiators.

Working with the US Grains Council, the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission provided sorghum for successful poultry feeding trials in Morocco in 1997. The Commission has also hosted Moroccan trade teams in Kansas. The feeding trials and other efforts built interest in US sorghum. The lower tariffs, thanks to the US Moroccan Free Trade Agreement, will make US sorghum a very attractive grain to Moroccan grain buyers.

“We look forward continuing our work with the US Grains Council to build our business relationship with Morocco, and to build strong foreign markets for grain sorghum,” Casten said.

Morocco’s expanding poultry and meat sector is driving the country’s demand for feed grains. While poultry is the fastest growing meat production sector in Morocco, the cost of chicken meat production is one of the highest when compared to other middle-income countries. Costs to the Moroccan poultry producers will be significantly reduced through lower feed grain prices as a result of this agreement, according to the Grains Council.

The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission is a nine-member grower board that invests the half-cent per bushel grain sorghum checkoff in the areas of foreign and domestic market development, promotion, research and education.
 

5-21-04--Sorghum Silage Crop Insurance to be Offered in 37 Kansas Counties
KGSPA staff is participating in a conference call Monday to learn more about the 2005 sorghum silage crop insurance program approved recently by FCIC. 37 Kansas counties and two Colorado counties will be eligible to participate in a silage sorghum crop insurance pilot program in 2005. The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation board recently voted to approve the silage sorghum crop insurance program. NGSP and KGSPA have sought crop insurance coverage for sorghum silage for several years. KGSPA board member Leo Bindel, Sabetha, reiterated the need for sorghum silage coverage in testimony he gave to the US House Committee on Agriculture last fall. While crop insurance is available for corn silage, it has not been offered for sorghum silage.

"At a time of multi-year droughts when producers need water-saving options, government crop insurance policy is dictating that farmers grow corn silage with insurance in order to get financing by their bankers," Bindel told the committee in September.

According to the Risk Management Agency (RMA): Grain sorghum varieties grown for harvest as silage will be eligible for coverage under the new pilot program beginning in the 2005 crop year and continuing through the 2008 crop year for 2 counties in Colorado (Baca and Prowers) and 37 counties in Kansas (Barton, Decatur, Ellis, Finney, Ford, Gove, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Lane, Logan, Meade, Morton, Ness, Norton, Osborne, Phillips, Rawlins, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Scott, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Trego, Wallace, and Wichita). Non-silage varieties will not be covered under this pilot program. Under the current Coarse Grains Crop Provisions, grain sorghum grown for silage is not insurable, while corn grown for silage is. Kansas is one of the country's largest producers of this feed product.

Producers will be able to purchase coverage up to the 75 percent coverage level for this pilot program. The price election will be set at 80 percent of the corn silage price, which is obtained using RMA's newly revised corn silage pricing methodology. The National Sorghum Producers Association was extensively involved with the project. RMA will finalize the policy terms and conditions and anticipates release of such with the 2005 crop year actuarial filing for grain sorghum in early October 2004. The sales closing date will be March 15, 2005, for the 2005 crop year.

5/17/04--ksgrains.com Offers Central Ethanol Site
The Kansas grain sorghum and corn web site, www.ksgrains.com, now features a Kansas Ethanol Information site. The ksgrains.com site hosts the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association web sites as well as the corn commission and association sites. The individual web sites offered ethanol information, but the central ethanol site allows us to offer more current and cohesive ethanol information. The Kansas Ethanol Information site offers information on E10 and E85 fuels; Kansas and US Production figures; DDGS, and helpful ethanol industry links. Check it out at http:www.ksgrains.com/ethanol

5/7/04--RMA Seeks to Address Multi-Year Crop Loss Issues
May 7, 2004--Many Kansas growers are continuing to struggle with a multiple year drought and the effects of their crop losses on crop insurance guarantees. The Risk Management Agency (RMA) held a meeting today in Kansas City to request proposals to address the effects of insurance guarantees because of multi-year losses. The Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association were represented at the meeting.

Congressman Jerry Moran gave opening remarks at the meeting. Congressman Moran is Chairman of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management. He told the group that crop insurance is important to his constituents.

"I was at the 3-I Show, a large Kansas farm show, and crop insurance was the number one issue people were talking to me about," Congressman Moran told the group. "You can see by the number of farm organizations here today that this is a high priority to them."

The work that Congressman Moran and RMA are doing is proactive and has the potential to result in needed adjustments to the crop insurance system, according to Jere White, executive director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association

"We appreciate the work of Congressman Moran and RMA and their efforts to address problems our growers are experiencing with multi-year losses due to the lingering drought in many parts of our state," White said. "Many of our growers, especially in northwest Kansas, are looking at yet another dry year and another year of possible crop losses."

Many farmers in the western corn belt are concerned about the effects a multi-year drought are having on their crop insurance coverage and their yield history figures for their farms. A recent survey conducted for the National Corn Growers Association polled growers about their participation in the crop insurance programs over the past five years. 91 percent of growers interviewed had purchased crop insurance. Growers surveyed in the western corn growing region, which included Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado and Texas, were more likely to file more than one crop insurance claim in the last five years. Nationwide, 30 percent of growers surveyed filed claims in consecutive years, but in the western region, 60 percent filed consecutive claims.

"This survey covers the time period of one of the worst droughts in our region's history, and illustrates the challenges our growers are facing," White said. "This is why we need to look at multiple year crop losses and improve crop insurance so those growers are not penalized."

Companies, universities and private sector researchers attended the RMA meeting to discuss the problem of multi-year crop losses and submit proposals to address those problems.

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3/19/04--Moroccan Trade Agreement Good for Sorghum
If approved by Congress, a new trade agreement and an expanding poultry industry and a should lead to a stronger market for US grain sorghum and other grains in Morocco. Moroccan poultry producers are familiar with US grain sorghum after successful sorghum feeding trials in 1997. The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission donated 2,700 bushels of sorghum for the feeding trials sponsored by the US Grains Council. KGSC has also hosted Moroccan trade teams.

"You always hope for instant results from these kinds of projects, but in reality, these things take time," KGSC Chairman Jeff Casten said. "The feeders in Morocco saw a lot of benefits in US sorghum, and the Moroccan government lowered the tariffs somewhat for our grain. Since then, we have sold some sorghum to Morocco. The Moroccan Free Trade Agreement reduces or eliminates tariffs on US grains, and this gives us better access to that market."

Because US sorghum is tannin-free, it has a definite trade advantage over sorghum produced in other countries. Tannin has a negative impact on sorghum's feeding value, especially in poultry.

"Basically, chickens don't like tannin sorghum. When we were participating in the feeding trials, the Moroccans brought in tannin sorghum from another country and had poor results. When our tannin-free U.S. sorghum arrived, the feeders were very impressed."

