Grain Sorghum: A “New” Grain Sorghum: A “New” Old Crop for NCOld Crop for NC

Grain Sorghum: A “New” Grain Sorghum: A “New” Old Crop for NCOld Crop for NC

Don Nicholson, Regional AgronomistDon Nicholson, Regional AgronomistNCDA&CS Agronomic DivisionNCDA&CS Agronomic Division

January 31, 2012January 31, 2012

Why the Interest?Why the Interest?

Palmer AmaranthPalmer Amaranth

— — Game ChangerGame Changer

Why? Cont’dWhy? Cont’d

Drought yearsDrought years

Difficult to be successful w/ Difficult to be successful w/ corncorn

Crop insurance changes??Crop insurance changes??

Why? Cont’dWhy? Cont’d

Rotational Rotational benefitsbenefits

Rotational BenefitsRotational Benefits

Rotational BenefitsRotational Benefits

Why? Cont’dWhy? Cont’d

High cost of grainHigh cost of grain

High cost of transportationHigh cost of transportation

Livestock industryLivestock industry

Livestock Industry Livestock Industry InvolvementInvolvement

Murphy Murphy Brown Brown Pilot Pilot ProjectProject

Offered growers a contract at Offered growers a contract at 88% of corn prices. Industry 88% of corn prices. Industry standard until now . . . 80 to standard until now . . . 80 to

85%.85%.

Importance of Local GrainImportance of Local Grain

Economical feed supplyEconomical feed supply

Important to local grain producersImportant to local grain producers

Economically important to N.C.Economically important to N.C.

Farmland preservationFarmland preservation

Nutrient ManagementNutrient Management

Offers flexibility in Offers flexibility in nutrient nutrient management management plansplans

Good fit for N-Good fit for N-based waste planbased waste plan

Appears to be less Appears to be less sensitive to Mnsensitive to Mn

What have we seen so What have we seen so far?far?

About every row width . . . 7.5, 15, 24, 30, About every row width . . . 7.5, 15, 24, 30, 38”38”

Advantages and disadvantages for allAdvantages and disadvantages for all Strip till, no till, conventionalStrip till, no till, conventional

What can it take?What can it take?

Evidently, a lotEvidently, a lot

One grower says “its almost bulletproof”One grower says “its almost bulletproof”

60 days, no rain, 9560 days, no rain, 95+ + temps temps

still heads with rainstill heads with rain

Older heads Older heads and new ones comingand new ones coming

What does it need?What does it need?

Rain, at the right time.Rain, at the right time. Nitrogen-recommended 80-100Nitrogen-recommended 80-100 Phosphorus- 60+ indexPhosphorus- 60+ index Potassium- 70+ indexPotassium- 70+ index Sulfur- important on light soilsSulfur- important on light soils

What does it offer?What does it offer?

Less risk/investmentLess risk/investment

Wider window to make a cropWider window to make a crop

Planting timing options— Planting timing options— full season / double cropfull season / double crop

Flexible cropping optionsFlexible cropping options

Variable Cost BudgetVariable Cost Budget

SeedSeed 8lbs8lbs $ 8.00$ 8.00 HerbicideHerbicide 2.5qt2.5qt $12.50$12.50 InsecticideInsecticide $12.50$12.50 LaborLabor $25.00$25.00 MachineryMachinery $40.22$40.22 Interest on variable costInterest on variable cost $12.68$12.68 DryingDrying $15.50$15.50

Variable Cost Budget Variable Cost Budget cont’dcont’d

FertilizerFertilizer– 100# N100# N $50.00$50.00– 35# P 35# P $21.00$21.00– 50# K50# K $26.00$26.00

TotalTotal $223.40 $223.40

What does it offer? What does it offer? (cont.)(cont.)

Short season, early harvest Short season, early harvest — 65 to 72 days — 65 to 72 days

Same equipmentSame equipment

Good scavenger for Good scavenger for nutrients and waternutrients and water

Where is it going?Where is it going?

Generating interest across the board of several integratorsGenerating interest across the board of several integrators

One company offering 90% of corn to incentivize planting One company offering 90% of corn to incentivize planting for them for 2012for them for 2012

Another integrator looking for 20,000 acres in 2012 at Another integrator looking for 20,000 acres in 2012 at 95% of corn price95% of corn price

Research Opportunities…Research Opportunities…

Fertilization requirementsFertilization requirements

Crop managementCrop management

Management with animal wasteManagement with animal waste

Challenges…Challenges…

Planter setup/populationsPlanter setup/populations Harvest timingHarvest timing Grass control post emergenceGrass control post emergence Storage issuesStorage issues Diseases/InsectsDiseases/Insects Unloading issuesUnloading issues

Pitfalls…Pitfalls…Pitfalls…Pitfalls…

Grower dissatisfaction with processGrower dissatisfaction with process MarketingMarketing Problems in storageProblems in storage Old biases about the crop (bird Old biases about the crop (bird

resistance)resistance)

Bottom LineBottom Line

Can’t consistently make corn Can’t consistently make corn

Pigweed is a game changerPigweed is a game changer

Nematode pressure limiting soybean yieldsNematode pressure limiting soybean yields

Livestock industry important to NC economyLivestock industry important to NC economy

Bottom Line, cont’dBottom Line, cont’d

Good rotational partner for many cropsGood rotational partner for many crops

Market seems to continue to mature Market seems to continue to mature

Fits in well with conservation goalsFits in well with conservation goals

Deer depredation a problem in many areasDeer depredation a problem in many areas

Bottom Line, Bottom Bottom Line, Bottom LineLine

Farmland preservationFarmland preservation

– We can grow it, successfullyWe can grow it, successfully

– It gives growers optionsIt gives growers options

We’ve got to streamline the marketing aspectWe’ve got to streamline the marketing aspect

Growers and elevators need to know what to expectGrowers and elevators need to know what to expect

For more information . . . For more information . . .

contact your NCDA&CS regional agronomistcontact your NCDA&CS regional agronomist

visit visit ncagr.gov/agronomi/rahome.htmncagr.gov/agronomi/rahome.htm

call the Agronomic Division at 919-733-2655call the Agronomic Division at 919-733-2655