South Dakota sorghum trial yields promising results
South Dakota State University and the Sorghum Checkoff recently completed sorghum yield trials to give South Dakota producers more information about the best available sorghum hybrids. Ideal growing conditions during the season with adequate moisture produced test plot yields between 60 and 100 bushels per acre.
John Rickertsen , a researcher at South Dakota State University, said the trial was conducted as a result of suggestions made during producer roundtable meetings held by the Sorghum Checkoff last year. The trail was initiated to restart the grain sorghum testing program in South Dakota, which was last completed in 1994.
"Producers wanted to see more numbers on what sorghum could do in this area," Rickertsen said. "The great thing about grain sorghum is that it’s drought tolerant, so it does well in the western part of the state. It can also be drilled and harvested using the same equipment used to harvest wheat and new hybrids that have post-emergent herbicide tolerance will help increase yields in South Dakota."
Wet conditions delayed planting during the trial, but warm fall weather allowed the test plots to fully mature before harvest.