Sorghum Checkoff Quarterly Activity Report July-September 2014

July Sorghum Checkoff Meets with Syngenta Florentino Lopez, Justin Weinheimer and Barney Bernstein, a Sorghum Checkoff consultant, met with Syngenta leadership in Greensboro, N.C., July 2, 2014. The purpose of this meeting was for the checkoff to learn about Syngenta’s efforts in sorghum, which are primarily focused on their chemical markets in herbicides, insecticides and seed treatments. Syngenta currently has a suite of products used in sorghum and hopes to continue exploring new options for the crop. The Sorghum Checkoff looks forward to working closely with Syngenta to bring new agronomic options to sorghum farmers.

Aphids Slowly Rebounding in South Texas While harvest was in full swing in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend of Texas, producers observed aphid populations rebound after treatment in several fields nearing harvest. It was observed that the aphids were moving into the panicles but without causing damage. Natural enemies were present but their numbers were not as big as in mid-May.

Only a handful of producers had problems with their combines due to honey dew, which is secreted by the aphid. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is recommended producers harvest their grain as soon as possible. However, they did not recommend any more treatment applications to control the aphid. Continued effort is taking place to control the insect at the AgriLife Center in Corpus Christi in the Insecticide Efficacy Trial among other trials around the state.

China Export Demand Update China exports for the current marketing year ending on August 31, 2014, increased by 62,401 metric tons or 2,455,925 bushels. The current market year total was 4.44 million metric tons or roughly 175 million bushels with current outstanding sales at 1.33 million metric tons or roughly 52.5 million bushels.

Sales for the new marketing year beginning September 1, 2014, increased by 55,000 metric tons or 2,164,642 million bushels. This brought the new marketing year totals to 693,000 metric tons, roughly 27 million bushels, maintaining strong demand at the port.

Recent USDA Reports Boost Sorghum Acres The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service June acreage report increased its estimated planted grain sorghum acres to 7.47 million, up 12 percent from its March report. The 2014 acreage estimate is just 7 percent below last year’s total planted acres. The two largest grain sorghum-producing states, Texas and , planted 3 million and 2.8 million acres, respectively, and represent 78 percent of U.S. acreage. NASS reports as of June 29, 93 percent of the crop had been planted, 3 percentage points behind last year.

Kansas Sorghum Taskforce Kansas Department of Agriculture concluded their Kansas Sorghum Taskforce effort to provide a focused, cohesive roadmap for sorghum. The Sorghum Checkoff provided information during this process. Special thanks to participation from Adam Baldwin and taskforce participants. The product will inform the Kansas Department of Agriculture and Kansas State University on priorities important to private industry and dovetails within the Kansas Water Visioning process. For more information, contact Kansas field staff Sarah Bowser or Jesse McCurry.

Kansas Water Vision Tour Packs Rooms around Kansas In response to Governor ’s call to action for a Kansas Water Vision, the Kansas Water Office and Kansas Department of Agriculture released a draft Water Vision Document July 1, 2014. During the week of July 7, 2014, KWO and KDA held 12 meetings throughout Kansas to share the document and seek feedback. The plan directly discussed sorghum in the Technology and Crop Varieties Theme, calling for investments in sorghum. Click here for the full Draft Vision Document.

Visits with Murphy-Brown While in North Carolina July 1-3,2014, Florentino Lopez and Justin Weinheimer met with Terry Coffey, Murphy-Brown LLC chief science and technology officer. Murphy-Brown continues to demonstrate their desire to purchase sorghum as indicated in the recent visit and in purchasing locations. MB Grain currently has 14 locations in North and South Carolina, in addition to one location in , Kansas and , all of which are offering bids for sorghum. Additionally, MB Grain’s website is currently promoting alternative rotational crops like sorghum and wheat to strengthen their ability to attract feed ingredients. Our support and involvement with Murphy-Brown helps to strengthen sorghum demand and supply.

Doug Bice and Jesse McCurry also visited with Murphy Brown in Missouri location to discuss company needs related to grain sorghum. The location is an important pivot point for western operations, not to mention Murphy-Brown LLC is the world’s leading pork producer. The next steps include producer interactions, international opportunities and closer communication.

