By Scout Nelson
The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission held its 2024 summer board meeting on July 16-17 in Garden City.
These quarterly meetings are crucial for discussing funding opportunities, program development, and strategies to advance both domestic and international sorghum markets.
Attendees had the opportunity to hear updates from state and national staff members, as well as industry leaders.
Key speakers included Norma Ritz-Johnson, executive director of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program; Dr. Raj Khosla, head of the Agronomy Department at Kansas State University; Guy Allen, senior economist for the International Grains Program Institute at K-State; Ellen Zimmerman, industry relations director for the U.S. Grains Council; Russell Plashcka, Ex-Officio from the Kansas Department of Agriculture; and Matt Unruh, assistant director for the Kansas Water Office.
The Commission also focused on leadership re-organization and re-elected its current officers for the upcoming year:
Chairman: Brant Peterson, Johnson (District 3 Southwest)
Vice Chairman: Kevin Kniebel, White City (District 7 East Central)
Secretary-Treasurer: Kevin Harris, Abilene (District 5 Central)
“The past year has been challenging and rewarding for Team Sorghum. Planted acres are down, but hopefully, the yield and price will improve upon harvest and as we look towards 2025. Nonetheless, I am very proud of Kansas Sorghum and the industry we represent,” said Chairman Peterson. “It is an exciting time for the sorghum industry in many ways, with water and resource management included in most discussions.”
Peterson also shared his experiences representing the Commission on one of the U.S. Grains Council’s Advisory A-Teams. “Seeing how the Council works to promote U.S. agriculture, and being a part of that discussion is an advantage I hope to bring to Kansas farmers. I thank the Commission for their continued support.”
Chairman Peterson begins his second term as Chairman of the Commission for Fiscal Year 2025, starting October 1, 2024.
“The Commission benefits greatly from having a strong leadership team in these officers, and we sincerely appreciate the time and service all commissioners lend to steward and invest checkoff dollars in our state on behalf of growers and for growers,” said Adam York, administrator to the Commission. “I am excited for the continued focus on the organization’s ongoing pursuit of excellence with the current Executive Committee as elected by their peers returning for a second year in their officer roles.”
The next meeting, scheduled for September 3, 2024, in Manhattan, Kansas, will focus on the annual budget for Fiscal Year 2025, covering funding allocations in research, education, outreach, and more.
The process for growers to become eligible for election to all Kansas commodity commissions in USDA Crop Reporting Districts 7, 8, and 9 in Eastern Kansas begins with petitions due to the Kansas Department of Agriculture by November 30, 2024.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-zoran-zeremski
Categories: Kansas, General