The biggest trade barrier sorghum producers are seeing now is lower US sorghum production figures, due primarily to drought.

"We've done a good job developing good export demand, as well as good demand from the ethanol industry and other sectors. But a couple of bad years have really hurt our supply of sorghum in the US," Casten said. "We're nearing planting season, and growers really should take a look at sorghum."

The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission is a board consisting of grower representatives from the state's nine crop reporting districts. The commission invests the half-cent per bushel grain sorghum checkoff in the areas of foreign and domestic market development, research, promotion and education.


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3/31/04--KDA Announces Commodity Commission Election Results--Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission Results
March 31, 2004--The Kansas Department of Agriculture today announced the names of producers from the eastern third of the state who were elected to the state's four commodity commissions - corn, grain sorghum, soybeans and wheat.

This was the first election for districts seven, eight and nine under the new law that privatized the commissions in July 2000. District seven includes Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Jackson, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Marshall, Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Riley and Wyandotte counties. District eight includes Anderson, Chase, Coffey, Douglas, Franklin, Geary, Johnson, Linn, Lyon, Miami, Morris, Osage, Shawnee and Wabaunsee counties. District nine includes Allen, Bourbon, Butler, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Cowley, Crawford, Elk, Greenwood, Labette, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson and Woodson counties.

Ballots were cast between January and March 1 and were counted at the Kansas Department of Agriculture during March. The newly elected commissioners will take office April 1 and will serve for three years. Previously, commissioners were appointed by the governor.

Commissioner-elect for the Kansas Grain Sorghum CommissionDistrict seven - Leo Bindel, farms near Sabetha with his son, David. They grow corn, grain sorghum and soybeans. Bindel has been an advisor to NK® Syngenta and NK® Sorghum Partners. He has served on the board of directors and as president of both the National Sorghum Producers and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers. Bindel and his wife, Lois, have six children.

District eight - Jeff Casten, is a fourth-generation farmer who has grown grain sorghum in Osage County since 1977. Caston is currently serving as Chairman of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission. Casten and his wife, Joyce, have four daughters.

District nine - Kathryn Claiborne, who farms with her husband, Kenton, in Wilson and Woodson counties. The grow wheat, grain sorghum and soybeans. They also raise cattle and have a meat goat operation. Claiborne has served on several boards and committees, including the Fredonia High School Site Council, the Wilson County Jail Advisory Board, Wilson County Extension Council and the Wilson County Executive Board. She also served five years as a 4-H leader and one year on the FmHA board. She and her husband have three children.

2005 election will cover central third of state
Corn, grain sorghum, soybean and wheat growers in the central third of the state can expect to receive information by mail this summer outlining the 2005 election procedure. Also, commission representatives will visit field day events to distribute information.

Affected by the 2005 election will be districts four, five and six. District four includes Clay, Cloud, Jewell, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Phillips, Republic, Rooks, Smith and Washington counties. District five includes Barton, Dickinson, Ellis, Ellsworth, Lincoln, McPherson, Marion, Rice, Rush, Russell and Saline counties. District six includes Barber, Comanche, Edwards, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Kiowa, Pawnee, Pratt, Reno, Sedgwick, Stafford and Sumner 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 2005 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 or wheat during the last three years. The filing deadline for candidates is Oct. 31.

Voters may register by signing a valid candidate petition form or by filling out a voter registration form. Voter registration forms and candidate petition forms may be obtained from the Kansas Department of Agriculture, or any of the grain commodity commission offices. Or, an electronic voter registration form may be filled out online at www.ks-agr.org/commod/elections.htm. Growers must register by Dec. 31 to vote in the election.

Registered voters will receive an official ballot in January. Votes must be cast, or postmarked if submitted by mail, by March 1. After votes are cast, an official counting day in March will be announced so interested individuals may observe the vote-counting process. The names of commissioners-elect will be announced in mid-March and the elected will take office April 1.

2-17-04--Growers Testify Against Fertilizer, Pesticide Equipment Registration Bill
Grower members of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association submitted oral and written testimony in opposition to a bill that would require the registration of a large number of privately-owned fertilizer and pesticide application equipment. The bill, as written, would require owners of self-propelled application equipment with a capacity of over 200 gallons to register their equipment with the state.

KCGA board member Bob Timmons of Fredonia gave testimony at the Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on the bill, Senate Bill 464 on Tuesday. Timmons told the committee the bill served no purpose to the state. The bill would merely create a large database of many pieces of equipment throughout the state.

"Instead of creating new bureaucracies and new regulations, we should focus on encouraging compliance with the laws we already have in place," Timmons said. "The Department of Agriculture is implementing recent changes to Kansas Pesticide and Fertilizer Law. We believe that the early stages of this process are going well. If there is dissatisfaction in how existing pesticide regulations are being enforced, we should address those concerns, and not make another new law so we can later complain how that is being enforced."

The bill's requirements would include tractors with mounted tanks and sprayers that slide onto the beds of pickup trucks. In written testimony, KGSPA President Greg Shelor of Minneola questioned the need for the database.

"This bill would impact family farmers like me who are already complying with current regulations and labels, and who are willing to learn more," Shelor stated. "The state already has a database of over 17,000 Certified Private Applicators. Creating a second database of people with a certain size and type of application equipment is redundant and unnecessary.

Growers from other commodity groups also spoke in opposition to the bill. The Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association and Kansas Cooperative Council supported the bill.

The Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association represent their members on legislative and regulatory issues.

6-6-03 East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC Extends Target Date to September 1

EKAE Release:
(Garnett, KS) - The Board of Directors for East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC (EKAE) has announced that as of June 2 they have raised $7 million dollars towards their effort to build a 20 million gallon per year ethanol plant in Garnett, KS.

"The Board of Directors is extremely pleased with the progress of the project to date," said Bill Pracht, Chairperson of the Board of Directors. "Reaching this benchmark is a milestone for our group; we are approaching the halfway mark of our goal of $14 to $18 million dollars."

The creation of a target date for membership participation in EKAE worked to the group's advantage in determining the amount of interest and enthusiasm towards the project.

"We have had a tremendous amount of influx of investors in the last few weeks," said Jill Zimmerman, Equity Drive Coordinator for the project. To date, membership participation in the company is 61% farmer-owned. The board of directors has expressed a desire to maintain this level of farmer participation in the project.

At this time, no additional public equity drive meetings have been scheduled. The focus of the board of directors will include continuing to follow-up with meeting attendees and to solicit additional investments from agriculture producers and "mainstreet" investors from Kansas, Missouri, and certain other states.

"The board established a new target date of September 1, 2003. The company would like have the equity drive completed at that time so that construction of the plant can begin this year," added Pracht.

EKAE, LLC is a limited liability company that was organized in October of 2001, by 122 regional farm producers, businesses and individuals for the purpose of building a 20 million gallon per year ethanol production facility in Garnett, KS.