Field Staff Visit Key Agribusiness Partners Kansas field staff continue to develop relationships with end-users, agribusiness and grain handlers. Recent visits with Beachner Grain, Scoular, Hannebaum Grain and Frontier Ag provided feedback on the need for greater consistency in sorghum markets and the value of the crop to grain handlers. Staff visited with Triple T, a pet food manufacturer, and Kansas Ethanol. These visits worked to establish or build upon these end-user relationships.

Center for Sorghum Improvement Features Kansas Commission Supported Research Sorghum Checkoff External Committee Member and Kansas State University Colby Researcher Rob Aiken, Ph.D., highlighted both innovative breeding selection tools and research directed at improving sorghum genetics July 7, 2014 at the Center for Sorghum Improvement. Aiken is working to develop UAVs as a high throughput screening tool to advance sorghum. Aiken focused the remainder of his presentation on canopy traits that are integral to developing high yielding sorghum.

Enginuity Worldwide Doug Bice and Jesse McCurry visited the start-up venture Enginuity at the Missouri Plant Science Center in Mexico, Mo., July 15, 2014. The operation makes biomass pellets and briquettes for power plant replacement of coal. Enginuity is one of 36 energy facilities in 14 states to accept Biomass Crop Assistance Program funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Their initial focus was on collecting stover, including milo and bagasse material. The Sorghum Checkoff is suggesting the potential of utilizing biomass sorghums as the company begins its promotional efforts with producers. Other opportunities for the company include livestock feed and fertilizer applications.

Penn Pak II (Pennington Seed) – Greenfield, Mo. Penn Pak II is a company owned by Central Garden and Pet in California. This year, Penn Pak II bought more grain sorghum than in previous years. They source grain into Kansas and also have relationships in South Dakota. Wal-Mart is their biggest customer. The company competes with chicken feeders in Arkansas, ethanol plants and the export market.

Joint Management Meeting The Sorghum Checkoff and the National Sorghum Producers executive committees came together last week to discuss the current programs and address business items required by the management agreement. The meeting served as an excellent platform to pave the way toward the coming year and share information on current highlights. Additionally, the finance committee for the Sorghum Checkoff met and worked on a preliminary budget that will be presented to the full board in August.

Joint Seed Innovation Committee Meeting Last week the joint Sorghum Checkoff and National Sorghum Producers committee met to discuss seed innovation and begin the process of drafting a stance as it relates to seed innovation. The initial goal of the meeting was to provide a knowledge base of biotechnology and share information as to the positioning of sorghum in this critical area. The committee as well as the checkoff consultant will continue to draft language to share with boards to reach a mutually acceptable position on this issue.

Clemson University Visit The Sorghum Checkoff and National Sorghum Producers jointly hosted faculty and staff as well as two graduate students from Clemson University in mid-July for six days. Clemson University Chair of Genetics and Genomics Stephen Kresovich, Ph.D., initiated the interest in the visit as he felt his team should learn more about the sorghum industry. Attendees were asked to submit questions pertaining to sorghum prior to their visit to add value. During the visit, attendees were provided informational packets, went on a tour of that emphasized the seed industry located in the Texas Panhandle, and experienced the ARS/USDA sorghum improvement program. There were excellent discussions about sorghum genetics as well as breeding methodology and concluded with seed production and conditioning.

China Demand Update China continues to buy U.S. sorghum, making their largest weekly purchase since entering the market with 11.5 million bushels for the 2013/2014 marketing year and 3.5 million bushels for 2014/2015, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s July 17 report. China purchased a total of 161.9 million bushels of U.S. sorghum for the current marketing year as of the end of July, which ended Aug. 31, 2014, bringing total exports to 186.4 million bushels. China represented 87 percent of the total U.S. sorghum exports.

Kansas Commission and Association hold first joint Meeting The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association held a joint meeting in Manhattan, Kan., August 22-23, 2014. The meeting focus was reviewing and hearing from researchers with proposed 2015 commission projects. Field staff Jesse McCurry and Sarah Sexton-Bowser provided an update on current Sorghum Checkoff initiatives and key industry dynamics.

Kansas Field Staff meets with Agribusinesses Kansas field staff continues to develop key agribusiness relationships. Meetings with Ottawa Coop and a Mycogen sales representative focused on identifying opportunities in South East Kansas. Jesse McCurry and Sarah Sexton-Bowser also visited with the Monsanto Sorghum Research team in Mount Hope, Kan., to discuss their sorghum breeding program.

