Sorghum State Podcast

Producer leadership sits at the center of this episode of the Sorghum State Podcast. Hosts Maddy Meier and Adam York sit down with Andy Hineman of Dighton, President of the Kansas Sorghum Producers Association, and Brant Peterson of Johnson City, Chairman of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, for a conversation on what it takes to lead from the producer's prospective.

Hineman and Peterson discuss their operations and leadership roles and explain the distinct but complementary roles of KSP and the Commission, marking 50 years since the Association helped establish the commission structure in the 1970s. The two also revisit their shared start in Syngenta's Leadership at Its Best program and how checkoff dollars and policy decisions translate back to the farmgate.

In this episode of the Sorghum State Podcast, host Maddy Meier takes listeners inside a recent outbound trade mission to China, where Kansas Sorghum and United Sorghum Checkoff Program leaders met directly with international customers to strengthen relationships, better understand market needs and create new opportunities for U.S. sorghum producers.

 Joining the conversation are Adam York, CEO of Kansas Sorghum; Florentino Lopez, independent agricultural consultant with Creando Mañana, LLC; and Kim Baldwin, McPherson-area sorghum producer and Chairwoman of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program. Together, they discuss the importance of international market development and how conversations with global customers help create long-term demand for the sorghum Kansas farmers grow each year.

During the mission, the delegation traveled across four Chinese cities, meeting with feed manufacturers, grain buyers and industry leaders before attending the 2026 China Imported Grains & Feed Conference in Shanghai. The group shares what they learned from customers, including what they value most about U.S. sorghum and how strong relationships continue to shape future market opportunities.

The episode explores the history of U.S.-China trade relationships, the role of market development efforts and how trade missions help connect producers with customers around the world. Listeners will learn how conversations that happen thousands of miles away ultimately impact Kansas farms by helping maintain and expand demand for sorghum.

To learn more about Kansas Sorghum’s market development efforts, research initiatives and programs supporting producers, visit ksgrainsorghum.org. To support the future of the sorghum industry, learn more about membership opportunities at sorghumgrowers.com/join.

What does it take to move groundbreaking research from the lab to the farm? In this episode of the  Sorghum State Podcast, hosts Maddy Meier and Sanders Williams sit down with Dr. Sarah Sexton-Bowser, managing director of the Center for Sorghum Improvement (CSI), to explore how the Center is helping shape the future of sorghum.

From the Center's founding in 2016 to the launch of CSIP 2.0, Sexton-Bowser shares how farmer-driven priorities, strategic partnerships and targeted investments have positioned Kansas as a leader in sorghum innovation.

Learn how CSI has helped bring traits to market that are now found in more than 60% of sorghum seed sold in the United States, delivered a threefold return on investment for farmers and secured a $1 million investment from the State of Kansas to advance the next decade of research.

The conversation also looks ahead at the technologies that could transform sorghum production, including precision yield strategies, water-use efficiency through the Drop XL project, new computational research tools and expanding market opportunities beyond traditional uses.

Whether you're interested in plant breeding, water-smart agriculture or the future competitiveness of sorghum, this episode offers an inside look at the research and collaboration driving innovation for Kansas growers and the entire sorghum industry.

On this special episode of the Sorghum State Podcast, hosts Maddy Meier and Adam York sit down with Kansas Farm Service Agency Director David Schemm for an in-depth conversation on the issues shaping agriculture across Kansas in 2026.

From drought concerns and market volatility to ARC and PLC decisions, disaster assistance programs and trade opportunities, Schemm breaks down what Kansas sorghum producers and rural communities need to know heading into the growing season.

The episode also explores how FSA programs support beginning farmers, generational farm transition and the future of Kansas agriculture. Listeners will hear practical reminders on acreage reporting, farmers.gov tools, disaster program eligibility and the expanded farm safety net provisions impacting sorghum producers this year. Whether you’re a producer, agribusiness professional or simply interested in the future of Kansas agriculture, this episode delivers timely insight straight from the front lines of farm policy and program delivery.

In this episode of the Sorghum State Podcast, the theme is sorghum demand and where it's headed on a domestic front, especially for food-grade varieties.

Host Maddy Meier sits down with Sanders Williams, director of emerging markets, to discuss new opportunities shaping the future of sorghum and what her role looks like within the organization.

Then, Rachel Klataske, senior director of business development for Nu Life Market shares how sorghum is making its way into school and institutional food programs, and what it takes to move grain from the farm gate to the cafeteria tray.

Together, these conversations highlight the growing momentum behind sorghum as a versatile, domestically driven crop with real potential beyond traditional markets. Tune in to hear how these efforts are shaping the future of sorghum and what it means for the industry moving forward.

Helpful Links:
CSI Seminar Schedule: https://www.csisorghum.org/seminars
Join KSP and NSP Today: https://sorghumgrowers.com/join/

In this episode of the Sorghum State Podcast, the team breaks down the latest developments shaping Kansas sorghum—from policy updates at the Statehouse to new research investments and global market engagement. Host Maddy Meier is joined by Adam York and Mindy Wells to cover what’s happening across the Sorghum State and what it means for growers right now. 