For more information contact EKAE, LLC toll free at (877) 352-3552.
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5-22-03--As School Year Ends, KGSC Looks Back on Accomplishments
More Kansas students know about grain sorghum and Kansas agriculture thanks to efforts by the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission. Kansas is the nation's leading producer of grain sorghum. KGSC supports educational efforts through the Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom and through the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association.

KGSC is a leading sponsor of KFAC's popular school assembly program called Kansas Kids, Crops and Critters. This year, the assembly was presented at 29 locations across the state and reached 9,500 students. 180 teachers received "Agri-Bags" from KFAC that contain teacher resources for teaching about agriculture.

"It's important that our young people understand where their food comes from," KGSC Chairman Jeff Casten of Quenemo said. "Ag in the Classroom is an effective program that really gets the attention of the students."

This year's KFAC assembly program visited 29 locations, reached over 9,500 students, and provided materials to 180 teachers.

The Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association also works with KGSC to teach school children about grain sorghum. By providing educational materials and presenting at school agriculture day events, KGSPA staff reached hundreds of students this year.

In addition to school events, KGSC is a sponsor of Agriland, the large interactive educational display featured at the Kansas State Fair. Several agricultural groups work together to give students and adult fair-goers information about how agriculture fits into their lives.

"We're lucky to have so many agricultural groups in Kansas all working together with a common goal-to help the citizens and future leaders of our state understand the important role farmers play in their lives," Casten said.

The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission is a nine-member board that determines how the half-cent per bushel grain sorghum checkoff is invested in the areas of research, education, market development and promotion.
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5-8-03--Sorghum, Corn and Distillers Grains subject of Course for Mexican, Columbian Buyers
Top grain importers and end users from Mexico and Columbia recently completed a Sorghum and Corn Procurement Course at the International Grains Program at Kansas State University. The US Grains Council brought the group to IGP for intensive week-long course. The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission and Kansas Corn Commission are sponsors of the IGP course and also fund efforts of the US Grains Council to develop foreign markets for Kansas grains.

"Attending this course provides me with an excellent opportunity to enhance my understanding of grain procurement," according to Columbian team member Mario Ocampo, general manager with Nutriavicola S.A. "Applying this knowledge will aid future growth of my company."

The 13-person team consisted of poultry and swine producers, grain importers and feed millers. Subjects included US grain production and marketing system, pricing, grain inspection, certification and procurement of contracts. In addition to learning about the basics of buying US grain sorghum and corn, the participants also learned about pricing and shipping dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), the coproduct of ethanol production.

The ethanol industry is rapidly expanding in Kansas and across the Midwest. Developing an export market for DDGS is a focus for growers and ethanol producers. About one-third of the grain used in ethanol production becomes DDGS, a high nutrient feed for livestock. Efforts to educate grain buyers about the value of DDGS are currently underway by the US Grains Council, National Sorghum Producers and National Corn Growers Association.

The Mexican market is especially important to Kansas grain sorghum and corn producers. Mexico is the leading importer of US grain sorghum and the second largest importer of US corn.
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4-28-03--East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC Announces Target Deadline
(EKAE News Release distributed by KGSPA/KCGA)
(Garnett, KS) - The Board of Directors for East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC (EKAE) has announced that its target date to purchase membership units in the company has been set for Monday, June 2, 2003. If the Board of Directors is able to meet the Monday, June 2 deadline then the company should be able to reach financial close this summer, break ground this fall and start producing ethanol in the winter of 2004.

EKAE, LLC is offering membership units at a price of $1,000 per unit, with a minimum purchase of 10 units, or a minimum investment of $10,000. EKAE will sell a minimum of $9 million and a maximum of $18 million in membership units. The total project cost is estimated at $36 million. Any resident of Kansas and Missouri who meets investor suitability criteria may buy units. The units are also available to accredited investors from certain other states.

EKAE, LLC is also soliciting investments not only from agriculture producers but "mainstreet" investors as well. Unlike some other ethanol plant projects, there is no requirement for investors to deliver corn or grain sorghum to the plant or purchase product from the plant.

The plant as planned will create a demand for more than 7 million bushels of corn and grain sorghum annually to produce 20 million gallons of ethanol and 64,000 tons of distiller dried grains with solubles per year. EKAE, LLC has negotiated an option to purchase 23 acres in the Golden Prairie Industrial Park in Garnett, KS.

"The attendance and interest during the first round of equity drive meetings was tremendous," said Bill Pracht, Chairperson of the Board of Directors. "In order to meet our target deadline of Monday, June 2, additional meetings have been scheduled in Eastern Kansas and Western Missouri starting Tuesday, April 29 through Tuesday, May 20. These meetings are to assist potential investors who were unable to attend an earlier meeting, have additional questions, or need assistance completing their subscription agreements.

EKAE, LLC is a limited liability company that was organized in October of 2001, by 122 regional farm producers, businesses and individuals for the purpose of building a 20 million gallon per year ethanol production facility in Garnett, KS.

For more information contact EKAE, LLC toll free at (877) 352-3552.
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4-24-03--Kansas Ethanol Expansion Is Good for Sorghum Growers
Efforts to build two new ethanol plants moving forward in Kansas add up to good news for grain sorghum growers in the state. Last week, the Western Plains Energy LLC ethanol group broke ground on its 30 million gallon ethanol plant at Campus, located near Oakley. This week, East Kansas Agri Energy announced a second round of equity drive meetings and has reported excellent interest from potential investors. The group is seeking investors from Kansas and Missouri to build a 20 million gallon ethanol plant at Garnett in east central Kansas.

While most of the ethanol plants in the Midwest use corn to produce ethanol, grain sorghum is normally used to make most of the ethanol produced in Kansas. Ethanol plants can use either grain to produce their product.

"There is a lot of interest in ethanol from farmers who grow grain sorghum," according to Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission Chairman Jeff Casten of Quenemo. "Most of the ethanol made in Kansas is made from grain sorghum and that adds value to our crop."

The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission assisted both groups in the early stages of development. The commission provided funds for both groups to complete feasibility studies. KGSC, along with the Kansas Corn Commission and Kansas Department of Commerce Ag Products Division, produced a Kansas ethanol pre-feasibility study for start-up groups to use to determine if an ethanol plant would succeed in their communities.

"One of the commission's main objectives is to develop markets for grain sorghum, and that's why we've been involved in expanding the ethanol industry in Kansas," Casten said. "Now we're seeing concrete results. Five years ago, ethanol production used about 20 million bushels grain; now we're using about 30 million bushels and that number would increase to nearly 50 million bushels when these two new plants come on line."

About 200 people attended the groundbreaking at Campus for the Western Plains Energy ethanol plant last Thursday. First District Representative Jerry Moran was the keynote speaker at the event. Also speaking at the event was Jere White, who is executive director of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association as well as the Kansas Corn Commission, and Kansas Corn Growers Association.

