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Sorghum Board airs concerns on proposed national check-off"The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking comments on the proposed national check-off on grain sorghum and sorghum silage," said Burdette Piening, Lincoln, Chairman of the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board. "Comments received will be reviewed and considered in the development of a final ruling. I strongly encourage producers to submit their comments to USDA." The Order, published in the Federal Register on Nov. 23, 2007, would provide for assessments on sales of grain sorghum and for sorghum silage. An industry board would carry out promotion, research, and information programs designed to expand markets for sorghum. Comments should be sent in duplicate to: Kenneth R. Payne, Chief; Marketing Programs Branch, Room 2628-S; Livestock and Seed Program, AMS, USDA; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW; Washington, D.C. 20250-0251, to be received no later than Jan. 22. Comments can be made three different ways. They can be mailed to USDA, faxed, or made via the Internet. The preferred and easiest way to submit comments is by faxing to 202-720-1125, with a cover page directing the comments to Kenneth R. Payne. Copies of the notice and additional information are available at the above address, telephone 202/720-1115 or at www.regulations.gov. Sorghum Board position "The Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board's current position is in opposition to the proposed national check-off as currently submitted to the Federal Register." In action taken at their public meeting on January 7, the Sorghum Board adopted a motion by majority vote that the "Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board supports the concept and need for "a" national sorghum check-off. "While the Board is in general agreement and understanding of the need for additional resources to bring new technology, expanded markets and education opportunities to sorghum producers to insure profitability for the future, there are concerns about certain provisions of the current Order that need to be addressed," explains Piening. The Sorghum Board's position calls for the following modifications to the Order: --A minimum passback rate of 50 percent to provide for a sustainable state program to address state-specific issues and to facilitate leadership growth. The 50 percent passback conforms to precedence set by other national check-off programs. --The passback to state check-off programs should be automatic following a compliance review. --State check-off programs should be permitted to maintain a reasonable operating reserve. --A healthy balance in areas of investment to insure that market development, research and education needs of producers are met. --Future rate increases should undergo a public process for producer input or comment. To avoid conflict of interest, the National Sorghum Board should operate as an entity separate from that of the National Sorghum Producers (membership association). Nominations for the state-specific and at-large national seats, other than that of importers must be sorghum producers. The Board supports the following provisions recommended by the NationalSorghum Producers: --Establishing an initial assessment rate of 0.6 percent of net market value received by the producer on grain sorghum and 0.35 percent of net market value received by the producer on forage sorghum. --The maximum assessment rates for grain and forage sorghum should be capped at 1.0 percent of net market value received by the producer. --A call for a national referendum (subsequent to the initial required referendum within three years of implementation of the program) should be based on 10 percent of both producers and importers. Piening stated, "The implementation of a national check-off should not be at the expense of current state-appointed boards. Under a national check-off, state programs should be allowed to remain as well off financially as they were under their state program to insure that local needs are met." "I'm proud of the leadership the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board has provided over the past 25 years--at both the state and national level," said Piening. "There's no question that the sorghum industry has serious challenges that need to be addressed. That's why a national check-off is proposed." "Acreage declines and the technology gap with other crops lead industry concerns," concluded Piening. "The Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board would support a national check-off which allocates half of the funds collected back to the state where the funds are collected." The Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board is the state's legislated entity, which administers the one cent per hundredweight check-off on all sorghum sold in the state. Funds are invested in programs of market development, research, producer education and federal legislation. 1/21/08 Date: 1/15/08
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