National Sorghum Now

InvenTeam Teens Make Sorghum Accessible to World's Poor

2009-06-30T06:19:00.000-07:00

Written by Jeff Dahlberg for the Whole Grains Council blog: http://www.wholegrainscouncil.org/newsroom/blog/2009/06/inventeam-teens-make-sorghum-accessible-to-worlds-poor

We at the Sorghum Checkoff Program get phone calls all the time from people interested in sorghum. Some of the common questions that come across my desk range from the practical – “Can I eat the grain?” or “What store in Boston carries sorghum?” – to the downright offbeat – “Can I grow it in my backyard here in New Jersey?”

Then last September, I received a phone call from a bunch of high school students wanting to know something about sorghum. But these were not your average kids writing a paper for school. This group was Teen Technology, an InvenTeam from New Jersey, and they wanted to know how you de-hulled sorghum as part of their proposal to the Lemelson-MIT invention and innovation program.

Out of six thousand pre-proposals, 300 hundred were selected for a full-blown proposal, and out of those only 13 teams were selected for funding. Still in their pre-proposal stage, these kids were looking for something that they could build. It was pretty obvious that they did not know much about sorghum, so I had a seed company called Sorghum Partners send them a box of sorghum panicles (a panicle is a cluster of flowers – imagine the way lilac flowers grow, all bunched together, and you’ll know what I mean). As they were rather computer savvy kids, we scheduled a Skype call and so began my adventure with a bunch of highly skilled, intelligent, enthusiastic, and self-proclaimed “nerdy” high school kids. On our call, we talked for a couple of hours about their design ideas, what they were thinking and why. I gave them a quick Sorghum 101 and after we shot ideas back and forth for a bit, off they went.

So today, here I am at MIT for the EurekaFest, where high school InvenTeams from around the country are presenting their ideas. As for the Teen Technology team, what’s come out of the minds of these kids is something that could significantly impact poor subsistence sorghum producers throughout the world: a design and prototype of a simple machine for threshing sorghum and millet.

Their first prototype of a bike-peddled threshing machine, as shown in the photograph above, looks amazing. In their words, this machine “will replace the mortar and pestle technology currently used by subsistence farmers in developing parts of the world – particularly in Sub-Saharan African countries.” Their vision has rendered “a simple and very inexpensive design that can be constructed with materials and tools available in the poorest regions of the world. Since the intended users of the threshing machine typically do not have access to either electricity or gasoline, the thresher will be powered by hand or the pedal action of a bicycle which has its sprocket linked to the drive shaft of the thresher.”

And the result of this invention is, in a word, impressive. The processing rate is expected to be between 5 and 20 kg of raw grain per hour, with 80 percent yield and less than five percent broken kernels. Not only could this invention significantly reduce the amount of time people spend on threshing sorghum, but that saved time could free them up to do other things, like working on making their lives better.

Regardless of what happens here at EurekaFest, I’m proud to keep working with these kids and hope some international foundations may seek ways to get involved with this project. Whenever I hear people tell me that they are worried about the kids here in the U.S., my faith always gets restored by a group like this. Hard working... smart... thinking about others less fortunate than them.. and most importantly of all, great kids! (Jeff Dahlberg)

Sorghum Scientist Awarded Prestigious World Food Prize

2009-06-12T08:33:00.000-07:00

Dr. Gebisa Ejeta, a sorghum scientist has been awarded the prestigious World Food Prize.

Dr. Ejeta, who is now a Distinguished Professor of Agronomy at Purdue University, was awarded the prize for his work in improving sorghum yields and introducing the first sorghum hybrid in Africa. Those hybrids ultimately improved Africans’ access to a higher yielding grain crop for food. He also conducted breakthrough research on a parasitic weed called Striga that robbed sorghum crops of their yield potential.

In a March 2008 letter recommending Dr. Ejeta for the World Food Prize, NSP Research Advisor Dr. Bruce Maunder said, “Dr. Ejeta’s enthusiasm and capacity for work are the driving force so badly needed and highly respected by those fight food security.”

Congratulations Dr. Ejeta on this tremendous accomplishment!

