Statewide
Producers in the Coastal Bend and through much of Central Texas have put their sorghum crop to rest with mixed results. High Plains grain sorghum ranges from through the combine to late-planted crops that are only 2 weeks or so past flowering.
In assessing this year’s crop, drought again has played a major role in most Texas grain sorghum fields. Whether you ascribe to global warming, now more likely called ‘climate change,’ I believe grain sorghum’s role will be reconsidered for many farmers wherever you are in Texas because we can get to grain sorghum production on less water than other grains and the cost of production is lower.
As you look at your 2013 grain sorghum fields for the last few times of the year, where only the stubble remains, the combines are running, you shut the irrigation water off for the last time, or you have your eye on the calendar and the weather forecast looking for one last rain and some warm weather to finish out a late crop, consider these issues as we move toward 2014 cropping:
- What weed control issues am I facing in my grain sorghum? Am I getting good control? Do I need to consider another strategy on pesky weeds?
- Should I have marketed my grain sorghum in 2013 by locking in some production (especially if irrigated)? In hindsight, if I was aware of the $10.50-11.25/cwt. basic contract prices late in 2012, did I truly recognize those prices for what they were—high—and the opportunity they represented? Did I not sign up some of my acres because I thought the already-high prices would get even better? Of course hindsight is always better, know that when sorghum and other crop prices are near their top, we can get “stuck” and end up not doing anything.
- Is my seed drop and target plant population what it should be? Is it possible that my seeding rate is too high (do I have trouble with lodging; does my crop seem to “burn up” too easily)?
- Am I confident that I am making the best choice I can on my hybrid selection? Texas A&M AgriLife hybrid trials are being posted for the 2013 harvest season at http://varietytesting.tamu.edu/grainsorghum/index.htm
- As I look at the stubble from my 2013 grain sorghum crop, what could I do differently to take advantage of these residues for soil conservation, rotation benefits, and moisture capture? Do I need to consider some different coulters, trash whippers, residue managers on my planter so I can leave more of this stubble in place?
- What do I believe is the yield limiting factor in my grain sorghum production? Naturally it may be water for many producers, but if that is the case then how can I improve utilization of the water I do have?
- What further information do I need to improve my management decisions for grain sorghum in 2014?