Western Plains Energy's organizers expect to be producing ethanol at the plant in early 2004. The WPE plant will produce 30 million gallons of ethanol per year and create a market for 10.7 million bushels of grain sorghum or corn annually. The plant will produce over 90,000 tons of distiller's grains for use as a premium cattle feed.

The EKAE facility would produce 20 million gallons of ethanol per year, and is expected to require 7.5 million bushels of sorghum or corn.

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4-21-03--East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC Schedules Additional Equity Drive Meetings (EKAE News Release)

(Garnett, KS) - The Board of Directors for East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC recently announced that a new series of equity drive meetings have been scheduled in eastern Kansas and western Missouri. The Garnett, KS, based group, which was organized by 122 area agricultural, business and community leaders, is working to build a 20 million gallon per year ethanol production facility.

"The attendance and interest during the first round of equity drive meetings was tremendous, said Bill Pracht, Chairperson of the Board of Directors. "We generated a tremendous amount of interest, handing out over 1400 prospectus to agriculture producers and potential "mainstreet" investors as well."

In order to meet our targeted June 2 target date, additional equity drive meetings have been scheduled to assist potential investors who were unable to attend an earlier meeting, have additional questions or need assistance completing their subscription agreements. The meetings are as follows:

Tuesday, April 29, 7:00 p.m.
Sedgwick County Extension Education Center, 7001 West 21st North, Wichita

Wednesday, April 30, 7:00 p.m.
Best Western Hospitality House, 3021 West Highway 50, Emporia

Thursday, May 1, 7:00 p.m.
Coffey County Courthouse, Basement Meeting Room, Burlington

Tuesday, May 6, 7:00 p.m.
Celebration Hall, Franklin County Fairgrounds, Ottawa

Wednesday, May 7, 7:00 p.m.
The Lodge, 502 Ames Street, Baldwin

Thursday, May 8, 7:00 p.m.
Allen County Community College, Lecture Hall, North Entrance, Iola

Tuesday, May 13, 7:00 p.m.
Smokehouse, 19300 Metcalf, Stilwell

Wednesday, May 14, 7:00 p.m.
Flaming Lantern Restaurant, 1104 West Fort Scott, Butler, MO

Thursday, May 15, 7:00 p.m.
4-H Building, 114 W. County Road, Columbus

Tuesday, May 20, 7:00 p.m.
Paolucci Restaurant, 115 South 3rd, Atchison

EKAE, LLC seeks to raise approximately $14.4 million from private investors before seeking commercial financing for the remainder of the $36 million project.

The second round of informational meetings will give the organization the opportunity to build on the interest and momentum from the first round and allow board members to follow-up with potential investors who received a prospectus. The equity drive meetings provide potential investors with an opportunity to learn more about the project.

For more information contact EKAE, LLC toll free at (877) 352-3552.

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4/10/03--Grain Sorghum Benefits Water, Soil and Air
Grain sorghum is a crop that can protect water, soil and air. Brought to America from Africa in the late 1700s, sorghum has become a good fit for Kansas farmers' efforts in soil and water conservation. Kansas is the nation's leading producer of grain sorghum. Sorghum in Kansas is used primarily as a livestock feed and for production of ethanol, a renewable fuel that reduces air pollution.

"Earth Day is coming up, and if you're wondering what you can do on your farm to help the environment, then you should think about grain sorghum," KGSC Chairman Jeff Casten of Quenemo said. "Sorghum conserves water and soil, and it's used to make a renewable fuel that cleans our air, and reduces our dependence on fossil fuels. That's what I call environmentally friendly."

Conservation programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Security Program (CSP), are focusing on water and soil conservation. Grain sorghum is a good fit for both of those programs.

"Sorghum is an arid crop. In fact, it's known as a water sipping crop, and it's an excellent crop for soil conservation as well," Casten said.

Most ethanol plants use corn, but in Kansas, sorghum is the grain of choice.

"Our ethanol plants can use either corn or sorghum. Sorghum's conversion to ethanol is basically the same as corn, and the coproduct, sorghum-based distillers grains, are a high quality livestock feed," Casten said.

The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission is a nine-member board made up of growers representing each of the state's nine crop reporting districts. The commission determines how the half-cent per bushel grain sorghum checkoff is invested in the areas of market development, promotion, research and education.

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4/4/03--Pro-Ethanol Legislation Moves Forward in on State and National Levels
The Kansas legislature as well as the U.S. House and Senate all moved forward on pro-ethanol legislation this week. The Kansas House today sent to the governor legislation that would require the state to purchase E10 unleaded fuel for its bulk fuel tanks. On the national level this week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed a renewable fuels standard that would increase the use of ethanol to five billion gallons per year, and the Senate Finance Committee passed an energy tax incentive bill. The Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association have worked for the passage of the ethanol bills in Topeka and Washington.

In Kansas, HB2036 passed 123-2. The bill would require all bulk gasoline purchases to contain 10 percent ethanol if it is not priced more than 10 cents per gallon over regular unleaded fuel. The fuel, E10 unleaded, is marketed throughout Kansas. The legislation also requires individual vehicle fuel purchases be E10 unleaded where available and if less than 10 cents per gallon over regular unleaded fuel.

"Ethanol production is one of the state's fastest growing industries. The five ethanol plants located in communities across Kansas benefit not only those rural communities but also the farm economy," according to KGSPA President Greg Shelor of Minneola. "That's why it makes sense for the State of Kansas to use ethanol. It supports many facets of our state's economy."

On the national level, KCGA and KGSPA are working for passage of the Renewable Fuels Standard, which would boost the use of ethanol to 5 billion gallons per year. The RFS was part of the Energy Bill in 2002, which floundered in a House/Senate Conference Committee. The Renewable Fuels Standard has been introduced in both the House and the Senate again this year, and is expected to be part of the Energy Bill. This week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved an energy bill that includes a Renewable Fuels Standard.

"What is really significant is that attempts by members of the committee to strike the RFS were overwhelmingly defeated," KCGA President Alan Peter of Tribune said. "The RFS had very strong support on this House committee, and that gives us reason to be optimistic that the it has a good chance to pass in the Energy Bill this year."

The Senate Finance Committee passed bipartisan tax incentive legislation that corrects the gap in the ethanol excise tax exemption so that ethanol and gasoline make the same contribution to the Highway Trust Fund. The legislation also makes changes to the small ethanol producer tax credit by allowing members of a farmer cooperative to receive the 10-cents-per-gallon production credit. Kansas Representative Jerry Moran is a co-sponsoring a similar bill to correct the small ethanol producer credit in the House.

The Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association are membership-based organizations that represent Kansas growers on state and national levels.