News Releases: http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2009a/090611EjetaFoodprize.html

http://www.tadias.com/2009/06/11/scientist-gebisa-ejeta-of-ethiopia-named-2009-world-food-prize-laureate/

http://www.radioiowa.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=D03AB2CF-5056-B82A-37E8BD7487F6D0A1

http://www.jconline.com/article/20090611/NEWS0501/90611012

National Sorghum Producers Develops ACRE/Ghost Crop/SURE Calculator

2009-06-05T09:26:00.000-07:00

The interactions between the new ACRE program, SURE program and crop insurance are varied and complex. With that in mind, the National Sorghum Producers and its subsidiary, Sustainable Crop Insurance Services, have developed a spreadsheet for calculating your benefits under the three programs. The calculator was developed specifically for the state of Oklahoma after widespread freezing in wheat presented questions about whether or not a crop planted after failed wheat is considered ghost or double crop for insurance and commodity program purposes. The calculator is available on our website at www.sorghumgrowers.com.

Sorghum: From the Garden to the Table

2009-05-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

Whole grain sorghum flour is a wholesome, hearty, gluten-free grain that provides important fiber and has a mild flavor. Fluctuating grain prices, along with a demand for gluten-free products, have sparked a renewed interest in homegrown grains, and gardeners may find it easier to grow and process than they originally thought.

From experience, homegrown grain users find grain sorghum flour, with some tweaking to recipes, makes pastries equal to, if not better than, whole wheat flour, and it’s easier to thresh than wheat.

Americans find it strange to see grains growing in small areas or rows in gardens. They also don’t see grains as food derived directly from plants in the same way they view fruits and vegetables. They often think of grain as factory manufactured. A good ten-speed blender or kitchen mill can turn homegrown grain into flour easily.

Grain sorghum flour should be stored in moisture-vapor-proof, air-tight glass or metal containers or plastic freezer bags and kept in a cool, dry, dark place if it will be used within a few months. If not, store it in a refrigerator or freezer so it will last longer.

Below is a recipe provided courtesy of Twin Valley Mills, LLC.

Apple Crisp
4 cups sliced apples
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Slice apples into an 8 x 8 inch greased pan.
Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Crumble topping:
1 stick (½ cup) margarine
¾ cup of sugar
¾ cup sorghum flour
Bake at 350°F for approximately 1 hour or until topping turns light brown.

Mexican grain buyers spend the week in Kansas and Texas

2009-05-22T09:33:00.000-07:00

Shelee Padgett, our Member Services Director, spent the last week with 10 agri-businessmen and women from Mexico with hopes of strengthening export markets of the U.S. sorghum industry. The United Sorghum Checkoff Program and U.S. Grains Council sponsored the trip as part of the education and market development function of the national sorghum checkoff.

Tours and visits included:

DeBruce Grain elevator in Abilene, Kansas

Cargill Ag Horizons with Clayton Short, a sorghum producer, in Assaria, Kansas

AgMark, a grain marketing organization, in Concordia, Kansas

Scoular, an agriculture marketing company, in Downs, Kansas

ADM at the Port of Corpus Christi, Texas

Planter's Grain Coop's facility in Taft

Kansas and Texas are the two top sorghum-producing states in the U.S., which make them the primary focus for sorghum exports to Mexico. The cattle and poultry producers in Mexico have a high interest in U.S. sorghum as an alternative feed source. While on their visit, members from Mexico also learned about how grain is stored, merchandised, transported and prepared to be shipped to their country.

The Future of Ethanol

2008-11-17T08:04:00.000-08:00

Last week, an informative article at seekingalpha.com highlighted the benefits of using sweet sorghum as an ethanol feedstock. Read more about sorghum for ethanol and "green" vehicles and power in this article: http://seekingalpha.com/article/105779-the-future-of-ethanol

NSP in the News!

2008-11-17T07:55:00.000-08:00

NSP was featured in the news this week as Lubbock KCBD News did a story featuring a Levelland, Texas ethanol plant that is drawing nationwide attention. The plant is unique because it uses 100% local grain sorghum to produce its ethanol. Watch the news clip and read the story online now!

Green in More Ways Than One

2008-10-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

Guest blogger Kristin Heinemann, Texas Grain Sorghum Producers Director of Producer Relations, was in College Station last week when Wayne Keith drove his "green" pickup to the Texas A&M University sorghum plots. Thanks to Kristin for her insight and photography!

What if I told you the truck that your great-grandchildren or even grandchildren purchase one of these days, might not be fueled in any part by gasoline OR diesel? You'd probably call me crazy!

Well, call me crazy because this idea became a reality to Alabama farmer Wayne Keith. He created a "Gasifier" fueled by biomass (ie. wood, switchgrass, sorghum) that powers his pick-up. This bright green truck is easy to spot on the road as it is cruising from coast to coast promoting this alternative fuel source.

Keith has teamed up with Auburn University professor David Bransby for this project. The pair made a stop in College Station at the Texas A&M University farm to demonstrate their project and highlight TAMU and Ceres' work on high energy sorghums. Check out the pictures and follow the link below to hear what KBTX News in Brian/College Station had to to report on the event.

