The global demand for versatile, sustainable, and high-quality grains is rising, and U.S. sorghum is ready to deliver.
This momentum was on full display during the biennial Export Sorghum Conference, held Sept. 21–23 in San Antonio, Texas, where international customers from nearly two dozen nations gathered to see the strength of U.S. sorghum production firsthand. Surrounding the event, state and national sorghum organizations—including the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, and Texas Grain Sorghum Producers—joined by the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council, hosted inbound trade delegations across Kansas and Texas. The result was more than a series of tours: it created opportunities to build relationships, expand market access, and highlight U.S. sorghum’s growing role in the global supply chain.
The conference opened with a full day of programming focused on sorghum’s value in global markets, animal nutrition, and sustainability. Sorghum Checkoff Chairman Ethan Miller of Missouri set the stage, followed by sessions on production trends, supply and demand, grain standards, and sorghum’s nutritional potential, including its role in pet food. Producers and industry leaders shared insight on sorghum’s contributions to sustainable agriculture and the Sorghum Sustainability Assurance Protocol, while panels explored its place in poultry and swine diets, evolving consumer trends, and the U.S. grain supply chain.
Day two emphasized trade development and connection building. Attendees participated in business-to-business meetings, networked over lunch, and toured U.S. ports to see how U.S. sorghum moves from farm to export market. These conversations laid the groundwork for future trade and positioned sorghum as a reliable, high-quality product for buyers worldwide.
Kansas played a central role in hosting pre- and post-conference inbound trade teams and showcasing the U.S. sorghum industry. The first delegation came from Vietnam, where companies are exploring sorghum as a new feed ingredient. On Sept. 18–19, Kansas Sorghum and U.S. Grains & BioProducts staff guided the team through production, inspection, and research stops, including the DeLong Co. export terminal, Kansas Grain Inspection Service headquarters, and a farm visit with Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission Vice Chairman Kevin Kniebel. The tour also included Kansas State University’s Ashland Bottoms research site and concluded with a Kansas-grown sorghum lunch.
Following the conference, a delegation from Mexico and Latin America toured the Dodge City area, exploring sorghum’s role in sustainability. Stops included Alliance Ag & Grain’s rail-loading facility, Nicholson Ventures Farm, where reclaimed water irrigation supports aquifer quality, and Boot Hill Distillery, which showcased sorghum-based whiskey production.
A team from China visited southwest Kansas to see large-scale production, processing, and ethanol applications. Highlights included Garden City Cooperative’s River Valley Terminal, Vulgamore Family Farms, Nu Life Market (the world’s largest dedicated sorghum flour mill), Arkalon Ethanol, and visits with grain handlers at Skyland Grain and Scoular, concluding at Commission Chairman Brant Peterson’s Winsome Farms.
Finally, a delegation from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa toured Kansas research and logistics hubs. Their itinerary included export and inspection facilities, Kniebel Farms, Kansas State University’s Department of Grain Science & Industry, and the International Grains Program Institute.
Kansas wasn’t the only state highlighting U.S. sorghum. On Sept. 24–26, an inbound trade team from India toured the Texas Panhandle. The delegation visited farms, dairies, feed and milling operations, and seed companies, guided by U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council staff. Highlights included Will Braack and Kathy Broman Farms, Dale and Kathy Artho Farms, Cnossen Dairy, Richardson Seed Co., and White Energy, along with Bunge, Frische Farms, and Remington Seeds. The tour allowed Indian buyers to see sorghum from multiple angles, reinforcing U.S. sorghum’s versatility across many end uses.
The inbound trade missions surrounding Export Sorghum 2025 highlighted sorghum’s global presence and growing importance. By fostering direct engagement between U.S. producers and international buyers, these visits created opportunities for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and mutual understanding—building trust, strengthening connections, and laying the groundwork for long-term trade relationships. As teams returned home, they carried a deeper appreciation of U.S. sorghum’s quality, versatility, and potential, leaving the industry better positioned for continued growth in the years ahead.
