Agricultural News
Drought of 2011 Likely to Leave a Shortage of Sorghum Seed
Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:03:56 CST
Producers that intend to plant grain sorghum or sorghum for hay (hay grazers) should be aware that the drought and heat during the summer of 2011 affected seed production. According to Rick Kochenower, OSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, as many producers' yields were affected in 2011, so were the crops of the seed companies. In recent conversations with sorghum industry representatives, they indicated there would be a shortage of seed for the 2012 crop year.
The most severe shortage is with the hay grazer types. If a producer plans on utilizing the forage or haying sorghums they need to contact their seed dealers and order soon. Indications are if you wait and order seed in the spring as normal none will be available. In fact, some seed companies have indicated that seed of certain forage and haying sorghum hybrids are already sold out.
The best way to describe the seed availability of grain sorhgum is tight. For some hybrids there will be plenty of seed and for others supplies will be limited. Therefore, if you have a favorite hybrid you plant, it would best to contact your seed dealer and order seed as soon as possible.
Also realize that there is a possibility you may not get your first choice of hybrid and might have to select from different hybrids that you are not as familiar with. If you are not familiar with a certain hybrid and it yield history, you can always check the OSU yield trial results at Oklahoma Panhandle Research and Extension Center website (under the tab for variety trial results).
Our thanks to Rick Kochenower for providing this article over sorghum seed shortages. This article was sent out as part of the OSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences Extension News. If you have any question contact Rick Kochenower at rick.kochenower@okstate.edu.
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