The Nebraska Sorghum Producers Association (NeSPA), along with the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board (NGSB) and Nebraska Extension, recently announced that the 2020 Sorghum Symposium will be Jan. 30 at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, 404 E. 7th St., Curtis. Registration will begin at 9 a.m.

The program will continue the tradition of offering a farmer-focused educational program designed to provide timely and useful information to help sorghum growers make confident, informed production and management decisions as they plan for the 2020 crop.

"Making decisions amid many uncontrollable variables is a real challenge," says Lynn Belitz, NeSPA president, who grows sorghum on his farm near Fullerton, Neb. "We've designed a program to help producers better understand their options."

Program presenters include Al Dutcher, University of Nebraska-Lincoln climatologist, who will provide a weather outlook; and Brent Bean, United Sorghum Checkoff agronomy director, who will discuss sorghum production and management.

An update on Washington, D.C., and farm bill implementation will be provided by the office of Congressman Adrian Smith. Strahinja Stepanovic, Nebraska Extension educator from the Stumpf Research Center in Grant, Neb., will discuss sorghum performance and row spacing.

Nate Blum, executive director of NGSB and NeSPA, will discuss leveraging digital media to connect with consumers. Zach Simon, United Sorghum Checkoff regional marketer, will provide a markets update.

Chuck Burr, Extension educator at the West Central Research and Extension Center, will share the latest results of the Testing Ag Performance Solutions program's sorghum competition.

"The TAPS program is designed to showcase best crop management and marketing practices by allowing individuals or teams to compete," says Mike Baker, chairman of NGSB and participant in this year's TAPS sorghum competition. Winners are categorized by most profitable, most water efficient and highest yielding.

"The results are pretty remarkable and may actually challenge current management decisions by many growers," Baker says.

The day's program will conclude with the annual membership meeting of NeSPA and an update report by NGSB. All sorghum growers and allied industry members are invited to attend.

"Farmers are making decisions now for the 2020 crop," Belitz adds. "This program is designed to provide information they can apply immediately to their operations."

Participants can register by emailing [email protected] or registering online at eventbrite.com, keyword "2020 sorghum symposium."

There is no charge to attend, and lunch is included. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with coffee and rolls, with time for commercial exhibits to showcase new products and production and management information. Certified crop adviser credits have been applied for.

Source: Nebraska Sorghum Producers Association, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.