Rate of dry down in sorghum before harvest
What factors affect the rate of dry down in grain sorghum? This is a question on the minds of many producers as harvest draws closer and temperatures drops. Find out more in this article from KSU CROPS.
Pre-emergence herbicides for grain sorghum
Pre-emergence herbicide programs for corn were discussed in a recent eUpdate article. The role of pre-emergence herbicides is similar in both corn and grain sorghum, and some herbicides are similar. Read more here from Dr. Sarah Lancaster.
Sorghum management considerations: Planting practices
The most critical planting practices affecting yields in sorghum are: row spacing, row arrangement, seeding rate/plant population, planting date, and hybrid maturity. Read more about the best sorghum planting practices from Cropping Specialist Ignacio Ciampitti.
planting grain sorghum seeding rate row spacing hybrid selection
In-season Palmer amaranth control in grain sorghum
With adequate moisture and high temperatures, Palmer amaranth populations are rapidly growing and causing concern for some sorghum producers in western Kansas. What options to growers have at this point in the growing season? Read more in the article from weed scientist Dr. Vipan Kumar.
Grain sorghum yield potential: Understanding the main yield components
To make the best estimate of the yield potential of grain sorghum, you need to understand the main yield-driving factors. What are the primary components that influence grain sorghum yield?
Grain sorghum yield potential: An on-farm calculation
Estimating crop yields before harvest can be difficult. For sorghum, yield estimates can be calculated 3 to 4 weeks after flowering. However the final seed number and seed weight can still change. Estimates are more accurate the closer to harvest.
Sorghum development and potential freeze injury
Grain sorghum maturity is significantly ahead of last year and close to the 5-year average. What effect did the early September cold snap have on crop development? Will the remaining sorghum reach maturity before the first freeze? Read more here from K-State Agronomy.
Check for stalk rots prior to grain sorghum harvest
It is important to check corn and sorghum fields for stalk rot diseases prior to harvest. Stalk rot is a stress-related disease. Any stress on a crop can increase both the incidence and severity of stalk rot.
Prussic acid in sorghum following a hard freeze
After a hard freeze, there could be questions regarding prussic acid in sorghum. Prussic acid poisoning is more of a concern when grazing sorghum than when harvested for hay or silage.
Herbicide-resistant grain sorghum hybrids - Are they here yet?
Herbicide-resistant grain sorghum has been a topic of conversation for several years. This article will provide an overview of weed management in these herbicide-resistant grain sorghum systems.
IMIFLEX herbicide receives EPA approval for igrowth grain sorghum
As of late December, grain sorghum farmers have access to IMIFLEX™ herbicide to use in igrowth® grain sorghum for the 2021 growing season. Read more about the target weeds, use rates, and rotation intervals in this article.
2020 Kansas Performance Tests with Grain Sorghum Hybrids
The results from the 2020 Kansas Performance Tests with grain sorghum hybrids are now available online. These tests provide valuable information on many of the sorghum hybrids marketed in Kansas.
2021 Grain sorghum management publication now available
K-State Research and Extension has released the latest Kansas Sorghum Management publication. This comprehensive guide is written specifically for Kansas and includes valuable, up-to-date information on many aspects of sorghum production.
Pre-emergence herbicides for grain sorghum
With few post-emergence herbicide options for control of grass species and Palmer amaranthl in grain sorghum, having an effective pre-emergence herbicide program is very important. Learn more about the different soil-applied residual herbicides in this article.
grain sorghum weed control pre-emergence residual herbicides
Imazamox-resistant shattercane populations identified from sorghum fields in northwest Kansas
Shattercane is a summer annual grass weed species commonly present in grain sorghum producing regions, including Kansas. Current research studies in western KS have identified 3 populations of shattercane with low-to-moderate resistance to imazamox.
Sorghum management considerations: Planting practices
The most critical planting practices affecting yields in grain sorghum are: row spacing, row arrangement, seeding rate/plant population, planting date, and hybrid maturity. Learn which planting practices are best suited for your location and cropping system.
planting grain sorghum seeding rate row spacing plant population
Palmer amaranth control in grain sorghum
Pre-emergence herbicides are critical for successful weed management in grain sorghum, especially for difficult to control species like Palmer amaranth. When pre-emergence control efforts fail, learn the best options for Palmer amaranth in sorghum fields later in the growing season.
grain sorghum palmer amaranth post-emergence herbicide resistance
Sorghum midge activity in the Southwest
Grain sorghum is in various stages of flowering in the southwest right now. Once flowering begins, growers might want to keep an eye out for sorghum midge. Learn the best way to scout for these pests and how to properly identify midge damage to sorghum.
Grain sorghum yield potential: An on-farm calculation
Estimating crop yields before harvest can be variable, but producers often like to know about the potential yield of their crops. As the sorghum crop gets closer to full maturity, yield estimates will be more accurate because the seed weight will be closer to being set.
Grain sorghum yield potential: Understanding the main yield components
In order to best estimate the yield potential of grain sorghum, you need to understand the main plant components of sorghum yield. These components are the main yield-driving factors. Learn about these factors and the roles they play in determining final grain sorghum yields.