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03/27/03--Sorghum May Be Next Trendy Food
As American consumers continue to turn to functional foods, the latest nutrition trend may be grain sorghum. While grain sorghum is a staple food for people in parts of Africa and Asia, American are just beginning to realize the benefits of adding sorghum to their diets. Food writers and food companies are starting to include sorghum in their books and products, thanks to the work of the National Sorghum Producers. The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission works closely with NGSP in research and promotion of food use for sorghum.

Prominent food writer and nutritionist Cheryl Forberg has featured grain sorghum in her new cookbook "Stop the Clock! Cooking". Forberg says sorghum flour is the third most powerful anti-aging food behind cocoa powder and red wine. Forberg worked closely with National Sorghum Producers to learn about the nutritional qualities of sorghum. Sorghum is featured in a cookbook by nutritionist and gluten-free/wheat-free diet expert Dr. Carol Fenster, president of Savory Palate, Inc. The book, titled Gluten-Free 101: Easy, Basic Dishes Without Wheat, recently went on sale at book outlets nationwide. Fenster also has consulted with NGSP.

"When someone calls about food grade sorghum, they usually have two questions: 'where do I get it and how do I use it?' There used to be only a handful of recipes and advice, but now there is a growing number of resources available to the consumer," according to Sue Schulte, Communications Director for the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association.

Food grade sorghum has long been used by people who cannot tolerate gluten in their diet. Sorghum is gluten-free, making it a valuable grain for people with this condition.

"We used to get occasional requests from people looking for sorghum flour to bake gluten-free food," Schulte said. "Now, we regularly get requests from consumers who are interested in sorghum for its nutritional benefits. That interest has been spurred by research that our growers have sponsored as well as private research."

New research is showing that sorghum has value for everyone, not just for people with gluten intolerance.

"We're learning that grain sorghum is loaded with anti-oxidants and has other nutritional benefits that can really make a difference in a person's diet," Schulte said.

According to NGSP, grain sorghum is comprised of 11.3 percent protein and 3.3 percent fat. Breads produced with grain sorghum bran can provide approximately five grams of dietary fiber per 56 gram slice. Food grade sorghum is high in insoluble fiber with relatively small amounts of soluble fiber. The protein and starch in grain sorghum are more slowly digested than other cereals, and slower rates of digestibility are particularly beneficial for diabetics.

Sorghum flour can be purchased from Twin Valley Mills LLC, a grower-owned mill in Nebraska. Bob's Red Mill, an Oregon-based company features sorghum in some of its gluten-free bread mixes and cereals. Both can be found on the Internet.

The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission is a nine-member grower board that determines how the half-cent per bushel grain sorghum checkoff is invested in the areas of research, market development, promotion and education.

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03/14/03--Washington Trip Allows Sorghum Growers to Discuss Concerns and Opportunities
Grain sorghum grower leaders met with top officials from USDA, EPA as well as their elected officials during the National Sorghum Producers Presidents' DC Fly-In this week. Sorghum growers from Kansas, Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and New Mexico participated.

Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association President Greg Shelor of Minneola participated in the event along with KGSPA Director of Communications Sue Schulte. Kansas State University student Chris Pachta, NGSP Foundation Scholarship winner was also a part of the grain sorghum delegation to the nation's capitol. Pachta is from Linn, KS.

The sorghum group held meetings with key USDA staff Wednesday morning to discuss conservation programs, crop insurance, trade, and farm programs.

"A major concern we have is with the crop insurance program. We met with Ross Davidson with RMA. The loan rate for sorghum was equalized with corn in the current farm bill, but there are still major differences between the two crops in the crop insurance programs. We explained to him grain sorghum growers are penalized by the way crop insurance is structured, when they should be rewarded because sorghum is more drought tolerant and uses less water," Shelor said.

The group also talked to Carol Jett at USDA's Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS) about grain sorghum's role in the EQIP program and the Conservation Security Program (CSP). Growers explained to Jett that grain sorghum is a good fit with many conservation practices.

The group met Thursday with Jean Marie Peltier, counselor to the administrator on agricultural policy at the Environmental Protection Agency to discuss availability of pesticides to sorghum producers. The growers talked to Peltier about the triazine special review, the status of propazine and the registration of Starane for the control of weeds like kochia that have herbicide resistance problems.

"We were able to make Washington officials at USDA, EPA and the ag committees aware of some of the obstacles sorghum faces in areas like crop insurance and pesticide registration, and at the same time we also made them aware of some of the opportunities grain sorghum presents, especially in the area of soil and water conservation."

The group also met with staff from both the Senate Agriculture Committee and the House Agriculture Committee. Shelor, Schulte and Pachta also visited the offices of Senator Pat Roberts, Senator Sam Brownback, Representative Jerry Moran and Representative Todd Tiahrt.

"We had as many meetings as time would allow over a two day period," Shelor said. "The sorghum producers who participated really worked hard for grain sorghum this week, and I think we'll see some results from those meetings."

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Grain Sorghum Election Results Final
The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission will have one new face as of April 1. Election ballots for the three western districts were counted on Friday. Richard Calliham, Colby, will join the commission representing District 1, replacing Lynn Goosen, who retired from the commission. Greg Graff, Marienthal, was reelected to represent District 2 (west central) and Don Rome, Garden City, was reelected to represent District 3 (southwest). The three western Kansas commissioners will serve three year terms ending in 2006.

District one - Richard Calliham, who is a fifth-generation farmer with his wife and parents in Thomas County. They grow wheat and sorghum. Calliham and his family are active in the Colby Wesleyan church and in the Kansas Farm Bureau.

District two - Greg Graff, who farms and feeds cattle with his father and brother in Wichita County. They grow milo, wheat, corn and soybeans. Graff is a 1973 graduate of Kansas State University and currently serves on the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, Western Kansas Groundwater Management District #1, Southwest Kansas Experiment Station advisory board, U.S. Grains Council executive board and the National Sorghum Producers Association board.

District three - Don Rome, who farms with his father and two brothers in Finney County. They grow wheat, grain sorghum, corn and soybeans. He is a graduate of Kansas State University and currently serves on the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission.

The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission is made up of growers from each of the nine crop reporting districts of Kansas. The commission administers the half cent per bushel grain sorghum checkoff and invests checkoff collections in the areas of research, market development, promotion and education.

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Kansas Corn Grain Sorghum Associations Welcome New Ag Secretary
Newly appointed Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky will bring a farmer's knowledge to his position. The farmer perspective and experience brings an important aspect to the office according the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association. Polansky is a grower, seed man, former wheat commissioner and the former state director of the USDA Kansas Farm Service Agency.

"Adrian has been a leader throughout his farming career, and as state FSA Director, he was a proactive, effective administrator who was always available to help growers," said KCGA/KGSPA Executive Director Jere White. "His experience in so many levels of agriculture will make him a valuable asset to the Governor's administration."

