Sorghum Checkoff Job Openings – The United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP) announced two available positions which are now open for application submissions. The first position is for a Regional Director – this job includes establishing, developing and maintaing end-user, first handler and producer relations within a geographic region. This position is also responsible for determining what can be done to develop, expand and promote sorghum. The second position is for a High Value Markets Program Director – this job includes determining what can be done to develop, expand and promote sorghum marketplaces both domestically and internationally. Resumes and cover letters for these Sorghum Checkoff positions will be accepted until June 15, 2013, and can be sent to positions@sorghumcheckoff.com. To view the complete announcements and summary, visit sorghum checkoff.com.
Valley Growers Plant Sorghum Over Cotton – With the drought, the deflated market prices, the price of cotton in the world market during spring planting and China’s huge stockpile of cotton, many Valley farmers opted to plant sorghum over cotton this year. The Valley Morning Star reported the amount of cotton planted this year is less than last year, with 86,000 acres in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, down substantially from the 130,000 acres last year. Sorghum’s drought tolerance played an important role on the farmers decision as well, with the dry spell lingering on and uncertainty about access to irrigation water. After planting, the rain never fell and insurance adjusters are out in the fields assessing cotton crops – the expected failed cotton acres will probably be extremely high. Many farmers may try to go behind failed cotton with even more sorghum going into the Rio Grande Valley fields.
USDA Announces Farm Payments Scheduled to Resume – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced last week that farm payments, which had been temporarily suspended due to sequestration, were scheduled to resume May 8, 2013. This includes payments for the 2011 Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE), the Noninsured Crop Assistance Program (NAP) and the Milk Income Loss Contact Program (MILC). The suspension began on March 4, 2013 in order for FSA to assess the impact of sequestration and determine the least-disruptive process possible for carrying out required cuts. Current enrollment deadlines for signing up this year are as follows: 2013 ACRE – June 3rd; 2011 SURE – June 7th; and the 2013 Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program – August 2nd.
Monsanto Wins Seed Case as High Court Backs Patent Rights – AgWeb reported that the U.S. Supreme Court bolstered Monsanto Co.’s ability to control the use of its genetically modified seeds, ruling that companies can block efforts to circumvent patents on self-replicating technologies. The justices unanimously upheld an $84,456 award Monsanto won in a lawsuit against Vernon Hugh Bowman, an Indiana farmer. Rather than buying herbicide-resistant soybean seeds from a Monsanto-authorized dealer, Bowman used harvested soybeans containing the technology to plant his crops. The case centered on a technology that has helped make Monsanto the world’s largest seed company, with $14.7 billion in annual revenue, as well as a prime target for opponents of genetically modified food. Monsanto has sued 146 U.S. farmers for saving Roundup Ready soybeans since 1997, winning all 11 cases that went to trial. Bowman sought to get around Monsanto’s rules from 1999 to 2007 by buying less expensive soybeans from a grain elevator. Because the elevator accepted harvests from farmers using Monsanto seeds, the second-generation beans proved to be herbicide resistant. The farmer says he saved $30,000 for his farm. For more details on the case, look up Bowman v. Monsanto 11-796.
