The U.S. Department of Agriculture is projecting U.S. sorghum production at 395-million bushels for the coming harvest year – which is a significantly improved production estimate over the past five years – including last year’s harvest of 244-million bushels. U.S. Grains Council Director of Global Programs Kimberly Karst says this increased production estimate – along with the good to excellent sorghum crop being harvested now – means this is a prime time to market this product around the world. Karst says U.S. international customers need to be reminded of the quality nutritional characteristics U.S. sorghum offers and the increased availability for the coming marketing year.
Last week – USGC escorted Japanese sorghum buyers and end-users throughout Texas and Kansas to see firsthand the bountiful production, meet with U.S. sorghum traders and receive updated nutritional information about sorghum’s value as a feed ingredient. Japan is the second largest importer of U.S. sorghum – and Karst says USGC wants the Japanese feed industry to recognize sorghum not only as an ingredient substitute – but also as a nutritionally advantageous feed grain. The Grains Council is hopeful this trip will result in increased awareness of the export capacity of U.S. sorghum, its value as a feed ingredient and the U.S. commitment to the export market – especially with increasing competition from Australia and Argentina.
Read On Strong Marketing Key to Increased U.S. Sorghum Exports.