Collaboration with Dr. Jay Zweier Doug Bice and Nancy Turner, Ph.D., began collaboration discussions with renowned cardiovascular researcher, Jay Zweier, Ph.D., from Ohio State University, for evaluating the heart-related health benefits of sorghum. This could involve areas such as hypertension, ischemia, diabetes, stroke or other human health issues.

Super Zoo Pet Forum Doug Bice attended the Super Zoo Pet Expo July 22-24, 2014, in Las Vegas, Nev. This event is a large-scale conference with more than 10,000 attendees and is focused on all aspects of pet products. Key areas of interest for sorghum involve not only pet food formulators and ingredient companies, but also pet store retailers as they are influential in promoting certain food types such as grain versus non-grain and gluten-free. Additionally, a number of birdfeed suppliers and wildlife food businesses attended this conference, which would be good fits for sorghum applications. The Sorghum Checkoff will plan on exhibiting at this expo next year.

While at the event, Bice attended six separate animal wellness sessions, including one promoting flax as a pet food formulation ingredient. JPZ, also in attendance on behalf of the pet food industry, conducted numerous interviews with exhibitors. Direct follow-ups have been made with ACJ International, Bark N Bites, Fou Fou Brands, SB Nutrinnov and HORN.

USGC Board of Delegates Meeting Doug Bice attended the U.S. Grains Council Board of Delegates meeting July 28-30, 2014 in Omaha, Neb. Much of the discussion during the meeting focused on China import restrictions related to corn and DDGs. The take-away message was that while this is currently a negative, long-term projections (10 plus years) show that China’s demand for feed grains is growing.

August Marketing Year Wrapping Up, Exports Strong With the current marketing year coming to a close, the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service indicated total commitments of U.S. grain sorghum destined for export have reached 190.8 million bushels. As of Aug. 1, 2014, China had committed to a total of 171 million bushels of U.S. grain sorghum, representing 89 percent of U.S. sorghum exports, for the current marketing year ending Aug. 31. Demand from China as well as other consistent customers like Mexico and Japan have created a positive market for farmers. Total commitments for the new marketing year as of Aug. 7, 2014 are 38.1 million bushels.

No-till On the Plains Bus Tour Jesse McCurry attended the annual No-till on the Plains bus tour Aug. 5-8, 2014, throughout southern Kansas and Oklahoma. The group saw a lot of quality sorghum although there were some weed issues and concern over the sugarcane aphid. A highlight of the tour was the visit to the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation in Ardmore, Okla. The foundation is working with the Farm Foundation on a soil health initiative.

The crops are in good shape though drought stress is beginning to creep in. Timely rains along the tour route were helpful.

The following are no-till adoption rates in the Sorghum Belt:

Kansas: 36.5% Oklahoma: 20.7% Nebraska: 43.3% Texas: 8.8% New Mexico: 6.8% Colorado: 25.9% South Dakota: 37.3% Missouri: 26.3%

Australian Sorghum Research Team Visits Justin Weinheimer, Ph.D., attended several conferences in Queensland and New South Whales Australia related to sorghum research and genetics. Over the course of one week, Weinheimer met with sorghum researchers from the University of Queensland, the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Grains Research and Development Cooperation, and various multinational seed and genetics providers. Throughout these meetings, opportunities were explored for international collaboration which could bring value to U.S. sorghum farmers. Key research efforts within Australia include drought tolerance, grain quality, plant integrity and architecture. The Sorghum Checkoff will continue to work toward evaluating and understanding how the Australian sorghum research community can integrate into domestic efforts to increase the productivity, sustainability and profitability of U.S. sorghum.

Agricultural Media Summit Lindsay Kennedy, Jennifer Blackburn and Faith Jurek attended the 2014 Agricultural Media Summit in Indianapolis, Ind., July 26-30. This annual meeting is the largest gathering of crop and livestock media professionals in the U.S. During the meeting, Blackburn took home second place in the American Agricultural Editors’ Association ‘Emerging Photographer Award.’ She also earned ‘Level 2’ status in AAEA’s Master Photographer Program. In addition, Jurek finished up her year of serving as the National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow president. The summit offered professional development as well as the opportunity to strengthen relationships with fellow ag media professionals.

AFB International AFB, one of the largest pet food palatability companies in the world, completed their preliminary testing/sampling of sorghum products, provided by the Sorghum Checkoff. AFB has now requested product pricing from the provider for three of their product lines.