Adam shares a recap of key legislative activity as the Kansas session winds down, including Sorghum Day at the Statehouse, progress on ethanol tax credits, ongoing water policy discussions tied to the Ogallala Aquifer, and efforts to address large-scale grain theft. The conversation highlights how Kansas Sorghum Producers continues to advocate for growers and ensure sorghum remains part of critical policy conversations.

Maddy and Mindy then dive into the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission FY2025 Annual Report, outlining how more than $1.2 million in checkoff investments supported research, promotion, and market development. They discuss the launch of CSIP 2.0—a $5 million collaborative research initiative with partners including Kansas State University and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program—and how those investments are advancing genetics, water efficiency, and crop resiliency.

The episode also highlights a recap of international market development efforts, including the record-setting inbound trade mission hosted alongside the U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council last fall, and previews upcoming educational opportunities through the Center for Sorghum Improvement Monthly Seminar Series, all highlighted in the Commission's FY2025 annual report.

Links We Mentioned:
KGSC’s FY2025 Annual Report: https://ksgrainsorghum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2025-KGSC-Annual-Report-1-2.pdf
Reintroducing the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission Video: https://youtu.be/3TVUXAERf_M?si=EOnf4KJt6KibBlY4
CSI Seminar Schedule: https://www.csisorghum.org/seminars
Join KSP and NSP Today: https://sorghumgrowers.com/join/

Each year, Kansas Sorghum welcomes fresh perspective through its Collegiate Fellowship Program, and 2026 is no exception. 

This month’s episode of the Sorghum State Podcast introduces 2026 Collegiate Food and Ag Policy Fellow Carson Rudd and Communications Fellow Mindy Wells, two Kansas State University students investing their time and talents into advancing Kansas sorghum. They share where they are from, what they are studying and how their campus involvement connects back to agriculture.

Rudd also outlines key developments from the 2026 legislative session, including movement on the grain theft bill, higher ethanol blend incentives, and water and conservation investments. With the Legislature past the Turnaround deadline, the focus narrows as priority issues for sorghum growers continue moving through the process.

Wells highlights outreach efforts on behalf of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, from conducting harvest interviews across the state to expanding digital communications and supporting events such as Sorghum Connection and the Women Grow the Farm conference.

Together, alongside the Kansas Sorghum team, the fellows are helping tell the sorghum story in ways that connect producers, consumers and the next generation. Listen in for the full conversation.

Sorghum State Podcast host Maddy Meier sits down with Lanier Dabruzzi, Director of Nutrition and Food Innovation for the Sorghum Checkoff, to explore why sorghum is stepping into the spotlight.

The conversation also highlights a major innovation: IQF (individually quick frozen) sorghum. From the market gap it fills to why foodservice and CPG (consumer packaged goods) teams are calling it a game-changer, they unpack what makes IQF sorghum uniquely flexible, and uniquely challenging, to work with.

On the science front, Lanier shares details about a groundbreaking human clinical trial studying traditional white and sumac sorghum varieties. They discuss the health questions researchers aim to answer and how these insights could drive broader consumer recognition and farmer profitability.

Tune in to hear what’s fueling excitement at the intersection of science, food, and agriculture—and why sorghum is one grain to watch.

Sorghum State Podcast host Maddy Meier sits down this month with Lanier Dabruzzi, Director of Nutrition and Food Innovation for the Sorghum Checkoff, to explore why sorghum is stepping into the spotlight.

The conversation also highlights a major innovation: IQF (individually quick frozen) sorghum. From the market gap it fills to why foodservice and CPG (consumer packaged goods) teams are calling it a game-changer, they unpack what makes IQF sorghum uniquely flexible, and uniquely challenging, to work with.

On the science front, Lanier shares details about a groundbreaking human clinical trial studying traditional white and sumac sorghum varieties. They discuss the health questions researchers aim to answer and how these insights could drive broader consumer recognition and farmer profitability.Tune in to hear what’s fueling excitement at the intersection of science, food, and agriculture—and why sorghum is one grain to watch.

This episode of The Sorghum State Podcast is packed with updates! Hosts Maddy Meier and Adam York explore the critical role of Oklahoma's Tulsa Ports in boosting efficiency for both bulk and value-added Kansas sorghum exports, proving that the Sorghum State is not so "land-locked" after all. 

You'll also hear more about a farm-to-fork collaboration as K-State student chefs learn about sorghum's potential, bringing the crop to premium plates.

Plus, Adam and Maddy share details on the upcoming commodity commission elections in Districts 4, 5, 6, as well as for the upcoming Sorghum Connection Winter series, which returns to a community near you this December.

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Interested in getting involved? Join the KSP and NSP family today at a level that’s right for you: sorghumgrowers.com/join.

For more information on the upcoming Kansas commodity commission elections, visit: https://ksgrainsorghum.org/filing-now-open-for-kansas-grain-sorghum-commission-candidates/.