SORGHUM News Release
NATIONAL GRAIN SORGHUM PRODUCERS
Ensuring Sorghum's Profitability
July 26, 2005
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christi Scherler
(806) 749-3478
Strong Renewable Fuels Standard Good for Americans
With energy bill conferees agreeing to a strong Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) of 7.5 billion gallons annually by 2012, Americans stand to benefit.
Both the House and Senate are expected to vote on the measure this week so that the legislation can be sent, as requested, to the President's desk before the August legislative recess.
The nation's grain sorghum producers are pleased that conferees recognized the impact that a strong RFS would have on Americans.
"It's a win, win not only for consumers, but also for the nation's farm economy. The RFS will help further expand ethanol production into the Sorghum Belt, expanding markets for grain sorghum producers while offering consumers a competitively-priced renewable fuel," said National Grain Sorghum Producers (NGSP) Vice-President for Legislation Greg Shelor, a producer from Minneola, Kan. "Senators Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman, both of New Mexico, were influential in helping to guide the bi-partisan effort to negotiate the energy bill. We also want to thank our Sorghum Belt Representatives and Senators for communicating the need for a strong RFS to conference committee members.
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NGSP President James Vorderstrasse of Hebron, Neb. said that et
hanol is the fastest growing value-added market for grain sorghum producers. "Because one bushel of grain sorghum yields the same amount of ethanol as one bushel of corn, ethanol plants are finding grain sorghum to be a competitively-priced starch source for ethanol production. In areas where low rainfall and high temperatures limit production of other summer crops, grain sorghum is a perfect fit. Cattle feeders are also finding added value in sorghum distiller's grain, a co-product of ethanol production. Early results from ongoing research show that combining grain sorghum and corn can produce a synergistic effect that increases feed efficiency and gain."
NGSP represents U.S. sorghum producers nationwide. Headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, in the heart of the U.S. Sorghum Belt that stretches from the Rockies to the Mississippi River and from South Texas to South Dakota, the organization works to ensure the profitability of sorghum production through market development, research, education and legislative representation.
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