Super Zoo Pet Forum One of the follow-ups from this event was the company, Horn. Horn is a major distributor of specialty food ingredients along with raw materials and chemicals. A call was scheduled for later this month with several groups within Horn to see how sorghum could be utilized in their various applications.

Enginuity Doug Bice is currently working on a collaboration effort involving the Bio Dimensions operation in Memphis, Tenn., and the new start-up entity mentioned previously, Enginuity, in Mexico, Mo. The intent is to send either sweet sorghum bagasse or grain sorghum stover from BioDimensions to Enginuity to evaluate its effectiveness with their process technology. It is anticipated that shipments could begin as early as in August.

POET Biorefining – Nebraska, Missouri Jesse McCurry participated in POET Laddonia’s customer appreciation event in Mexico, Mo., Aug. 15, 2014. Visiting with a standing room-only crowd, McCurry indicated producers were curious about developments in sorghum and how POET utilizes the grain. Thanks to Commodities Managers Brad Callison and Clint Kendrick for their graciousness as we support the ethanol industry and local opportunities for grain sorghum farmers.

Murphy Brown – Fowler/Minneola Jesse and Sorghum Checkoff Director Greg Shelor hosted a small producer meeting with nearly 10 local producers to expose Murphy Brown Grain Aug. 14, 2014, to market and basis opportunities for grain sorghum in southwest Kansas. Murphy Brown Grain has installed half a million bushels worth of bunker storage on a site between Minneola and Fowler, Kan.

Texas Crop Update Grain sorghum harvest is nearly over in central Texas with yield ranging from 4,500 to 8,500 pounds per acre. A handful of producers are also working to plant a second crop of corn or forage sorghum if they have irrigation. Populations of the sugarcane aphid were found in forage sorghum but did not disrupt grain sorghum harvest (some populations were found in grain, like in other regions, Transform worked).

National Crop Update The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service Aug. 12, 2014, crop production report expected the U.S. sorghum crop to reach 429.2 million bushels, 10 percent above last year’s production. Forecasted sorghum yields have been boosted to 67.1 bushels per acre, up 12.6 percent from last year. The sorghum area harvested was projected at 6.3 million acres, down 2 percent from 2013. For more information on sorghum’s progress, visit the Sorghum Checkoff blog.

Australian Grain Growers One Grain Tour The National Sorghum Producers hosted the Australian Grain Growers “One Grain Tour” Aug. 18-22, 2014. The team of 13 grain growers represented Australia’s only national grain producer organization working to make a more efficient and profitable grain industry for Australian grain producers. The tour included highlighting sorghum production on the Texas plains as well as research funded through the Sorghum Checkoff. The team was amazed (and envious) of the current projects we have supported through our checkoff dollars.

September Leadership Sorghum Class II Session I The Sorghum Checkoff hosted the first session of Leadership Sorghum Class II this week in the Texas Panhandle, focusing on the sorghum seed industry and private research. The class is made up of 15 sorghum farmers from six states (Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Alabama and Kentucky), representing diverse growing regions. Tour stops were made at Chromatin’s Nursery near Idalou, USDA-ARS in Lubbock, Pioneer's sorghum facility in Plainview, NexSteppe in Hereford and Richardson Seeds in Vega. Sorghum Checkoff board member Kathy Brorman and her husband Randy hosted the class and area growers on their farm for dinner. The class also heard from Advanta, who hosted the group for breakfast.

Class II's first session also included professional development activities such as media training and business dining etiquette training, as well as a comprehensive program orientation.

The next session will be held in Kansas in November and will focus on domestic markets and public research.

South Central Kansas Experiment Fall Field Day The South Central Kansas Experiment Fall Field Day near Hutchinson, Kan., focused largely on sorghum including updates on Inzen-Z from Curtis Thompson, crops and technology in the Water Vision from the Kansas Department of Agriculture, graduate student research and a Sorghum Checkoff update by Jesse McCurry. McCurry indicated the hiring of Gary Cramer as new lead at the location has re-energized the program.

2014 K-State Ag Tour Jesse McCurry participated in the 2014 K-State Ag Tour hosted annually by Kansas State University. Dean Floros indicated the need for a new research building. Sorghum was a focus along with water and the need for new K-State facilities. Sorghum is to be a growing area of focus as the university plays to its strengths in animal agriculture, wheat and food safety.