White said Polansky's experience would be useful in managing the broad scope of the Kansas Department of Agriculture. KDA encompasses regulation of meat and dairy, grain, pesticide and fertilizer, plant protection, water resources, statistics, weights and measures as well as education and promotion of Kansas agriculture.

"You're talking about a department that does everything from ensuring the safety of our food supply, to managing our water resources, to checking the accuracy of gas pumps," White said. "That's a full plate, and Adrian has the background and experience to handle the position," White said.

KCGA and KGSPA work closely with the Kansas Department of Agriculture on issues affecting Kansas growers.

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Disaster Assistance Package Will Help Kansas Corn, Sorghum Growers
Much needed assistance will soon be in the hands of Kansas growers hurt by drought. Leaders of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association said they were pleased with the disaster assistance package in Omnibus Appropriations Bill approved by the House and Senate. “This isn’t a perfect solution, but it will help a lot of our growers who were hurt by the drought,” according to KCGA President Alan Peter of Tribune. “We could have spent a lot of time arguing about the best form of assistance, but with spring planting decisions before us, many of our growers didn’t have a lot of time.” The disaster assistance package would help growers with losses over 35 percent in 2001 or 2002. That amounts to about $200 million for Kansas growers.

“It looks like growers will receive assistance quickly, and that’s important,” KGSPA President Greg Shelor said. “The drought was a natural disaster that cost our farmers and our state millions of dollars.”

Major elements of the disaster assistance package came from the language in bills Senator Pat Roberts and Representative Jerry Moran introduced in January. Peter and KCGA/KGSPA Executive Director Jere White visited the state’s Congressional delegation in January to discuss disaster assistance.

“We owe a lot of thanks to all of our Senators and Representatives. They recognized the seriousness of the drought in Kansas, and they have been 100 percent behind efforts to pass disaster assistance,” White said.

Peter said he wanted to look at long-term solutions to dealing with drought related losses.“This assistance package helps some growers in the short run. Now we need to look at how we can improve crop insurance or other programs to protect our growers,” Peter said. “With the drought continuing in parts of the plains, we don’t want to be in this same position next year. We will work to look at more long term solutions to dealing with drought-related losses.”
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02/04/03--Kansas Played Key Role in EPA's Favorable Atrazine Decision

Kansas growers played an important role in atrazine's progress toward reregistration by the Environmental Protection Agency. The agency announced Friday a watershed-based monitoring and management program aimed at protecting drinking water. The program is part of EPA's Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision on atrazine.

The EPA program is supported by the Kansas Corn Growers Association (KCGA) and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association (KGSPA), two organizations that have been involved in EPA's special review of the triazine herbicides atrazine and simazine. Executive Director Jere White is chairman of the Triazine Network, a group formed to give growers a voice as a stakeholder in the special review.

"Atrazine is an important tool for our Kansas growers, and that's why we became active in forming the Triazine Network," White said. "The network includes a wide range of growers, from guava to grapes to grains, who rely on atrazine and simazine to produce their crops."

The EPA's approach calls for increased monitoring and mitigation in watersheds where higher levels of atrazine are found. Monitoring and grower education will be the responsibility of the registrants for atrazine. The IRED also confirmed EPA's determination that atrazine is not likely to cause cancer in humans.

"We consider this a victory for growers," White said. "EPA has chosen to use locally-led efforts to identify and correct water quality concerns. The agency has identified growers as part of the solution, and that's a message we've been trying to get across for several years."

Bringing major crop growers to the table at EPA was not a normal occurrence for EPA or for the growers. While some environmental groups have been active in EPA processes, it is unusual for grower groups other than minor crops to participate.

"We included growers in a process that was at that time unfamiliar turf. But their level of involvement and influence has been vital to the special review," White said. "One of the first actions taken was by growers themselves to submit comments to the EPA special review docket. Growers from the Kansas First Congressional District had the largest number of docket submissions of any other congressional district in the United States."

The Kansas congressional delegation has also been active in supporting growers' interest in the special review. KCGA President Alan Peter, Tribune, joined White in meetings with the Kansas congressional delegation in January.

"Our Congressmen know how important atrazine is to our growers and to our soil conservation efforts. Throughout the special review, we have had excellent support from our Congressional delegation," Peter said. "In January we visited the offices of our senators and representatives to discuss the progress of the special review. As a result, each of them contacted EPA to let them know they expected a science-based outcome to the triazine special review."

EPA's announcement does not end the work of the Triazine Network. "While this is a significant milestone, EPA's work with the triazine special review and with atrazine is not finished," White said. "We will continue to monitor the special review and make sure growers have a seat at the table."
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01/31/03--EPA Approach to Atrazine Supported by Growers
Jan. 31, 2003--The Environmental Protection Agency announced today an agreement that would implement an early alert system to protect watersheds from atrazine runoff. The agreement is part of an Interim Reregistration Elibility Decision (IRED) that EPA was required to issue by Jan. 31, 2003. In a conference call today with stakeholders and registrants for atrazine, EPA Office of Special Review and Reregistration Director Lois Rossi outlined key components of the agreement:

--An early alert system for Community Water Systems in areas of high atrazine use. EPA is supporting site-specific monitoring and mitigation plans for any watersheds of concern.
--EPA has confirmed that atrazine is not likely to be a human carcinogen and that humans are not at risk through dietary exposure.
--Atrazine labels will be harmonized between all registrants and marketers, eliminating many discrepancies in both rates and stewardship requirements that have been in existence for the past decade.
--EPA has supported their approach by citing the vast amount of data available for this review.

EPA's statements are supported by over 200 new studies and over 40 years of safe use by farmers. Atrazine is a herbicide that has been in the EPA triazine special review since 1994. The Triazine Network, a nationwide group of growers, has been involved as a stakeholder in the process since its beginning. Triazine Network Chairman, Jere White said today's announcement is a common sense approach to managing atrazine levels in water. White is executive director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association.

"While the special review continues, this announcement is a giant step toward developing locally-based solutions to maintain the integrity of our water systems. The program announced by EPA today is a good fit with other EPA programs, as well as USDA conservation programs," White said. "Growers have been part of the solution to concerns over atrazine for years. This system will continue the work that growers and other stakeholders have already initiated in many watersheds across the nation."

A new program will require monitoring of "raw" or untreated water in targeted watersheds. Exceeding levels of concern for atrazine in a watershed will trigger an intensive monitoring program in those watersheds, as well as Best Management Practices designed and proven by years of research to limit runoff of atrazine into surface water. EPA stated during the call that "it is a localized effort with Federal government oversight".

"We appreciate the Agency's work to adopt this innovative approach," White said.

