LINCOLN — Governor Pete Ricketts recently announced reappointment of Michael Baker, from Trenton, to serve another three-year term on the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board. Baker was initially appointed to the Board in 2012 and represents District 4, which includes counties in the western portion of the state. Additionally, the Sorghum Board elected Scott Nelson, from Axtell, to fill the Board-Appointed At-Large seat previously held by Del Ficke, from Pleasant Dale. Ficke completed his term and elected not to seek reelection.
Baker farms in Hitchcock County where he grows primarily sorghum and wheat. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board and is also a member of the National Sorghum Producers Legislative Committee. Mike graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in Agronomy and was a member of the inaugural Sorghum Leadership Class sponsored by the national Sorghum Checkoff. He is host to an annual sorghum hybrid plot and field day, and is recognized by fellow producers for his willingness to share his knowledge about sorghum production. “He’s not afraid to try different rotations, plant populations, row spacing, and chemical/fertility programs,” stated one producer reference. “He’s always willing to share his successes and failure to advance viability of grain sorghum for our area.”
Scott Nelson farms in south central Nebraska near Axtell where, together with his family, they produce seed corn, corn, soybeans and grain sorghum. His family lives on a farm that is adjacent to the original homestead where they live in the house that his Great Great Grandfather built in 1900. Scott’s interest to serve on the Sorghum Board arises from the role sorghum fills in their operation as an isolation crop around seed corn fields. “I think sorghum appears to be in a unique position to fill a lot of important rolls, both foreign and domestic, as a non-GMO crop, applications in industrial uses, and as a food grain,” stated Nelson. Scott is active on the Kearney County Farm Bureau Board where he serves as their voting delegate to the state convention. He also serves on the Bethany Lutheran Church Board of Directors.
2018-19 Officers Elected
During its late-July meeting in Grand Island, the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board reelected current officers for the coming year. Mike Baker, District 4 director from Trenton, will continue to serve as Chairman. John Dolnicek, District 2 director from Lawrence, serves as Vice Chairman, and Duane Vorderstrasse, At-Large director from Hebron, will serve another year as Secretary-Treasurer of the Board.
The Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board administers the one-cent per hundredweight check-off assessed on all grain sorghum sold in the state. The board’s annual budget is allocated to the areas of research, market development, and education.
— Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board and Nebraska Grain Sorghum Producers Association
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