Sorghum Viable Part of Ethanol Industry

Sorghum Viable Part of Ethanol Industry

The National Sorghum Producers took part in the 2016 Growth Energy Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. last week. Jesse McCurry is a regional director for the National Sorghum Producers. He explains the role sorghum plays in biofuels.

 

McCurry: “Sorghum remains a very viable part of the ethanol industry in fact it is surprising how much more growth we could have from the feedstock into the ethanol supply chain. Typically historically the plants that are more in the Western part of the corn belt can utilize sorghum. Plants in Kansas and Texas utilize it in a big way. In fact there are times where sorghum is the predominate feed source in a few ethanol plants. So from our perspective it is a market. It is a market where a farmer can often get a premium when selling grain to an ethanol plant compared to another local market alternative. So we are very keen on supporting the industry and what we can get done in Washington.”

 

No matter the crop: corn, soybeans or sorghum, U.S. farmers have been very productive over the last few years. That’s led to lower crop prices and an abundance of supply.

 

McCurry: “I was always taught in dealing with issues we have to face the brutal facts.  The brutal fact is we are at minus 90 sorghum basis in, minus 1.30 wheat basis in my area. We have had very favorable weather and our farmers are very productive. We have to continue to work on market access — whether that is international trade agreements or fuel policy. Farmers have to have markets and that is why we are so keen on supporting ethanol.”

 

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