NATIONAL SORGHUM PRODUCERS COMMODITY CLASSIC 2015 MEDIA GUIDE

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Helen Reed
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1 NATIONAL PRODUCERS COMMODITY CLASSIC 2015 MEDIA GUIDE

2 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 8:00 am - 12:00 pm NSP Board of Directors Meeting - (Phoenix East) 1:30 pm - 5:00 pm NSP/USCP Board of Directors Joint Meeting - (Phoenix Room) THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26 9:00 am - 9:15 am NSP Meet and Greet - (Atrium 1) 9:15 am - 12:00 pm Sorghum General Session - (Phoenix East & West) 12:00 pm - 4:30 pm Commodity Classic Trade Show NSP (booth 513) and Sorghum Checkoff (booth 515) FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27 9:00 am - 11:00 am Commodity Classic General Session 11:00 am - 4:00 pm Commodity Classic Trade Show NSP (booth 513) and Sorghum Checkoff (booth 515) 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm Sorghum Industry Reception - (Regency Ballroom Foyer) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm NSP Yield Contest Dinner - (Regency Ballroom) 8:00 pm - 12:00 pm Sorghum PAC Auction and Casino Night - (Regency Ballroom) SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Commodity Classic Trade Show NSP (booth 513) and Sorghum Checkoff (booth 515)

3 GENERAL SESSION THURSDAY FEBRUARY 26 9:15 am - 12:30 pm PHOENIX ROOM 9:15 AM WELCOME Matt Rush 9:35 AM NSP CHAIRMAN ADDRESS J.B. Stewart, Chairman 9:45 AM WHAT S IN THE PIPELINE? Ben Beyer, Alta Seeds Chad Hayes, USDA-ARS Larry Richardson, Richardson Seeds 10:20 AM CHECKOFF REPORT Dale Murden, Sorghum Checkoff, Chairman 10:25 AM LESSONS FROM THE SUGARCANE APHID Dr. Charles Allen, Texas A&M University Dr. Scott Armstrong, USDA-ARS Phil Jost, Dow AgroSciences Charles Ray Huddleston, Producer 11:05 AM DEMAND BUILDERS FOR MARKETS Florentino Lopez, Sorghum Checkoff Executive Director Doug Bice, High Value Markets Program Director 11:30 AM CLOSING REMARKS Matt Rush 11:45 AM NSP, PROVIDING VALUE TO THE FARMER Tim Lust,, CEO 12:00 PM DOOR PRIZE DRAWING AND ADJOURN Win a Kindle Fire!

4 NATIONAL PRODUCERS MEDIA CONTACTS NSP STAFF PLEASE SEND ALL MEDIA INQUIRIES TO: Jennifer Blackburn, External Affairs Director Kelli Fulkerson, Communications Director Tim Lust, CEO Chris Cogburn, Strategic Business Director Debra Lloyd, Director of Operations Shelley Heinrich, Development Director Ian Hoeffner, Information Director Shelee Padgett, Regional Director Jesse McCurry, Regional Director Brent Crafton, Regional Director Sarah Sexton-Bowser, Regional Director NSP BOARD OF DIRECTORS J.B. Stewart, Chairman Keyes, Oklahoma James Born, Vice Chairman Booker, Texas Terry Swanson, Past Chairman Walsh, Colorado Daniel Atkisson Stockton, Kansas Larry Dahlsten Lindsborg, Kansas Kendall Hodgson Little River, Kansas Tom Willis Liberal, Kansas Donald Bloss Pawnee City, Nebraska Mike Battin New Deal, Texas Sam Simmons Harlingen, Texas Blake Tregellas Perryton, Texas