2014 Nebraska Sorghum Field Days The Sorghum Checkoff is a sponsor of a six-location tour in Nebraska Sept. 3-Sept. 18. Jesse McCurry provided a Sorghum Checkoff during one of the visits to Jim Erickson’s Farm in Sterling, Neb.

Staff Update Shari Connell, National Sorghum Producers operations director, will be leaving team sorghum as of Sept. 12, 2014, to take her new post as Executive Associate for the Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement for the Texas Tech University System. Jennifer Blackburn will take Connell’s place and will coordinate all Sorghum Checkoff non-board events. Laura Kelley will continue to plan all Sorghum Checkoff board events.

Texas Grain Sorghum Producers Board of Directors Meeting John Duff and Shelee Padgett attended the Texas Grain Sorghum Producers Board of Directors meeting in Austin, Texas, Aug. 27, 2014, on behalf of the Sorghum Checkoff and the National Sorghum Producers. Duff provided a crop update as well as information pertaining to the ethanol industry. Padgett and Duff reported the tone of the meeting was very positive and board members were upbeat on prospects for the future. The two also reported there was much discussion on projects that can make a big impact and capitalize on and further this momentum. The Sorghum Checkoff is appreciative of the partnerships with state boards to help move the industry forward.

Seed Tour Showcases Sorghum Seed Genetics The Sorghum Checkoff hosted a seed tour Sept. 9-10, 2014, in the Texas Panhandle where an estimated 80 percent of the global hybrid sorghum seed is produced. The tour showcased the advancement of sorghum seed genetics to growers and agricultural media. Throughout the tour, attendees were given a close-up view of the sorghum industry’s public and private breeding nurseries including Nuseed/Richardson Seed, Advanta U.S., Dupont Pioneer, USDA- ARS and Chromatin. Read more on the Sorghum Stories blog.

California Ethanol Visits John Duff, Leadership Sorghum graduates Martin Kerschen and Stephen Bigge, and Jeff Blanchard and Carrie Williams from AgMark visited Calgreen, Aemetis and Pacific Ethanol in California Sept. 7-9, 2014, to advocate on behalf of sorghum use in ethanol. Duff indicated the grain buyer for Pacific Ethanol Doug Dickson said “when you called me a couple years ago, John, I really wasn’t sure about the checkoff. But you guys have done a great job with this. You really have. Thanks.” Duff said the Sorghum Checkoff will continue facilitating the needs of the California ethanol industry to help maintain this viable sorghum market.

Kansas Energy Conference Jesse McCurry attended the Kansas Energy Conference in Topeka, Kan., Sept. 16-17, 2014. The conference highlighted biofuels, specifically the opening of a biomass ethanol facility in Hugoton, Kan., which can utilize sorghum crop residue. Additionally, McCurry reported the ethanol plant in Colwich, Kan., is expected to reopen promptly.

Nebraska Sorghum Field Days Jesse McCurry attended a sorghum plot field day in Farwell, Neb., hosted by Board Director John Dvoracek in conjunction with the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board and the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Association. Seed representatives from Sorghum Partners, Arrow Seed and Pioneer were present.

This field day wraps up the 2014 Nebraska Sorghum Field Days, which had more than 160 participants over the last few weeks with a strong presence by media. Several farmers with a new interest in sorghum were also in attendance.

Nutrient Database Update USDA-ARS has officially posted the latest nutrient database update for four separate sorghum components. This validates the latest nutrient information for the following sorghum food sources: sorghum grain, sorghum syrup, sorghum flour (whole grain) and sorghum flour (refined/unenriched). Full listing of this information can be found on the USDA-ARS website.

Exports Total commitments for the current export marketing year are already more than 45 percent of the total export amount from last year in its entirety. China alone has committed to nearly 2 million metric tons for the current marketing year.

The Sorghum Checkoff is working in conjunction with the Texas Sorghum Commission to sponsor visits from Mexico and China buying teams during the month of October to continue and expand the momentum of sorghum exports from the U.S.

