Statewide
This continues a series to examine production of grain sorghum vs. corn in relation to dryland and limited water conditions as well as water-use efficiency of grain sorghum vs. corn.
A producer posed a question this week. He knows full well about the ‘battle’ between corn and grain sorghum for acreage. He knows, too, that corn hybrid defense traits (insects, herbicide tolerance), so-called drought tolerant traits, and yield gains available in corn hybrids have exploded in the past 10 years or so—all improvements—so he asked:
“In your opinion, are current grain sorghum hybrids capable of producing higher yields than most farmers are getting? If so, why? Is it just the weather, or is it partly due to management factors?”
Yes, hybrids are capable of producing higher yields than sorghum farmers may receive. The commitment to higher yielding grain sorghum production seems to have waned over the years. Statistics suggest U.S. grain sorghum yields have been only a little above flat for up to 30 years. The typical acre of grain sorghum production today, however, is likely on slightly more marginal ground than 20 and 30 years ago. Furthermore, producers have been more reluctant to put inputs into the crop in part because grain sorghum prices are lower than for corn—but these are inputs are lower, too.
The psychology of farming tends to focus on grossing the most money you can per acre rather than the net return or the risks you take. Yes, farmers may feel that the more income dollars they roll through their operation the better their management skill comes into play, and the more likely they can increase profitability.
Also, sorghum’s fit is more appropriate relative to corn where moisture is limiting (rainfall or irrigation), so grain sorghum tends to experience a more pronounced ‘limited irrigation’ or ‘deficit irrigation’ or ‘limited input’ production system (relative to corn).
Grain sorghum hybrid yield potential has improved, but higher yields—in contrast to more efficient yields—are not being realized on many farms. Perhaps we could argue that sorghum shouldn’t be gunning for higher yields on an absolute or maximum basis. For those producers who make the decision to favor heavier inputs on grain sorghum, modern hybrids will respond, but the days are largely gone when a farmer will pour 20” of irrigation or 250 lbs. N per acre or maximize some other input to grain sorghum.
Many producers in 2013 learned that their county T-yield for corn (especially if irrigated) were double or more that of grain sorghum. This represents a willingness to enhance inputs on corn for maximizing yield or income, but also ‘crappy farming’ when folks don’t take care of their grain sorghum, maybe irrigate it only a little if (if available) and perhaps didn’t apply any nitrogen at that—and used a too high seeding rate as if they were.
It is not the weather! Seed companies have been doing their best to increase yield potential, and markets move up and down like they always have, but I think we would all agree that farming is probably more risky than it used to be. And for this reason I believe sorghum has an essential role on many farms in Texas and beyond.
