Sorghum Board Executive Directors Speaks On Issues Affecting Nebraska Farmers
Sorghum Board Executive Directors Speaks On Issues Affecting Nebraska Farmers
June 5, 2019Updated: June 18, 2019
By News Channel Nebraska
By News Channel NebraskaNORFOLK - Nebraska Sorghum Board Executive Director Nate Blum recently visited News Channel Nebraska while in northeast Nebraska as part of an outreach program. He spoke about the issues currently facing Nebraska farmers.
The trade war between the U.S. and China is having a significant effect on ag-producing states such as Nebraska. The tariffs that have resulted from the conflict have put a strain on Nebraska's farmers.
Blum said, as of now, there is no end in sight.
“Our concern is that we may be in it for the long haul,” Blum said. “A lot of producers are concerned about that as well. The bottom line is that it's great the federal government is willing to provide supports for producers while we go through this trade war, but at the end of the day, producers would much rather sell their own grain rather than get a handout from the government.”
Blum says there are still markets in other Asian nations like Vietnam and Japan for American crops, but he'd love for trade with China to normalize.
Not being able to sell the crops they plant is one thing, but not even planting has been easy with the weather Nebraska's farmers have faced this year.
On that front, however, Blum may have some good news for producers.
According to Blum, sorghum could be an alternative crop to plant as we approach the summer months.
“Producers should know they can plant sorghum even as late as middle to late June and still have a good 90-bushels-per-acre yield.” Blum said. “That's a good yield for sorghum. If they don't have the opportunity to get in the field for corn and soybeans this year, sorghum could be an option for them as well.”
The Sorghum Board is starting a proactive outreach program and is traveling to parts of the state to reach crop producers. Blum says sorghum is a specialty, versatile crop and encourages producers who grow corn and soybeans to rotate it in.
The trade war between the U.S. and China is having a significant effect on ag-producing states such as Nebraska. The tariffs that have resulted from the conflict have put a strain on Nebraska's farmers.
Blum said, as of now, there is no end in sight.
“Our concern is that we may be in it for the long haul,” Blum said. “A lot of producers are concerned about that as well. The bottom line is that it's great the federal government is willing to provide supports for producers while we go through this trade war, but at the end of the day, producers would much rather sell their own grain rather than get a handout from the government.”
Blum says there are still markets in other Asian nations like Vietnam and Japan for American crops, but he'd love for trade with China to normalize.
Not being able to sell the crops they plant is one thing, but not even planting has been easy with the weather Nebraska's farmers have faced this year.
On that front, however, Blum may have some good news for producers.
According to Blum, sorghum could be an alternative crop to plant as we approach the summer months.
“Producers should know they can plant sorghum even as late as middle to late June and still have a good 90-bushels-per-acre yield.” Blum said. “That's a good yield for sorghum. If they don't have the opportunity to get in the field for corn and soybeans this year, sorghum could be an option for them as well.”
The Sorghum Board is starting a proactive outreach program and is traveling to parts of the state to reach crop producers. Blum says sorghum is a specialty, versatile crop and encourages producers who grow corn and soybeans to rotate it in.