MANHATTAN, KANSAS, U.S. — Seven participants from Japan traveled to the U.S. from June 13-20, for the U.S. Grain Council’s (USGC) Japan Sorghum Usage Workshop. The USGC teamed up with Kansas State University’s (KSU) International Grains Program (IGP) to host the Japanese group because they believe the information grain importers have from Japan is often incorrect or outdated. This course focused on educating buyers about the nutritional values of sorghum.

“Sorghum is one of the major feed grains used in Japan and the U.S. Grains Council wants the Japanese feed grain importers and feed grain manufacturers to get updates on mainly the nutritional advantages of sorghum and to use more of it,” Tetsuo Hamamoto, regional director for the USGC Japan office, said.

During their stay the group journeyed to the IGP Conference Center where they attended classroom presentations about specific sorghum use. Several experts from the animal science department presented and shared their knowledge with the group. Among the experts were Joe Hancock, Mike Brouk and Scott Beyer. Each having a specialty in animal nutrition, they were able to share how sorghum can be used with different livestock.

“I appreciated the one-day short course. It was really informative and covered the latest on swine, poultry and even ruminant feed areas for sorghum use,” Hamamoto said.

The Japanese group also had the opportunity to visit a local production farm. There they saw the live use for sorghum and how it is produced. After touring the farm, the team traveled to Texas where they toured another farm and Attebury Grain.

“We wanted to see the crop condition and the grain business here, and this allows us to give the information to our customers,” Kiyotaka Sakurada, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, said.

Once the work was finished, the Japanese had the chance to experience one of America’s past time and attended a Texas Rangers baseball game. The Texas Grain Sorghum sponsored the trip.