Sorghum Production and Management Practices

Field of sorghum

According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service Nebraskans planted 260,000 acres in 2007, which was almost 30% less than the 370,000 acres planted in 2006, but still maintained the state's rank as the 3rd leading sorghum producer in the country. The increase in corn acreage is expected to be at least partially to blame for the displacement of some sorghum acres in 2007.

The sorghum crop is believed to have first been cultivated in Africa and introduced into the Americas by slave traders. Now, it is a staple food source in many countries, particularly in arid regions of the world taking advantage of its hardiness. Sorghum is currently grown for use primarily as a food and feed source. Consumers with gluten intolerance (celiac disease) take advantage of sorghum's gluten-free grain whose flour can be used for baking some food products. The crop itself is also more heat and drought resistant than other crops, such as corn, which is particularly appealing considering the increasing water use restrictions imposed on row crop producers in irrigated acreage in Nebraska. Increased interest in the production of bio-fuels stemmed research on alternatives to corn grain where it was determined that the number of gallons of ethanol produced per acre of sorghum can reach more than double that of corn.

Forage Sorghum Grower Tips

Variety Test Plots

Nebraska Sorghum Board and Nebraska Sorghum Growers

Sorghum Profitability Seminar Presentations

2017 Nebraska Sorghum Symposium Video Presentations (on YouTube)

Getting to Know Sorghum — Brent Bean, agronomist with the United Sorghum Check-off Program
Managing Key Inputs in Sorghum Production — Rick Kochenower, national agronomist with Chromatin, Inc.
Reducing Input Costs in Sorghum Production — Bob Klein, Nebraska Extension cropping systems specialist for western Nebraska
Weed Control and Herbicide Resistant Weeds — Rodrigo Werle, Nebraska Extension cropping systems specialist
Weather Outlook for the 2017 Sorghum Season — Al Dutcher, associate state climatologist

2015 Presentations