Commodity Classic is a gathering of farmers who grow many crops, including sorghum. I wanted to learn more about the organization that assists sorghum growers, the National Sorghum Producers, so I spent a little time with their Chairman, Gerald Simonsen.
Simonsen began by telling me about a great victory that had recently for sorghum growers. The organization has some issues with the formulas used to figure price election for crop insurance. After more than eight years working on the issue, they have gotten the methodology changed. In 2009, the price election was 77.8 percent of corn – in 2010, the price election will be 97.8 percent of corn.
“That’s a huge difference in coverage for producers,” said Simonsen. “On a personal note, on my farm, it means a difference of $35 per acre in crop insurance.”
While the National Sorghum Producers handles a lot of policy issues, they are also very involved in sorghum’s use for ethanol. Today, 1/3 of the sorghum crop goes into ethanol production. They may grow, however, as more research is dedicated to producing ethanol from sugar-based sorghums like sweet sorghum and cellulosic and biomass production using energy sorghums or forage sorghums.
While Simonsen doesn’t anticipate more sorghum production by “leaps and bounds” he does anticipate “a slow and incremental gain over the next few years.”
You can listen to my interview with Gerald below.
Commodity Classic Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2010 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: 
and 
Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
The U.S. Grains Council (USGC ) made a significant announcement during a press conference at Commodity Classic last week with the announcement of key speakers for the upcoming Global Food Security Symposium, which is sponsored by the organization. USGC Chairman Rick Fruth confirmed that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is expected to deliver the keynote address at the symposium, scheduled for April 7, 2010, in Tokyo, Japan. This announcement came shortly after the Global Food Security Symposium was formally introduced in Tokyo by USGC President and CEO Thomas C. Dorr and U.S. Ambassador to Japan John V. Roos.
The Symposium will gather U.S. and Japanese government, agribusiness and biotechnology leaders for a first-ever, day-long examination of how international cooperation, policy and technology can be used to feed a burgeoning world population. More specifically, Fruth said, “The key points of discussion will be, how to leverage biotechnology and other emerging technologies to improve the quality of life and global economy, how the world’s economic powers can harness these technologies for the benefits of developing countries around the world and how can we build upon this these past successes to increase food security around the world.”
Fruth also noted that sustainability and biotechnology are an inherent part of this symposium as you can’t have global food security without using biotechnology or develop new technologies that are not sustainable.
The Symposium is part of the “Partners in Agriculture” series of events being held throughout Japan from March through May of 2010. The “Partners in Agriculture” events celebrate the successful, enduring agricultural trade partnership between the United States and Japan. This event goes hand-in-hand with the mission of USGC which is to develop overseas markets for U.S. corn, barley and sorghum and enbable trade around the world for these commodities.
You can listen to the announcement below.
Commodity Classic Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2010 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and
Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
Can you define sustainability? Neither can I. But that was the first task of the panel discussion of commodity group leaders this morning at Commodity Classic. Moderated by Mark Mayfield, the panel discussed what sustainability means to them. Panelists included: Darrin Ihnen, President, NCGA, Rob Joslin, President, ASA, Karl Scronce, President, NAWG and Gerald Simonsen, Chairman, NSP.
You’ll hear the panel says what sustainability isn’t and provide some good reasons why farmers are very much involved with this issue.
You can listen to the commodity group leaders with Mark below.
Commodity Classic Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2010 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and
Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
Representing the National Sorghum Producers on the Commodity Classic stage this morning was Chairman of the Board, Gerald Simonsen.
We learned some interesting things about sorghum such as how 30 percent of the crop goes into ethanol and when it comes to export and food aid it’s big too. And last year sorghum was the number one requested food commodity through the USAID. Half as much of our sorghum is going to food aid as animal feed.
You can listen to Gerald and Mark below.
Commodity Classic Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2010 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and
Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
Registration is officially open for the 2010 Commodity Classic in Anaheim, California and you better register soon because it will fill up fast.
This will be the 15th annual Commodity Classic for soybean, corn, wheat and sorghum growers and their families, to be held March 4-6 right next to Disneyland. The theme for 2010 is “Cruising to Success.”
