LUBBOCK, TEXAS, US — Jeff Dahlberg, PhD, a veteran sorghum industry researcher who previously spent two decades with the National Sorghum Producers (NSP) and United Sorghum Checkoff Program, has been appointed chairman of the National Sorghum Foundation, succeeding Larry Lambright, who served as chairman for the past three years.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jeff back to Team Sorghum,” said Tim Lust, chief executive officer of the National Sorghum Producers. “He has dedicated his life to the research and development in the sorghum industry, and I can think of no better person to lead the National Sorghum Foundation as it continues its support of industry research and education and investment into future sorghum leaders.”

Dahlberg’s career in the sorghum industry began while he was a volunteer agricultural extension agent with the US Peace Corps in Niger from 1980-84. While in Niger, Dahlberg became intrigued by a very drought-tolerant crop grown by subsistence farmers—sorghum.

Dahlberg has worked as the research geneticist and sorghum curator at the US Department of Agriculture Research Service Tropical Crops and Germplasm Research Center in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. For more than 20 years, he worked as the research director for NSP and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, and during this time, he served for two years as the president of the Whole Grains Council. Dahlberg recently retired as director of the University of California Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier, California, US.

“I look forward to continuing the work that Bruce Maunder and Larry Lambright started with the Foundation,” Dahlberg said. “The Foundation gives us the ability to support research, but more importantly to help identify the next generation of sorghum research and policy leaders through our support of scholarships. Identifying and helping students as they work toward degrees that support sorghum farmers and research is critical to the success of sorghum as it takes its place as an important cereal crop that can thrive under ever changing climate challenges.”

During his tenure as Foundation chairman, Lambright drew on a strong education in crop science and more than 50 years of experience as a sorghum breeder.