The Triazine Network is a nationwide network of growers who have joined together to respond to the Special Review of triazine herbicides, atrazine and simazine, by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Network's goal is to have a science-based outcome to the Special Review.
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1/29/03--Kansas Set for Major Expansion of Ethanol Industry
Kansas could have two new ethanol plants with a combined production of 50 million gallons on line in 2004. The two proposed plants, one in northwest Kansas and one in east central Kansas are in different stages of fundraising. The two projects would be the first ethanol plants in Kansas to be owned by growers and other private investors.

East Kansas Agri-Energy announced Monday that it had received approval to begin a sale of membership units to build a 20 million gallon ethanol plant at Garnett. Informational meetings will be held in February and March. EKAE is seeking to raise about 14.4 million from private investors before seeking commercial financing for the remainder of the $36 million project.

Western Plains Energy, which began its equity drive in July of 2002, announced Tuesday that it has purchased the land for its plant and has raised over $10 million. The group expects to reach its equity goal of $15.7 million in the next few weeks as capital for the $41.1 million project.

"We are pleased to see both of these projects move forward," Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission Chairman Jeff Casten of Quenemo said. "Just a few years ago, our capacity for ethanol production was less than 50 million gallons. With these two plants added, you could be looking at increasing our state's production to 130 million gallons in a fairly short time. That's good news for our sorghum growers, because sorghum is the leading feedstock for ethanol in Kansas."

Organizers for both plants used in the early states of development a pre-feasibility study developed and provided by the Kansas Corn Commission, Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission and Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing Agricultural Marketing Division.

Kansas currently has five ethanol plants located in Russell, Colwich, Atchison, Garden City and Leoti. The five plants produce about 80 million gallons of ethanol combined and create a demand for about 30 million bushels of corn and grain sorghum. The 30 million gallon WPE plant would create a demand for 10.7 million bushels of corn or grain sorghum, and the 20 million gallon EKAE plant would create a demand for about 7.5 million bushels.

In addition to EKAE and WPE, other groups are also considering building ethanol plants in their Kansas communities.

KGSC is a nine-member grower board that determines how the half-cent per bushel grain sorghum checkoff is invested in the areas of domestic and foreign market development, research, promotion and education.

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01/28/03--Western Plains Energy, LLC Purchasing Site for Ethanol Plant

(Oakley, KS) - The Board of Managers of Western Plains Energy, L.L.C. (WPE) of Quinter, KS, announced Monday that it is exercising its option on the property where they intend to construct a 30 million gallon ethanol plant. The plant site is located in Campus, KS which is located 5 miles east of Oakley, in Northwest Kansas.

The WPE board is also pleased to announce that it has received subscriptions for over $10 million in its initial public offering. A second round of investor meetings was recently completed in several locations in Kansas, Colorado and South Dakota. "We were very pleased with our recent meetings, which resulted in many new subscribers, including a substantial group of South Dakota residents," says Jeff Torluemke, CEO of WPE. The $41.1 million project requires a minimum of $15.7 million in equity financing.

At a recent board meeting, the WPE board extended the offering period of its initial public offering drive until March 1, 2003. "We expect that we will reach the offering's minimum of $15.7 million in the next few weeks, close the offering, and, if these occur, anticipate beginning plant construction as early as April of this year," says Torluemke. WPE board members continue to hold meetings and contact interested investors. WPE continues to accept subscriptions at its office in Quinter, KS.

It is anticipated that the planned ethanol plant will utilize approximately 10.7 million bushels of corn or milo annually, produce approximately 30 million gallons of ethanol annually, and produce over 96,000 tons of distiller's grains for use as a premium cattle feed in Western Kansas feedlots. WPE has engaged ICM, Inc. of Colwich, KS to build the plant and anticipates that construction will take approximately 13-15 months after the offering is complete.

Investments will only be accepted in accordance with the terms of a written prospectus that is distributed at the meetings or requested from WPE's office. You should read the prospectus carefully before investing. All investments involve risk.

To request a prospectus or for more information, you may contact the office in Quinter, KS at (785) 754-2119.

For more information, contact:
Jeff Torluemke, CEO, Western Plains Energy, L.L.C. at 785-754-2119
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01/27/03--Garnett Group to Begin Equity Drive for Ethanol Plant

GARNETT, Monday, January 27, 2003 - East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC announced the beginning of the sale of membership units in a $36 million ethanol production plant to be located in Garnett, Ks.

"This is a very exciting day for us," said Bill Pracht, chairman of EKAE. "After three years in planning and research, EKAE may now begin to offer units for sale to investors throughout Kansas and Missouri, and the first of more than 50 investor meetings throughout the region will begin in the next few weeks."

The proposed facility will be designed to produce an estimated 20 million gallons of fuel ethanol per year, and is expected to require 7.5 million bushel of corn and sorghum annually to meet its production level. The grain requirement for the plant represents the yield from approximately 85,000 production acres, or approximately 20 percent of the grain sold in recent years within a 50-square mile radius of the plant's proposed site, with an obvious regional economic impact.

Western Missouri producers as well should see a positive economic effect from the plant, Pracht said "Today's announcement that our membership sale is proceeding is the best news for farmers in our region in who knows how long," Pracht said. "It should be a great opportunity for investors, and we're also very proud to be involved in a renewable fuels project that will help our country decrease our dependence on foreign oil imports, particularly with the current state of international affairs."

The plant will take approximately 12 months to build after financing is complete and will employ about 30 people, Pracht said, with a wage and salary scale above the local average.

EKAE will seek to raise some $14.4 million from private investors before seeking commercial financing for the remainder of the $36 million project.

Memberships are available to individuals and businesses residing in Kansas and Missouri at a purchase price of $1,000 per unit with a 10 unit minimum.

Memberships will be available as of February 10, and public meetings to learn about the public offering will be held Feb. 10- March 21 throughout Eastern Kansas and Western Missouri, with dates and times to be advertised locally. Anyone with questions about those scheduled meetings or membership opportunities can call EKAE toll free at 1-877-352-3552, or locally at 785-448-2888.

East Kansas Agri Energy was organized by 122 regional farm producers, businesses and individuals as a limited liability company in October 2001. The organization was initiated to pursue the ethanol project through feasibility studies and other research, after initial investigations from the Anderson County Economic Development committee showed the Garnett area had a number of the assets required for plant construction and operation.
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Kansas Ethanol Workshop to Offer Information, Insight
Growing interest in the fast-growing ethanol industry has brought to Kansas a workshop offering a wide range of information. The Kansas Ethanol Workshop will be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Topeka.

Ethanol production in Kansas has doubled over the past two years, thanks to a new plant construction and expansion. Construction on a sixth ethanol plant in the state is expected to begin this year, and a stock sale for a seventh plant is planned to begin soon.

"This conference will give participants a comprehensive understanding of the ethanol industry," according to Kevin Lickteig, Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission Administrator. "The ethanol industry represents a growing market for grain sorghum. Much of the ethanol produced in our state is made from sorghum."