Sorghum Checkoff Project Reports July-September 2014

Sorghum Variety Identification re: Cardiovascular Risk  Program Focus: Human Nutrition Lead PI: Dr. Nancy Turner Status: Active o Project Summary: This study focuses on the relationship between the lipoprotein profile in the gut and cardiovascular disease. Because intestinal microbial metabolism is impacted to varying degrees for different sorghum varieties, similarly, researching the linkage at the cardiovascular level can reinforce these physiological correlations from a whole body concept. o Industry Impact: This research provides a critical first step in defining a human health component for one or more sorghum varieties. o Producer Impact: If successful, the data from this study would create potential growth opportunities for bran sorghum as they correlate with sumac, black, and high tannin black sorghum varieties. Additionally, public awareness of sorghum will increase.. o Next Steps: The next steps for this study include: 1. Analyzing human plasma samples data sets for statistical correlations 2. Identifying any subsequent re-run samples necessary on rat samples versus initial analysis results 3. Submission of an abstract to the Experimental Biology professional publication

Export Market Development  Program Focus: High Value Markets Lead PI: Alvaro Cordero Status: Completed o Project Summary: The U.S. Grains Council had three primary objectives for 2014:

1. Stabilize Exports and Reverse Market Share Loss 2. Develop New Primary Markets 3. Develop Niche Markets

To meet those objectives, the following focal points were emphasized during visits, meetings, and conversations with export contacts: - Develop the sorghum story - Develop pork/poultry feed - Explore feasibility of markets in China containerization - Market development in - Defend animal feed market Columbia/Peru share in Mexico and Japan - Human nutrition sector - Expand pet food sector in development in Mexico Japan/Europe o Industry Impact: The impact of these efforts include market share growth and providing market diversity. This year alone, the council’s efforts have helped yield 5.4 mmt of exports for China. o Producer Impact: These efforts create reliable and predicable market expansion to assist in future crop planning activities for growers. Market diversity allows opportunities of hybrid variety selection. China’s strong demand has also impacted basis for producers. In many cases, producers have seen strong upswings in basis up to $2.00 in some areas. o Next Steps: The following are the next steps: 1. China presentations/buyer meetings - November 2014 2. One on one buyer meetings in Mexico - 1st Qtr 2015 3. Promote aquaculture, pet food, and swine feed sectors for Pac-Rim countries

Pet Food Sector Evaluation  Program Focus: High Value Markets Lead PI: Jim Zenner Status: Completed o Project Summary: This study focuses on the evaluation of the current companion animal industry as it relates to pet food market development for the sorghum industry. Based on the humanization of pets, scrutinizing of pet food ingredients and the overall interest in improving the quality of life for pets, a thorough assessment is necessary to understand market penetration points. As part of this evaluation, phone and in-field interviews were conducted with manufacturers, distributors, retailers, ingredient suppliers, researchers, and trade industry groups. Primary focus is on the majority of the $21.3 billion pet food market relating to dog and cat food. Understanding the current large-scale pet food manufacturers are consolidating concurrently with strong growth from small- scale individual pet food providers, provides both unique and substantive challenges on developing a strategic plan for market expansion. o Industry Impact: These efforts will provide market expansion in existing pet food lines via increased formulation development, with new pet food providers and beyond just pet food (ie. pet treats). o Producer Impact: The producer impact of these efforts include specialized crop growth including unique hybrids (i.e. higher anti-oxidant varieties. Incorporating potentially new farming practices such as "natural" or "organic" to validate premium profits for specific pet food lines. Additionally, this will build steady, consistent and valued demand. o Next Steps: The following are the next steps: 1. Commercial Bridging Project - Identify/Classify Leads w/Key Market Personnel based on true market advantage opportunities 2. Develop a commercialization program to initiate volume growth and leverage key factors based on sorghum nutritional advantages 3. Expand existing sorghum-containing pet food product lines 4. Consider co-branding situations with existing pet food lines

Digestive Health & Beneficial Bacterial Populations  Program Focus: High Value Markets Lead PI: Dr. Nancy Turner Status: Active o Project Summary: The goal of this research focuses on sorghum bran and their derived bioactive compounds and their impact on bacterial distribution in the colon. This data will be compared against known types and levels of biologically active compounds, using DNA sequencing. o Industry Impact: The industry impact of this data could lead to potential expansion of sorghum bran products. o Producer Impact: The producer impact includes the potential expansion of black, sumac, and/or high tannin sorghum hybrids. Additionally, this will help build steady, consistent and valued demand. o Next Steps: The next steps for this research include: 1. Microbial sequencing analysis 2. Complete PCR analysis 3. Manuscript submittal describing microbial populations (from previous study) 4. Submit abstract to Experimental Biology periodical

