January 20, 2014
US 2013 sorghum production up 58% on-year
In 2013, US grain sorghum production is estimated at 389 million bushels, up 58% from 2012, with planted area estimated at 8.06 million acres, up 29% from last year.
According to USDA's report, area harvested for grain, at 6.53 million acres, is up 32% from 2012. The average grain yield, at 59.6 bushels per acre, is up 9.8 bushels from last year. Overall, planted and harvested grain and silage acres increased in 11 out of 14 states reported.
Sorghumyields also increased in 10 out of 14 states reported. Kansas came in as the top producing state in the nation with 165.2 million bushels, harvesting 90% of its crop, which is the best harvest-to-plant ratio for the state since 2010. Texas (128.8 million bushels) came in second followed by South Dakota (22 million bushels), Oklahoma (14.9 million bushels) and Arkansas (12.8 million bushels).
The sorghum silage national yield increased for the second year in a row to 14.3 tonnes per acre- the industry's highest yield since 2009. Sorghum silage was exceedingly competitive with corn silage in four states, including Kansas (14 tonnes per acre for sorghum versus 13 tonnes per acre for corn), Missouri (17 tonnes per acre for sorghum versus 14 tonnes per acre for corn), Oklahoma (20 tonnes per acre for sorghum versus 21 tonnes per acre for corn) and South Dakota (13 tonnes for acre for sorghum and 13 tonnes per acre for corn).