The speakers at the workshop will address many facets of ethanol from the procurement of grain, to the production and marketing of the finished product and coproducts. The workshop will feature speakers from the ethanol and agriculture industries; fuel marketers and retailers; a panel of Kansas legislators, and the US Department of Energy.

"This workshop will give information on ethanol from the field to the fuel pump," Lickteig said. "It has value for anyone interested in ethanol."

A $25 participant charge covers the cost of meals and materials including the welcoming reception to be held the evening of Wednesday, January 22 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel's Pioneer Room. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Thursday in the Shawnee Room.

Sponsors are the US Department of Energy; Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, Kansas Corn Commission; Kansas Dept. of Commerce and Housing Agriculture Marketing Division; ICM, Inc.; Fagen, Inc.; Burns & McDonnell; Ethanol Products, Inc. and BBI International. The conference is hosted by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association and Kansas Corn Growers Association.

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12-24-02
Kansas Sorghum Growers Win National Honors
Two Kansas sorghum growers won national honors in the 2002 National Grain Sorghum Yield and Management Contest. Wilson County producer Jerry Guenther won first place in the No-Till, Non-Irrigated competition. Sheridan County producer Roger Johnson won second place in the reduced-till irrigated competition. National and state winners will be recognized at the 2003 Grain Sorghum Industry Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Feb. 16-18.

Guenther's field of Pioneer 84G62 turned out a yield of 182.35 bushels per acre, topping his county average by 99.55 bushels per acre. Guenther won the "Bin Buster" award for highest yield among all non-irrigated divisions. Scoring is based on the amount a contestant's yield exceeds the five-year average yield in that contestant's county.

National second place honors in the reduced-till, irrigated division went to Roger Johnson of Sheridan County, Kansas. Johnson's field of Pioneer 84G62 turned out a yield of 183.31 bushels per acre, topping the county average by 90.71 bushels.

In Kansas competition, Guenther placed first in three of the five divisions: No-Till Non-Irrigated; Conventional-Till Irrigated, and No-Till Non-Irrigated. Terry Gaunt of Great Bend won the Conventional-Till Irrigated, and Johnson was the state winner of the Reduced-Till Irrigated division

State winners:
Conventional-Till Irrigated: Terry Gaunt, Great Bend placed first planting Dekalb DKS54-00 with a yield of 161.9 and a score of 57.87. Gary Pelton, Burdett, placed second planting Garst 5440 with a yield of 149.6 and a score of 53.81; Douglas Melia, Dodge City, placed third planting Pioneer 84G62 with a yield of 156.8 and a score of 49.98.

Conventional-Till Non-Irrigated: Jerry Guenther, Benedict, placed first planting pioneer 84G62 with a yield of 173.2 and a score of 90.39; Kenton Claiborne, Fredonia placed second planting Dekalb DKS 54-00 with a yield of 163.98 and a score of 81.18; Keith Compton, Fredonia, placed third planting Pioneer 84G62 with a yield of 158.33 and a score of 75.53.

Mulch-Till Non-Irrigated: Jerry Guenther, Benedict, placed first planting Pioneer 84G62 with a yield of 176.57 and a score of 93.77. No second or third place prizes were awarded.

No-Till Non-Irrigated: Jerry Guenther, Benedict, placed first planting Pioneer 84G62 with a yield of 182.35 and a score of 99.55; Gary Resco, Clyde, placed second with a yield of 161.84 and a score of 80.34.

Reduced-Till, Irrigated: Roger Johnson, Hoxie, placed first planting Pioneer 84G62 with a yield of 183.31 and a score of 90.71; Melvin Johnson, Hoxie, placed second planting Pioneer 84G62 with a yield of 181.96 and a score of 89.36.

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12/10/02
Kansas Grain Sorghum Commissioner Returns from Cuba
Cuba holds great potential for agricultural exports, according to South Haven sorghum grower Jay Zimmerman. Zimmerman returned today from a from a Cuban trade mission sponsored by the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing. Zimmerman farms in Sumner County and is a member of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission.

"I went with the opinion that we're trading with China, so why aren't we trading with Cuba? The trip reinforced my belief that we should be trading with these people," Zimmerman said.

Kansas Lt. Governor Gary Sherrer led the mission. The mission also had representatives of the Kansas Corn Commission, Kansas Wheat Commission; Kansas Pork Association; Kansas Farm Bureau and Kansas Soybean Commission.

Near the conclusion of its five-day trip, the group met for nearly three hours with Cuban President Fidel Castro. The group also met with the president of ALIMPORT, the Cuban enterprise responsible for imports.

"Castro was a very interesting, intelligent man," Zimmerman said. "We talked to him for a couple of hours. He is interested in more trade, free trade with the US, and also increasing the tourism trade."

Castro appeared to be most interested in Kansas wheat and grain sorghum.

"Castro talked to us about grain sorghum. He knew about the amount of sorghum used for food in Africa," Zimmerman said. "He understands it is a good food source. He was knowledgeable about the benefits of sorghum as both a feed grain and food."

The delegation was well received, he said.

"Gary Sherrer did an excellent job, he was an excellent diplomat for Kansas," Zimmerman said. "The people down there were very friendly. They don't have any problem with the American people. They just want to open up the markets and go."

Cuba will import about $950 million worth of food this year. Because of legislation passed in 2000 that eased some trade restrictions to Cuba, the country purchased $175 million in food from the United States this year.

The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission is made up of growers representing the state's nine crop reporting districts. The commission determines how the half-cent per bushel grain sorghum checkoff is used in the areas of foreign and domestic market development, research, promotion and education.

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11/26/02

Late Kansas Sorghum Harvest Nears End
Grain sorghum harvest is slowly nearing an end in most parts of Kansas, but as of November 25, 11 percent of the crop remained in the field. This year's harvest, slowed by wet weather in September and October, is about a month behind last year's pace.

According to Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service (KASS), the Kansas' sorghum harvest was 89 percent complete as of November 24. Last year, harvest was 90 percent complete by November 1.

Growers have been working through November to catch up on working days lost in September and October. Statewide, in September only 16.7 days were suitable for fieldwork, and in October 17.5 days were suitable for field work. Most of the days in November have been suitable for fieldwork.

Growers in most parts of the state faced drought conditions throughout the summer growing months. At 142.6 million bushels, the 2002 grain sorghum harvest is predicted to be down 39 percent from last year. Production in west central Kansas was predicted to be down 76 percent from last year; northwest Kansas production was predicted to be down 69 percent, according to KASS.

Kansas will remain the leading grain sorghum producing state with 37 percent of 2002 US production. Kansas normally produces about 40 percent of the US sorghum crop.

The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission is a sponsor of the Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service's crop production forecasting program. The Commission is made up of growers representing the nine crop reporting districts and determines how the half-cent per bushel grain sorghum checkoff is invested in the areas of research, market development, promotion and education.

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