Sorghum-Insulation  Program Focus: High Value Markets Lead PI: Tom Martin Status: Completed o Project Summary: This study focuses on the utilization of specific sorghum varieties in the production of commercial insulation. The process involves the extrusion of sorghum whereby a product that is dust-free, pest and fire resistant with specific additives, and can be manufactured at a competitive market price. Marketing and collaboration efforts with an end-user are also part of this effort while moving to a commercial-scale level. o Industry Impact: The impact of this data could include the establishment of a unique niche market. o Producer Impact: Potential market expansion based on the amount of insulation currently produced and utilized in USA. o Next Steps: The next steps for this study include: 1. Establishment of an extrusion plant in Mineral Wells, Texas 2. Sale of extrusion plant to front-line processor 3. Focus on wholesalers to incorporate this specific insulation technology

Health Benefits of Sorghum Flavonoids  Program Focus: High Value Markets Lead PI: Dr. Geoffrey Morris Status: Active o Project Summary: This research is designed to characterize natural variation in sorghum flavonoids, determine the genetic basis of natural variation in sorghum flavonoids, and identify the anti-inflammatory effects of sorghum flavonoids. o Industry Impact: The impact of this research include the Commercial branding for high anti-oxidant properties in various product lines and beginning stages for an eventual human-health claim. o Producer Impact: The producer impact includes the expansion of possible sorghum varieties to select in planting decision-making. o Next Steps: Flavonoid extracts on cell cultures will be tested (mouse immune cells) to determine the level of anti-inflammatory properties for 25 different sorghum cultivars.

Sorghum DDGs-Catfish Feed  Program Focus: High Value Markets Lead PI: Rebecca Lochmann Status: Active o Project Summary: The focus of this research involves distinguishing various types of sorghum DDGs in the diets of channel catfish as to their value as a protein source. Five different sorghum DDGs products will be analyzed for use in monogastric animal feeds considering starch and non-starch compositions, including amino and fatty acids. Protein digestibility will then be determined and a table created comparing these product sources for fish diets. o Industry Impact: Expansion into a new and growing market (aquaculture). Collaboration with ethanol plants for potential increased utilization of sorghum. Additionally, this will help build steady, consistent and valued demand. o Producer Impact: Establish a premium for producers entering into this market. o Next Steps: Protocol development validation for testing.

Green Chemicals from Sweet Sorghum Phase 2  Program Focus: Renewables Lead PI: Megan Moore Status: Active o Project Summary: This phase of the ongoing green chemicals work is built around two potential products, sorbitol and green solvents. This phase consists of six tasks, including establishing sorbitol producer relationships, evaluating chemistries and processes, application development, sampling, business development and reporting. Already complete or still in progress include tasks one, two and three. Most of the work thus far has been carried out in the lab, verifying processes and proving concepts. Outside the lab, work has begun making contact with potential commercial partners for sorbitol. This has been met with mixed results. In the lab, however, significant progress has been made related to green solvents. This work surrounding methyl lactate and methyl levulinate is progressing well and potential products are being identified. o Industry Impact: As always, industry impact will be contingent upon the identification of commercially viable products. Finding commercially viable products will create demand for feedstock—which in this case would be sweet sorghum—and thus seed. Aside from the seed industry, the green solvent industry will also be impacted in a positive way, as new feedstock options will be available. o Producer Impact: As with industry impact, producer impact will be minimal without commercial opportunities. If commercial opportunities can be identified, though, producer impact will be significant, as demand for a new crop—sweet sorghum—will create opportunities for producing it. o Next Steps: Next steps consist of continuing to engage potential commercial partners for sorbitol, continuing to refine the process for producing methyl lactate and methyl levulinate and beginning to engage potential commercial partners for producing these two green solvents.