Green Pickpup Stops Off in Texas

2008-10-06T07:17:00.001-07:00

We have more information on that green pickup that runs off of biomass sorghum:

"The Lone Star State is known for its oil production, but some Texans are discovering other ways to power their vehicles. In fact, one pair of scientists are on a coast to coast crusade to promote a fuel that is grown all over Texas.

"The pair stopped in Brazos County to fill-up and show off their truck that doesn't use a drop of gas."

Read the rest of the story and watch the video at KBTX.com Brian/College Station.

The Non-Maize Maze

2008-10-02T15:23:00.000-07:00

Look at this video! In a twist on the traditional corn maze, Tom Mickles of Oklahoma is planting his money-making maze in sorghum sudangrass because it is too tall to see over and too thick to see through. Watch the video....

Ethanol more energy efficient than previously thought

2008-10-01T06:49:00.000-07:00

EP Overviews Bioenergy and Biofuels, a bioenergy newsletter, is reporting that a University of Nebraska-Lincoln study found that ethanol production is more energy efficient than expected.

Here's the story from EP Overviews:

Ethanol more energy efficient than previously thought - Research (R&D)

A University of Nebraska - Lincoln study found that ethanol production is more energy efficient than previously thought. The Nebraska Corn Board reports that earlier studies examining ethanol's energy balance were based on backward-looking data and older production methods. Ken Cassman, director of the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research, maintains that today's data shows that the energy balance of corn-based ethanol is two to three times higher than previous estimates. According to Cassman, ethanol has a substantial net positive direct energy balance - 1.5 to 1.6 more units of energy are derived from ethanol than are used to produce it. (Source: The Grand Island Independent, September 29, 2008)

Contact: Kenneth G. Cassman, Director, Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences, University of Nebraska, (402) 472-5554, kcassman1@unl.edu, www.unl.edu. Nebraska Corn Board, (800) 632-6761, ncb.info@nebraska.gov

Corn and sorghum produce the same amount of ethanol per bushel. Read the original story here. The report is yet to be released.

RFA Launches People & Places Ads

2008-09-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

The Renewable Fuels Association has just launched a new advertising campaign called Faces and Places which highlights Hereford, Texas, "ethanol capitol of Texas." New ethanol plants in the area have boosted the economy with jobs and provided a high quality source of animal feed back to the millions of cattle in Hereford feedlots.

Faces - TV Ad from GoodFuels on Vimeo.

Places - TV Ad from GoodFuels on Vimeo.

These ads are part of RFA's new national campaign to tell ethanol's fantastic story. For one thing, ethanol blended in to the U.S. fuel supply lowers gasoline prices by 29 to 40 cents per gallon!

Conference Presentations

2008-09-12T14:20:00.000-07:00

Presentations that were given at the International Conference on Sorghum for Biofuel in Houston last month have been posted at this address: http://www.ars.usda.gov/meetings/Sorghum/presentations.htm.

Houston Photos

2008-08-26T14:11:00.001-07:00

The week in Houston has, of course, come to an end. But here are a few photos from the event and subsequent tours of Texas A&M University's facilities and Verenium's cellulosic conversion plant in Louisiana. Enjoy!

As noted in a previous post, the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology and UDSA signed an agreement to cooperate on biofuels research.

Exchanging gifts after signing the agreement.

Attendees had charter bus transportation to Texas A&M University in College Station, about an hour and a half's drive from Houston.

Dr. Bill Rooney, an expert on sweet sorghum production, demonstrates the enormous height of some of the sorghum varieites he works with.

Dr. Rooney spoke to a large crowd inside a machine shed while tour attendees dodged rain showers. Dr. Steve Searcy is studying how to use existing equipment and infrastructure to "bale" cellulosic sorghum for transport, similar to the way cotton is baled for transportation.

Crowds listened to presentations on agronomics and infrastructure outside the barn.

Dr. John Mullet offered a tour of the Norman Borlaug Center for Southern Crop Improvement where cutting edge sorghum research is happening every day.

Q: Just how tall can sorghum get? A: At least as tall as the greenhouse ceiling! This sorghum plant has outgrown its home but not its potential.

Dr. Norman Borlaug, Nobel Peace Prize winner, still visits the Center for Southern Crop Improvement regularly.
His portrait and some of his many recognitions and awards hang in the lobby.

The fantastic camera crew which came in from Chicago to film the event, capture some shots of the pilot facility that is turning cellulosic material to a gasoline-like product.