Growers who attend the 2010 Commodity Classic are sure to benefit from the value of attending a trade show with nearly 800 booths representing the equipment, technology, products and services of today’s leading agricultural businesses and organizations.
“As a grower, attending Commodity Classic is a smart business decision,” said Commodity Classic Co-Chair Dennis Bogaards. “Producers will find many opportunities to learn about new products and technologies, as well as methods for improving productivity on their farms.”
Emcee of Commodity Classic’s General Session, Mark Mayfield, better known as “The Corporate Comedian,” will intrigue and entertain attendees with his hilarious presentation style. They will also hear what is on the minds of commodity group presidents and learn more about the facts and fiction facing today’s farmers from economist and futurist Dr. Jay Lehr. Because Lehr’s forecasts are based on in-depth knowledge of U.S. farm, energy and environmental legislation, as well as international farm support programs, he brings informed insight to identifying future risks and opportunities facing American agriculture.
Gebisa Ejeta, Purdue University Distinguished Professor of Agronomy plant breeder and geneticist, will receive the World Food Prize for his work in developing sorghum varieties resistant to drought and Striga, a parasitic weed common on the African continent. Because of Ejeta’s efforts, sorghum yields are significantly higher in many African nations.
The World Food Prize, considered the Nobel Prize of agriculture, will be presented to Ejeta during an 8 p.m. EST ceremony in the Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines today, Oct. 15.
“For so many Africans, this award projects so much hope to a continent that has so much negative news,” Ejeta said. “This is a shining moment for a continent.
“The journey has been so far to where I am now, but I am so driven. Serving humanity means so much to me.”
Sorghum is an important cereal grain to Africa, but arid conditions and the deadly Striga make growing the crop difficult for farmers. Read more about Ejeta’s life and research in the fall issue of Connections, Purdue’s agricultural alumni publication.
The United Sorghum Checkoff Program has a new website.
USCP Communications Committee Chair Billy Bob Brown said the new site is dedicated to sorghum producers and their interests. “My hope is that producers will take advantage of the new site, because it is there for them to use,” Brown said. “The Web site will allow producers to take advantage of the opportunity to be updated on the latest sorghum research and market development.”
In the future, the site will continue to grow and develop, adding a new research database, extensive information on market development activities and opportunities for even more interactive features.
Am I missing the social networking elements of this new communications mechanism?
I was very saddened to learn of the passing away of Jack Eberspacher, Ag Retailers Association. Cindy and I knew Jack first when he led what is now the National Sorghum Producers. We’ve had the opportunity to interview him and share good times and fellowship many times and he will be sorely missed. Here’s a statement by ARA:
Jack Eberspacher, president and chief executive officer of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), died peacefully in his sleep on July 5, 2009 at the Inova Cameron Glen Care Center in Reston, Virginia. Eberspacher was out on indefinite medical leave from ARA after a diagnosis of cancer in late April of this year.
“ARA and the industry lost a dynamic leader and true visionary,” said ARA Chairman Ken Manning of Wilbur-Ellis Company. “Jack worked tirelessly to build this organization into the strong voice for agricultural retailers and distributors we have today in the nation’s Capitol. He always stressed the importance of ARA listening to its members and providing value to those members. Due to his efforts, we have an experienced and very capable team at ARA who are committed to seeing Jack’s and the Board of Director’s vision for the organization fulfilled. ARA has a solid foundation in place that will only get stronger through the active involvement of its members and the industry.”
Here’s a statement (pdf) from NSP:
“Jack was our colleague and dear friend,” said Tim Lust, NSP CEO. “His leadership carried this organization both through rough patches and tremendous growth. He cast a remarkable vision for NSP and never let the organization stray from its farmer members and the basics.”
Friends of Jack Eberspacher have set up an educational trust for his children. Please make checks payable to the “Sam and Maggie Eberspacher Educational Trust.” Memorials may be mailed to:
Bank of America, N.A.
c/o Carolyn F. Grant-Suite
8300 Greensboro Drive
Suite 500
McLean, VA 22102
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, July 11, at 2:30 p.m., at the Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, Virginia. A reception will be held at the church immediately following the service. The church is located at 124 Park Street, NE. Click here for driving directions and parking locations near the church. Those wishing to attend the memorial service can obtain more information about travel and lodging here.