Late winter kochia control in fields going to corn or grain sorghum
Last week, we shared some general information about applying pre-emergence herbicides for kochia control. This article focuses on specific recommendations for fields going to corn or grain sorghum this growing season.
2022 Grain sorghum management publication now available
A newly revised K-State Research and Extension publication, Kansas Grain Sorghum Management 2022, is now available online. This comprehensive guide is written specifically for Kansas and includes valuable, up-to-date information on several grain sorghum management practices.
2021 Kansas Performance Tests with Grain Sorghum Hybrids report now available
The 2021 Kansas Performance Tests with Grain Sorghum Hybrids report is now online. Performance tests, conducted annually by the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, provide unbiased agronomic information on many of the grain sorghum hybrids marketed in Kansas.
Palmer amaranth control in grain sorghum
Challenging weather conditions in the spring may have resulted in rapidly growing Palmer amaranth in grain sorghum fields. Post-emergence herbicide options in grain sorghum are limited, with the available choices most effective when the weeds are small. This article discusses the pros and cons of key herbicides that can provide control.
Scout for headworms in sorghum from flowering into milk stage
Relatively new, cost effective, and environmentally friendly products are available for controlling headworms in sorghum. These are pest-specific viruses, formulated as biological pesticides, that can be applied the same as any foliar insecticide, or delivered via overhead irrigation sprinklers.
Grain sorghum yield potential: An on-farm calculation
Yield estimates prior to harvest can be helpful for producers to make informed management decisions for the crop while there is time before harvest. As sorghum gets closer to maturity, yield estimates will be more accurate. Nonetheless, you can start taking yield estimations three to four weeks after flowering.
Grain sorghum yield potential: Understanding the main yield components
In order to best estimate the yield potential of grain sorghum, you need to understand the main plant components of yield. These components are number of plants, tillers per plant, seeds per head, and seeds per pound. The interaction among all four components will determine the actual yield, but a wide range of variation can be expected in all these main yield-driving factors.
Check for stalk rots prior to grain sorghum harvest
It is important to check sorghum fields for stalk rot diseases prior to harvest. Even in fields where lodging is has not yet occurred, producers should be prepared to deal with stalk rot issues. Symptoms generally appear several weeks after pollination when the plant appears to prematurely ripen.
Management considerations for no-till wheat following sorghum or other summer crops
With fall harvest progressing at earlier than normal, favorable wheat prices, and many row-crop acres chopped for silage, producers may consider planting wheat back into freshly harvested summer crop residue, especially if they receive some needed rainfall. There are several considerations when seeding wheat immediately after harvest of a summer crop.
Rate of dry down in sorghum before harvest
In recent years, a common question from producers is related to the dry down rate for sorghum when approaching the end of the season. The dry down process can be delayed by low temperatures, high humidity, and high grain moisture content at black layer. Learn more in this article from KSU farming systems specialist, Ignacio Ciampitti.
New sorghum growth and development poster now available
An updated version of the Sorghum Growth and Development poster has been published by K-State Research and Extension. The full-color poster is 20x30 inches, and describes nine stages of growth of the sorghum plant. New features include key management practices associated with each growth stage, updated graphics, and the dry-down progression of the grain until physiological maturity.
National Sorghum Yield Contest: A Summary for Kansas
This article contains information from the new KSRE publication MF3615 "National Sorghum Yield Contest: A Summary for Kansas". Five years of data were summarized (2013-2017) from the National Sorghum Yield Contest with a focus on Kansas entries. Different management practices impacted sorghum yields in varying magnitudes.
sorghum grain sorghum publication yield estimates Sorghum Yield Contest
Sorghum management considerations: Planting practices
There can be considerable environmental variation across Kansas during the growing season for grain sorghum. The most critical planting practices affecting sorghum yield are row spacing, row arrangement, seeding rate/plant population, planting date, and hybrid maturity. Tailoring the right management strategy to your location is critical.
planting grain sorghum seeding rate row spacing planting date plant population
Palmer amaranth control in grain sorghum
When the aggressive nature of Palmer amaranth is combined with the limited post-emergence herbicide options in grain sorghum, problems often arise – even when an adequate pre-emergence herbicide program is used. This article covers post-emergence herbicide options for Palmer amaranth control in grain sorghum.
2023 National Sorghum Yield Contest - Entry deadline Nov. 15
National Sorghum Producers is accepting entries for the 2023 National Sorghum Yield Contest. State and national winners are selected from contestants split into east and west regions for each division, which includes irrigated, dryland no-till, dryland tillage, and one overall winner for food grade. The entry deadline is November 15.
Update on sugarcane aphids in Kansas
Sugarcane (sorghum) aphids were first detected migrating into Kansas in mid-July this year. This article discusses how widespread the aphids are in Kansas and when treatment might be warranted. Proper identification is important as different species of aphids are often mistaken for sugarcane aphids. Learn more in this article.
