Agricultural News
Sorghum Checkoff Working to Build Demand for Crop from Multiple Sources
Mon, 30 Nov 2015 20:15:14 CST
Sorghum is back on the rise. Sorghum has become a high demand commodity. With softer prices this year, that's brought back demand for sorghum for ethanol and for livestock feed. New demand is also coming from today's consumer. Demand for sorghum for the domestic human food market has increased by three million bushels this year. Sorghum Checkoff Vice Chairman Adam Baldwin of McPherson, Kansas said in being gluten free and an ancient grain - more consumers are turning to sorghum. The industry is also seeing new demand for sorghum to make pet food.
"We hope that as people realize the health benefits of sorghum, they'll translate that into maybe desiring that to give their pets and we can expand into that pet food market as well," Baldwin said.
U.S. sorghum exports have also remained strong in 2015. Baldwin said China will continue to be a market driver this year. Mexico has come back into the market as well as Central and South America. Increased global demand for sorghum has boosted acres by 24 percent nationally. Oklahoma has also become the third largest sorghum producing state in the nation. With ideal growing conditions U.S. farmers had record sorghum production this year.
With a big increase in U.S. sorghum acres and production, the Sorghum Checkoff is working to build more demand for the commodity. Baldwin said the sorghum checkoff will continue to invest producers' checkoff dollars to maximize their profitability.
Radio Oklahoma Network's Leslie Smith caught up with Baldwin at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention in Kansas City. Click or tap on the LISTEN BAR below to hear the full interview as he talks about the efforts of the sorghum checkoff, plus how his 2015 sorghum crop turned out.
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