In case you didn’t know it, ethanol can be made from sorghum and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program was on location at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop to promote that fact. I met with Tim Lust and Florentino Lopez, USCP, during the trade show yesterday to find out more about what they’re doing in the area of fuel ethanol. You can hear an interview with them in this week’s program using the player at the bottom of the post.
Many of you may know Tim as the CEO of the National Sorghum Producers. Florentino is new to USCP as the Marketing Manager. Tim says fuel ethanol represents a huge market for sorghum not only on the grain side but also cellulosic. Florentino says that as a newcomer to the staff, using sorghum for ethanol has been an eye opener. He does see it as a real growth area for the industry. His background is on the “animal” side where he also sees continuing opportunities.
This week’s program ends with some music from the Podsafe Music Network. It’s a song titled, “Fuel” by Pablo Perez. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.
The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.
Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
Virgil Smail has been named the Executive Director of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program.
With a strong history of industry and commodity association management, Smail will bring great experience and leadership to the USCP. As President and CEO of the American Institute of Baking, Smail was responsible for drastically expanding institute programs and worked with a Board of Directors representing the top 30 baking and allied industry presidents and senior vice presidents. In his most recent career accomplishment, Smail served as Senior Director of Research and Development for the Milling Division of ConAgra Foods.
“The USCP Board and I look forward to working with Virgil and are extremely confident in his leadership ability,” Bill Greving, USCP Board Chair, said. “He brings a successful track record from his past employment and brings a level of expertise that we believe will be beneficial in furthering Checkoff Program initiatives to improve profitability for sorghum producers.”
Smail served as the first full-time Director and CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers Foundation in Washington, D.C. and collaborated closely with growers and industry representatives while implementing Foundation activities. He also worked with sorghum breeding programs as the Vice-President of Corporate Development for Biotechnica Agriculture and on the Egyptian Major Cereals Improvement Program in Egypt, a USAID funded project.
The organization has positions open for: Communications Director, Marketing Director and Field Services Director (pdf)
Everyone at Commodity Classic this year seemed to be impressed that attendance was as good or better than ever, despite the economy.
“As I understand it, we are either right at the record or over it, so that is phenomenal,” said National Corn Growers Association CEO Rick Tolman. Unofficial numbers I heard were about 4500 total registration with 1500 of those actual corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum farmers.
Rick says he was pleased to see the producer organizations for four different commodities coming together for the first time under one banner. “We’re too small in agriculture to be fighting among our selves,” Rick said. “Things like Commodity Classic bring us together and help us realize how much we have in common.”
Concerns about potential changes to the 2008 Farm Bill surfaced at Commodity Classic this week, as the Obama administration unveiled its budget proposal which calls for cuts in farm program spending. “The farm bill is a five year program and we just went through a whole two years of discussions to get that done and finally we get it signed and it hasn’t even been implemented yet and they’re talking about changing it,” Tolman said. “That’s a principal I think is wrong.”
Listen to an interview with Rick here:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 6 or above) is required to play this audio clip. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
2009 Commodity Classic Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2009 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and
Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
The farm economy is apparently not hurting as much as other sectors, since attendance at the 2009 Commodity Classic is expected to be as good or better than last year. According to the conference organizers, pre-registrations by the end of last week were virtually the same as last year, although the number of farmers registered was already higher.
Now, that could be because we have a new commodity added to the mix this year – for the first time the producer organizations representing corn, soybeans, wheat and sorghum are all meeting together under one roof.
I would also note that media attendance is very strong. Over 100 media were pre-registered for the conference and I have seen pretty much everyone I know in the industry already.
Lots of meetings and sessions are already happening, the trade show opens this afternoon and the general session is tomorrow morning.
2009 Commodity Classic Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2009 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and
It's time to thank our farmers and ranchers for all their hard work to feed us.