Development of Sweet Sorghum as a Domestic Commercial Crop  Program Focus: Renewables Lead PI: Randy Powell Status: Complete o Project Summary: This project continued to build on the successes of previous projects conducted in partnership with Delta BioRenewables. Along the same lines as previous work, DBR planted around 50 acres of sweet sorghum and performed multiple agronomic and ultimately processing tests on the crop. Included were harvest method studies. One emerging difference between the work DBR is currently conducting and the work previously conducted as a part of the partnership relates to food. DBR has now moved into the food grade syrup space and is working on the necessary regulatory approvals. DBR feels there is much potential in this space and is working to capitalize on it. This will be a key theme going forward, and it is a potentially synergistic overlap between renewables and high value markets. o Industry Impact: Industry impact has already been significant, as seed companies are and have been participating in sweet sorghum trials in partnership with DBR. Additionally, this facility has supplied researchers with sorghum syrup, which will facilitate research application. o Producer Impact: Producer impact will be almost immediate when market opportunities emerge, as the agronomic information DBR is amassing will be essential to successfully producing sweet sorghum. o Next Steps: Communicating the results to industry.

Genomic Selection to Enhance Heterosis in Sorghum  Program Focus: Crop Improvement Lead PI: Bill Rooney Status: Active o Project Summary: Sorghum breeding programs have traditionally focused on traditional breeding to both enhance yield potential and protect existing yield potential from loss due to stresses. However, new genotyping technologies now make it possible to increase the efficiency of breeding programs. The purpose of this project is to make genotypic data available to both public and private sector sorghum improvement programs, educate partners on the potential uses of this technology and test the efficiency of this approach in improving the hybrid vigor of grain sorghums hybrids more efficiently than traditional approaches. One thousand genetic line have been genotyped and this information was distributed to participating private and public entities. o Industry Impact: As advancements continue to be made in the evaluation of sorghum genetics, public and private breeding programs can benefit from the genotyping in this project. The genetic data developed in this project will improve the efficiency and accuracy of genetic advancement in sorghum. This will also bring the genomic component into traditional programs up to speed and enhance rapid change. o Producer Impact: Producers will benefit in the long run as sorghum breeders take advantage of the advanced genetic tools and data developed from this project. This will in turn bring better and more advanced sorghum genetics to the producers field. o Next Steps: Utilize the information garnered from the first two years of the project to predict hybrid vigor in grain sorghum.

Genetic Enhancement of Sorghum as a Versatile Crop  Program Focus: Crop Improvement Lead PI: John Burke Status: Active o Project Summary: The long-term objective of this project is develop unique sorghum genetics, which have increased ability to tolerate environmental stresses while maintaining or increasing high yields. The multistage objectives within this project will evaluate several target areas within attributes and characteristics of unique sorghums that will increase sorghum breeders ability to deliver higher quality sorghum hybrids to U.S. farmers. Completed task within this year include: screening and analysis of two groups of staygreen genetics in multiple locations, targeted DNA markers for early season cold tolerance, identified markers associated with multiseed and erect leaf sorghums, and developed advanced breeding lines with stay green drought tolerance. o Industry Impact: This project serves as a backbone for releasing new and untapped sorghum genetics to sorghum breeders. In the past three years, 34 material transfer agreements have been released to both public and private sorghum genetics programs so that they can incorporate these novel genetics and data. o Producer Impact: U.S. sorghum farmers demand higher yielding more sustainable sorghum hybrids. This project is delivering industry adopted results, which will allow sorghum genetics providers to increase hybrid productivity and endlessly sorghum farmer profitability. o Next Steps: This project is ongoing and will start year three of five.

Herbicide Consulting  Program Focus: Crop Improvement Lead PI: Barney Bernstein Status: Completed o Project Summary: Increasing herbicide options for sorghum farmers is a necessary step toward increasing the productivity and profitability of grain sorghum acres, particularly those which are plagued by annual broad leaf and grass species. The objective of this project was to evaluate the current status of new chemical development of major chemical companies for grain sorghum. Results include strategic meetings with six of the major chemical and genetic seed companies. These meetings have led to facilitation of potential collaborative projects, investigation of new business platforms for sorghum, and new relationships critical to moving sorghum herbicides in a direction needed for U.S. sorghum farmers. o Industry Impact: Increasing chemical options, specifically herbicides, is paramount in increasing sorghums competiveness and profitability. Yield enhancements, acreage increases, and grower confidence will result from developments of new herbicide technologies. o Producer Impact: Successful herbicide programs and chemicals are a primary catalyst for driving farm level profits. Farmers will benefit from increased herbicide options for grain sorghum, primarily driven by yield and increase acreage options. o Next Steps: Continued monitoring of industry direction is planned. Continued meetings will result in an opportunity to provide producer insight directly to companies so that efforts are made to address issues.