11-30-09
NSP Delivers Better Crop Insurance Price Elections!
In 2010, grain sorghum producers will have access to better crop insurance price elections than ever before. Due to hard work by the National Sorghum Producers, price elections are now 97.8 percent the value of corn up from only 88 percent. This is a huge victory for the sorghum industry!
04-29-09
Is ACRE right for your farm?
Use this tool to help determine whether the Average Crop Revenue Election program, part of the 2008 farm bill, is a good choice for your operation.
Read about your options in ACRE for your Acres, Sorghum Grower magazine, Spring 2009.
04-23-09
Kansas Sorghum Producer Testifies on Effectiveness of Crop Insurance Programs
Jarrod Spillman of Hoxie, Kansas in Sheridan Country represented the National Sorghum Producers at a hearing regarding the functionality of crop insurance programs. The hearing, held by the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, convened to review the effectiveness of crop insurance for producers. Spillman testified on behalf of NSP along with representatives from the wheat, cotton, nursery and landscape, rice, corn and sugar industries.
Spillman particularly addressed inconsistencies in the methods that the Risk Management Agency (RMA) uses to set price elections for grain sorghum in his five-minute oral testimony.
“If we can get RMA to come up with a price election methodology that can make sorghum price competitive to producers such as myself, then we may see a shift in acreage back to sorghum,” Spillman said. “This shift needs to occur, especially in the semi-arid parts of the country. Doing so will ultimately conserve our water table, provide more grain because we are planting a viable crop, and provide the mulch needed in the Plains states to keep our precious soil where it belongs.”
After oral testimony, Spillman answered questions about the effectiveness of a 2008 farm bill provision that was championed by NSP. The provision requires that RMA re-evaluate the way grain sorghum price elections are set. Following Spillman’s answers, Congressman Leonard L. Boswell, (D-Iowa), Chair of the Subcommittee, pledged to work with other members to send a letter to USDA requesting further information about RMA’s fulfillment of farm bill requirements.
Spillman is a sorghum, wheat, corn, soybean, sunflower and cow-calf producer, farms in Sheridan County, Kansas.
View written testimony (pdf)
View oral testimony (pdf)
02-27-09
Major Commodity Organizations Reiterate Importance of 2008 Farm Bill Safety Net
Grapevine, Texas (Feb. 27, 2009) – A statement from David Cleavinger, president of the National Association of Wheat Growers and a wheat producer from Wildorado, Texas; Bob Dickey, president of the National Corn Growers Association and a corn producer from Laurel, Neb.; Toby Bostwick, chairman of the Board of the National Sorghum Producers and a sorghum producer from Melrose, N.M.; and Johnny Dodson, president of the American Soybean Association and a soybean producer from Halls, Tenn.
“As the leaders of participant organizations at the 2009 Commodity Classic, which represent almost 90 percent of our nation's crop area planted, we would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the importance of the farm safety net as written in the 2008 Farm Bill.
“The small investment in agricultural programs by the federal government provides an excellent return for the American people. The 2008 Farm Bill also includes many other reforms that will assist farmers in becoming more financially sound.
“Production agriculture is a volatile business, and a workable farm safety net is vital to the security of our industry. The continued production of an abundant, affordable and safe food and feed supply for Americans and all those we export to around the world will be affected if this safety net is changed. The purpose of a five-year farm bill is to provide stability to producers, agricultural operations and the food system. The 2008 Bill should not be reopened before it expires in 2012.
“Our organizations look forward to continued work with the Obama Administration and Congress to ensure farm program monies are spent wisely.”
02/19/09 Letter: NSP Supports Farm Safety Net
12/08/08 Letter: NSP Urges Secretary Schafer to implement farm bill programs
2008 Food, Conservation and Energy Act, Sorghum Specific Impact Statement