The Conference also provided ample opportunity for networking between people from all parts of the world with a range of interests in sorghum-to-ethanol technology.

Friday, attendees toured Verenium's cellulosic conversion plant at Jennings, Louisiana.

Energy cane, shown here, is used in the plant for conversion to ethanol. Thanks to Dominique Roche for the Verenium photographs.

Biofuels Conference Wraps Up

2008-08-22T12:47:00.000-07:00

The International Conference on Sorghum for biofuels concluded today after a week of exciting events in Houston, Texas. The Conference provided an opportunity for scientists, industry, members, consultants, producers, and others to collaborate on the development of biofuels from all types of sorghum.

Plenary sessions on Tuesday highlighted the newest research and technology in the use of sorghum for biofuels. Wednesday allowed conference participants to break into small groups to discuss industry issues. Recommendations from their sessions were presented late on Wednesday.

Thursday, conference attendees toured Texas A&M University’s research plots and facilities in College Station, Texas as well as a tour of a pilot scale cellulosic conversion plant that turns sorghum and other cellulosic materials to a gasoline-like product. Among others, conference attendees heard from Dr. John Mullet, Director of the Norman Borlaug Center for Crop Improvement, from Dr. Steve Searcy who is using modified cotton baling equipment to compact cellulosic sorghum for transport. Between intermittent rain showers, attendees from all over the world saw exciting new research with their own eyes.

Friday highlighted the Verenium cellulosic conversion plant in Jennings, Louisiana. Verenium is conducting cutting-edge research on cellulosic conversion technologies and just broke ground on a 1.4 million gallon per year cellulosic ethanol facility.

Over the next few weeks, watch for video footage of the conference as well as for links to power point presentations given during the plenary sessions.

Reporting After Day 1

2008-08-19T15:18:00.000-07:00

Day one of the International Conference on Sorghum for Biofuel will be wrapping up in the next hour or so and I wanted to update you on a few of the things that have happened here in Houston today.

Over 200 attendees registered for this first conference day and the ballroom is packed. It's a reporter's dream...all of the world's experts on one subject are crammed into one room. It's a captive audience and that means tracking down information is as simple as standing up and hollering your question across the room. Ok, not really. The conference has really been fabulously put together and noone has yelled across the room.

Tomorrow, however, will be the day for yelling questions across the room. This bevy of brilliant minds will spend Wednesday collaborating on how to solve some of the industry's most pressing issues so that all types of sorghum can be brought to full commercial market production in coming years.

Thursday and Friday will be field trip days, giving conference attendees the opportunity to see sweet sorghum and cellulosic sorghum plots at Texas A&M University and Verenim's biomass conversion plant at Jennings, Louisiana.

HIGHLIGHTS:

"This conference is a major step for the sorghum industry. The world is taking notice of this crop in a big way and this conference is a meeting of the minds, so to speak, of some of the finest scientists and entrepreneurs in the world. We will all need to work together to solve the energy crisis and this meeting moves us in the right direction."
Tim Lust, NSP CEO

"The case for biofuels rests on the proposition that it can enhance national security and economic well being."

Mr. David Fleischaker, Oklahoma Secretary of Energy, keynote speaker

The International Conference on Sorghum for Biofuels is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Texas A&M University, the National Sorghum Producers, Brazil's Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, and Tsinghua University in the Peoples' Republic of China, and the National Science Foundation.

DDG's from an ethanol plant that uses sorghum.

Chinese Ministry and USDA

2008-08-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

Gale Buchanan, USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics, and Liu Yanhua, Vice Minister of MOST from the People's Republic of China sign an agreement to cooperate on sweet sorghum and other biofuels research.

The Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology signed an agreement about 10:00 AM CT to collaborate on biofuels research initiatives including sweet sorghum and cellulosic sorghum research.

I caught up with the Conference organizer for some background on the agreement:

“We have an existing cooperation between USDA and the Chinese Ministry for Science and Technology,” said Eileen Herrera, Acting Deputy Director for the Office of International Research Programs at USDA’s Agriculture Research Service (ARS). “We cooperate on several initiatives. Signing this protocol represents formal cooperation in the area of biofuels research.”

This conference and the corresponding agreement is a major step forward for the sorghum industry which is getting long-overdue domestic and international attention. Sorghum is a really viable option for ethanol production because it can be grown on so much of the world's lands (80%!) and because it is a very low water usage crop.

Welcome

2008-08-14T13:48:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the National Sorghum Producers' "National Sorghum Now" blog. We'll be using this blog to post regularly from the International Conference on Sorghum for Biofuels next week. Exciting!