National Sorghum Producers Our Impact Working Tirelessly
About Our Impact

Working Tirelessly to Advance the Industry

National Sorghum Producers (NSP) was founded by producers who wanted to make an impact on the industry. The organization has done exactly that ever since, working tirelessly to create legislative and regulatory change for a more profitable, diverse and competitive sorghum industry.

Key Figures

2019-2021 NSP Wins

  • The Resource-Conserving Crop™

    In April 2021, NRCS announced additional language concerning the definition of a “resource-conserving crop” and a “resource-conserving crop rotation” under CSP “…to be more inclusive of all crops that could be resource conserving and fit within the purpose for which the definition was crafted,” giving sorghum a strong foothold in this program.

  • Crop Insurance Price Election

    At the close of 2021, the sorghum crop insurance price election for reinsurance year 2022 was set at 99.6 percent of the price of corn, compared to 96 percent for 2021. NSP worked closely with RMA after a 2008 Farm Bill directive to change this formula to be more reflective of sorghum pricing, and since implementation, the change has added $89 million in value to sorghum farmers through increased crop insurance coverage.

  • Record Export Sales

    Sorghum exports saw record sales and shipments in 2021 with 283 million bushels sold totaling $2 billion to all destinations – the second highest export value ever.

  • CFAP

    Sorghum producers received more than $127 million in the first and second rounds of payments allocated through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.

  • U.S. China Phase One Agreement

    NSP helped to assure sorghum farmers interests were considered when drafting the Phase 1 U.S.-China Trade Agreement. From the signing of the agreement to the end of FY 2020, China purchased 294.8 million bushels of U.S. sorghum worth more than $1.5 billion.

  • MFP Payments

    Sorghum Producers received $0.86 per bushel in the first tranche of trade payments totaling roughly $313,000,000. With an additional $300,000,000 paid in 2020, the total support to sorghum farmers tops $600,000,000.

  • ARC and PLC

    The $3.95 reference price secured in the farm safety net has brought approximately $312,000,000 to sorghum producers in 2020.

  • Grants

    Through collaborative work between NSP, TGSPA and bipartisan legislators, a $14.5 million infrastructure grant to the Port of Brownsville was awarded to increase the facility’s grain handling capacity leading to five shipments of 33,000 metric tons of sorghum to China at the end of 2020.

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Our Impact

Featured Advancements Throughout The Years

  • Sorghum Added to Nation’s Farm Program
  • Development of Greenbug Resistant Varieties
  • Loan Rates Equalized, Bringing $197.2 Million
  • New Farm Bill Program to Assist Ethanol Plants Brings $53.2 Million, Plus $67.9 Million in Indemnities
  • Started the United Sorghum Checkoff Program
  • Reference Price Raised, Earning an Additional $275.6 Million
Our Impact

Timeline of Key Advancements

  • 2020

    Sorghum producers received more than $127 million in the first and second rounds of payments allocated through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.

  • 2020

    NSP helped to assure sorghum farmers interests were considered when drafting the Phase 1 U.S.-China Trade Agreement. From the signing of the agreement to the end of FY 2020, China purchased 294.8 million bushels of U.S. sorghum worth more than $1.5 billion.

  • 2019

    USDA implemented the second round of the Market Facilitation Program to account for lost profits due to regulatory tariffs on US exports, with an additional $300 million going to the sorghum industry in 2019.

  • 2018

    The Environmental Protection Agency approved the production of  advanced biofuels using sorghum oil extracted at ethanol plants.

     

    After three years of NSP working with stakeholders, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced favorable policy changes worth $30 million per year for sorghum farmers.

  • 2018

    USDA implemented the Market Facilitation Program to account for lost profits due to regulatory tariffs on US exports, with $300 million going to the sorghum industry in 2018.

  • 2014

    Reference price for sorghum was raised to $3.95 per bushel in the Farm Bill, earning an additional $275.6 million for sorghum farmers.

  • 2013

    NSP worked to obtain multiple-state Section 18 approvals for the use of Transform to treat sugarcane aphids.

  • 2012

    Sorghum ethanol named as an advanced biofuel.

  • 2010

    The 2008 changes in the Farm Bill for crop insurance price election went into effect leading to $67.9 million in indemnities for sorghum farmers.

  • 2008

    9005 program was added in the Farm Bill to assist sorghum ethanol plants, which brought $53.2 million to the sorghum industry.

     

    NSP started the United Sorghum Checkoff Program.

  • 2007

    NSP released the first edition of the Sorghum Grower magazine in February.

     

    NSP restructured the Board of Directors to be a national board comprised of 9-11 appointed members, rather than representatives from every sorghum-producing state.

  • 2006

    Sustainable Crop Insurance Services was started.

  • 2005

    NGSPA changed their name to National Sorghum Producers association (NSP).

  • 2002

    Charles Stenholm and Larry Combest worked closely with NGSPA through the Farm Bill to equalize loan rates, which meant $197.2 million to the sorghum industry.

  • 1999

    NGSPA moved to Lubbock from Abernathy.

  • 1998

    Tim Lust appointed fourth Executive Director.

  • 1996

    First Sorghum Improvement Conference of North America (SICNA).

     

    First large-scale shipment of food-grade sorghum to Botswana.

  • 1993

    Dan Shaw with World Perspectives was hired as the first lobbyist for sorghum.

  • 1990

    Jack Eberspacher started on NGSPA Board and concentrated in three primary areas: policy, science and utilization.

     

    Corporate Partner Program began.

  • 1987

    First Sorghum Leadership Class (now Syngenta’s Leadership Training).

  • 1970

    NGSPA began to work closely with industry experts, including Bruce Maunder, on greenbug resistant varieties of sorghum.

  • 1958

    First cooperator contract: Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act.

     

    NGSPA, in conjunction with Corn Growers, formed the first Grains Council in Amarillo.

  • 1957

    Bill Nelson was hired as Executive Director.

  • 1956

    First legislative victory occurred when grain sorghum was included in the nation’s farm program.

  • 1955

    National Grain Sorghum Producers Association (NGSP) formed by:  Reagan Peeler, J.C. Gilbreath, Bill Lane, J.L. Jackson, and Bob Francy.