A distinguished group of U.S. sorghum researchers were honored in Queensland last month at the 5th Australian Sorghum Conference.
National Sorghum Producers (NSP) Research Adviser Dr. Bruce Maunder, Texas A&M researchers Dr. Darrell Rosenow and Dr. Lloyd Rooney and K-State's Dr. Richard Vanderlip were recognized for their global efforts to improve production and utilization.
Texas Grain Sorghum Producers President Bill Kubecka of Palacios, Texas joined the researchers and came back with a strong appreciation for what the Australian sorghum industry has been able to accomplish. Kubecka said that the Australian sorghum model brings together growers, researchers, industry and administrators to seize opportunities, solve problems and improve profitability of the crop. "Though their research and development mechanisms have been in place for just over a decade, the Australians have made significant progress and are focused on what matters most to producers. There are unique opportunities to learn more from the Australians to make the U.S. industry better."
In Australia, producers set aside one percent of the value of the sorghum crop to go toward research and development. "In the U.S., producers fund research at varying levels," said NSP Research Director Dr. Jeff Dahlberg. "The Great Plains Sorghum Initiative authorized by Congress last year is a good step in focusing the U.S. sorghum research agenda across states. Producers benefit most when they can pool their resources, communicate their needs with researchers, and focus on the work that has the most potential to ensure their profitability."
NSP CEO Tim Lust said that NSP is working to create greater collaboration between producers, private industry and public research institutions. "Our hope is that this team approach will strengthen the industry as a whole and move us forward."
The meeting was organized by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and the Government Research Development Corporation in an effort to communicate new technology related to sorghum improvement and utilization.
According to Maunder, the meeting's focus was on drought tolerance and yield improvement, but there was also considerable discussion on the future of ethanol. Maunder said that Australia's sorghum acreage is about one-third that of the U.S. and is Australia's major coarse grain. At the conclusion of the conference, Maunder participated in several producer meetings to disseminate research findings to Australian producers.
NSP represents U.S. sorghum producers. 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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