5 KEY TOPICS NSP Remains Focused on Farm Bill Implementation The importance of quality data is essential in providing farmers a quality safety net. (NSP) commends USDA and RMA on the continued and smooth implementation of Supplemental Coverage Option and encourages additional counties to be added for sorghum farmers in Implementation of the Farm Bill has highlighted gaps in quality data for sorghum. The Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) program depends upon accurate county yields for each crop. In some states, ARC yields on sorghum are not available in all counties. USDA needs to provide solid data to producers as they work on making the ARC/PLC (Price Loss Coverage) choice by the end of March. Accurate ARC county yields affect both the ARC-County and ARC-Individual program and are critical for producers to make informed decisions that will be in place for five years. As producers consider planting sorghum on generic base acres, irrigated and non-irrigated county yields will provide more accurate coverage and protection for producers. NSP also supports FSA allowing producers who plant on generic base acres the option to include or exclude cover crops from their generic base attribution each year at final acreage certification, allowing maximum flexibility for producers with generic base acres. J.B. Stewart, NSP Chairman:

6 KEY TOPICS China s Demand for U.S. Grain Sorghum Soars, 280 Million Bushels Committed The export market represented 52 percent of the sorghum market share in 2014 and was dominated by China. Last year alone, China represented 90 percent of total sorghum exports with 168 million bushels. Demand from China has only increased during the 2014/2015 marketing year. As of Feb. 13, 2015, China committed to 280 million bushels, approximately 65 percent of the sorghum crop. Projections from USDA and WASDE indicate exports will continue to increase throughout The demand from the export market has helped drive producer profitability. Florentino Lopez, Sorghum Checkoff Executive Director: J.B. Stewart, NSP Chairman: New Crop 2015 Bids for Sorghum Soar Cash sorghum prices across much of the Sorghum Belt have seen historic highs in the past year. Strong new crop bids are being posted for the first time ever. Producers near terminal locations have seen particularly strong demand. New crop basis on the Gulf Coast has soared to nearly $1.50 per bushel, with old crop basis still at $2.00. Even northern areas have seen strong demand for new crop with locations as far north as Concordia, Kan., at positive basis. In many locations across the central Sorghum Belt, new crop sorghum is trading at a 10 percent premium to corn. Sorghum basis is also very strong in the Delta, with several locations offering premiums to corn for new crop. Florentino Lopez, Sorghum Checkoff Executive Director: J.B. Stewart, NSP Chairman:

7 NATIONAL NATIONAL PRODUCERS PRODUCERS the of of voice voice the the sorghum industry industry KEY TOPICS Demand for Sorghum at an All-Time-High, Increase in Acres Needed Demand from the export market is positive and continues to grow. Likewise, demand from domestic markets also remains steadfast. The rising popularity of sorghum in the food industry continuously opens doors for producers. The ethanol industry also remains a value-added market for grain sorghum. Productivity increased 10 percent from last year, but to meet the growing demand, increased acres will be necessary this growing season. J.B. Stewart, NSP Chairman: Texas Grower Reaches Top National Yield with 246 Bushels Mike Henson, a sorghum farmer from Ropesville, Texas, produced 246 bushel per acre grain sorghum while maximizing his cotton production. Henson s high yield is a stride toward achieving yield goal of 250 bushels per acre in the sorghum yield contest, sponsored by the Sorghum Checkoff. Mike Henson, NSP Yield Contest 2014 Winner: James Born, NSP Vice Chairman:

8 KEY TOPICS Tools Available to Combat the Sugarcane Aphid Sugarcane aphids affected a large part of the sorghum growing region last year. Eight states received a Section 18 for the use of Transform in grain sorghum to help combat the sugarcane aphid. Tolerant hybrids and germplasm and newly approved pesticide applications have been identified, and the and the Sorghum Checkoff are devoted to educating growers on proper management so this issue does not cause reduced profit long-term. Justin Weinheimer, Sorghum Checkoff Crop Improvement Director: FOR ADDITIONAL MEDIA INQUIRIES, CONTACT: Jennifer Blackburn, NSP External Affairs Director: Kelli Fulkerson, NSP Communications Director: For photos of staff and board: Additional sorghum photos:

9 NATIONAL PRODUCERS SOCIAL MEDIA sorghumgrowers.com facebook.com/nationalsorghumproducers twitter.com/sorghumgrowers instagram.com/sorghumgrowers youtube.com/user/sorghumgrowers.. flickr.com/photos/sorghumgrowers

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