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Kansas Grain Sorghum
Leader Update
SORGHUM LEADER UPDATE
April 18, 2008
Governor Signs Commodity Commissions Bill Governor Kathleen Sebelius this week signed HB2897, the commodity commissions bill. Here are the provisions of the final version of the bill:
--Doubles the assessment authority for the corn and grain sorghum commissions from 5 mills (1/2 cent) per bushel 10 mills (1 cent) per bushel
--Doubles the assessment authority for the wheat commission 10 mills (1 cent) per bushel to 20 mills (2 cents) per bushel.
--Changes the assessment authority for the soybean commission from 20 mills (2 cents) per bushel to one half of 1 percent of the net market price received by the grower (mirrors the national checkoff).
--Changes the assessment authority for the sunflower commission from 7.5 mills per bushel to six cents per hundredweight.
--Prohibits assessments for any commodity to be collected while a national checkoff program for that commodity remains in effect and reinstates state collections upon the withdrawal of a national checkoff program for that commodity.
--Allows each commission, by majority approval of the that commission, to appoint a first purchaser as a member of the Commission in addition to the other two potential at-large members provided by current law.
--Requires the commissions to provide a listing of expenditures in their annual report to the legislature. This is in addition to the current requirement to provide details of projects, supported research and an annual audit.
--Prohibits commissions from engaging in lobbying as defined in KSA 46-225. However, nothing in this prohibition would be construed to prohibit any commission from engaging in any action designed to market the commodity or products directly to a foreign government or political subdivision of a foreign government
Kansas: Too Dry and Too Wet It is a typical Kansas spring: southwest Kansas is 75 percent too dry, and southeast Kansas is 68 percent too wet. The weekly crop report shows we continue to have moisture concerns in the western third of the state. . Subsoil moisture in Northwest Kasnas is 58 percent short and 7 percent very short; west central Kansas is 42 percent short and 20 percent very short; southwest Kansas is 42 percent short and 33 percent very short. The rest of the state is in good condition with the remaining six crop reporting districts reporting over 80 percent adequate to surplus subsoil moisture. Statewide, the report showed 5 percent very short; 15 percent short; 66 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus subsoil moisture. We’re hoping for wetter weather out west and dryer weather back east, and warmer weather for the entire state.
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.
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