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U.S. sorghum acreage higher in Northern Plains, down in the South

U.S. Sorghum acres are up in northern growing regions, but USDA planting projections peg total acreage 11 percent under last year.

Nate Blum with Sorghum United says the March planting intentions report showed Nebraska farmers growing 17 percent more sorghum acres compared to a year ago, with South Dakota up 9 percent.

“But Kansas, which is the largest sorghum-growing state, (was) down significantly. Texas, which is second-largest, they’re still down significantly.”

He tells Brownfield sorghum probably lost ground to cotton in the South, and displaced corn in the Upper Plains.

“So a combination of good markets, dry weather unfortunately, and just outreach, promotion, and education.”

Blum says as more local and regional value-added opportunities come online, sorghum acres will grow.