Grain sorghum yield potential: An on-farm calculation
Estimating crop yields before harvest can be difficult. However, having these estimates is valuable information for producers as it helps them to make relevant decisions on inputs. As the sorghum crop gets closer to maturity, yield estimates will be more accurate. This article walks through an example of an on-farm calculation for estimating sorghum yield.
Grain sorghum yield potential: Understanding the main yield components
In order to best estimate the yield potential of grain sorghum, you need to understand the main plant components of yield. The main yield-driving factors are number of plants, tillers per plant, seeds per head, and seeds per pound. This article discusses each of these factors and their relative importance to the final yield of sorghum.
Check for stalk rots before grain sorghum harvest
It is important to check grain sorghum fields for stalk rot diseases before harvest. Even in fields where lodging has not yet occurred, producers should be prepared to deal with stalk rot issues. Stalk rot is a stress-related disease. Any stress on the crop can increase the incidence and severity of stalk rot.
sorghum grain sorghum lodging fusarium stalk rot charcoal rot stalk rots
Rate of dry down in sorghum before harvest
A common question from producers is related to the dry down rate for sorghum when approaching the end of the season. Based on previous information, the average dry down rate depends on the weather, primarily temperature and moisture conditions. This article looks at some recent studies and what factors play the biggest role in the dry down rate.
Late winter kochia control in fields going to corn or grain sorghum
Last week, we shared information about pre-emergence herbicides for kochia control. This week, we focused on specific options for fields going to corn or grain sorghum this growing season. It is critical to start the growing season with clean fields.
2023 Kansas Performance Tests reports for corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, and sunflowers
The 2023 Kansas Performance Test Reports for corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, and sunflowers are now available online. These reports include the results of the crop performance trials. Each report also includes a summary of the 2023 crop, with a detailed discussion summarizing the statewide growing conditions, diseases, and insects.
Sorghum management considerations: Planting practices
During the growing season of grain sorghum, there can be considerable environmental variation across Kansas, with a high probability of drought after flowering when moving west. Tailoring the optimal management strategy by location is critical to increasing productivity and reducing the impact of weather stressors.
Chinch bug activity in Kansas
In Kansas, chinch bugs are a perennial pest of just about any grass. In crops, they mainly affect grain sorghum but are occasionally problematic in corn and wheat. This is primarily due to timing. As wheat begins drying out, the bugs seek a new food source, often an adjacent field of seedling sorghum.
Save the date - Sorghum Connection: Maximizing Sorghum Yield
Save the dates for a new series of sorghum programs titled "Sorghum Connection," consisting of field schools and winter meetings across Kansas. Sorghum connection is a collaborative effort between the K-State Department of Plant Pathology, K-State Research and Extension, and the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission. Learn more in this article!
Palmer amaranth control in grain sorghum
When the aggressive nature of Palmer amaranth is combined with the limited post-emergence herbicide options in grain sorghum, problems often arise even when an adequate preemergence herbicide program is used. This article covers post-emergence herbicide options for Palmer amaranth control in grain sorghum.
Save the date - Sorghum Connection: Maximizing Sorghum Yield
Save the dates for a new series of sorghum programs titled "Sorghum Connection," consisting of field schools and winter meetings across Kansas. These events aim to bring multi-disciplinary, data-driven information to our Kansas grain sorghum producers to help improve on-farm productivity and profitability!
Sorghum Connection launches field day series to boost sorghum yields
The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, Kansas State University Department of Plant Pathology, and K-State Research and Extension are collaborating to create the Sorghum Connection field day series. The program will inform producers on several topics to improve sorghum productivity and profitability.
Sorghum (sugarcane) aphids: A declining threat in Kansas
Sorghum (formerly sugarcane) aphids continue to decline as a threat to grain sorghum in Kansas. While region-wide biological control is now effectively maintaining populations below the economic threshold in the vast majority of fields, late-planted sorghum is at a higher risk of colonization.
Grain sorghum yield potential: An on-farm calculation
Even though estimating crop yields before harvest can be difficult, having these estimates is valuable information for producers as it helps them to make relevant decisions on inputs. This article explains how to estimate grain sorghum yields using the on-farm approach.
Rate of dry down in sorghum before harvest
A common question from producers is related to the dry down rate for sorghum when approaching the end of the season. The average dry down rate depends on the weather, primarily temperature and moisture conditions. The weather outlook for Kansas favors drier-than-normal conditions, favoring a faster dry down rate than average.
Sorghum Connection Series extends support to Kansas growers with winter series
The Sorghum Connection Series is continuing in 2024 with a series of one-day winter meetings. The events will be held in Salina on Dec. 4, Hays on Dec. 5, and Garden City on Dec. 6. These meetings offer a unique opportunity for Kansas sorghum growers to connect, learn, and stay ahead of the curve.
Sorghum Connection Series Extends Support to Kansas Growers with Winter Series
The Sorghum Connection Series continues this winter with one-day events across central and western Kansas. The events will be held in Salina on Dec. 4, Hays on Dec. 5, and Garden City on Dec. 6. Attendees will gain valuable insights from K-State researchers on critical topics related to sorghum production. Don't miss out!