STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSES MOUTH

Duane A. Lienemann

                
     Even with this sporadic moisture in the form of showers, sleet, hail and snow, right up through the middle of April, prognosticators are still pointing to a continued drought for most of Nebraska, including South Central Nebraska. In reality, drought really stressed the entire Plains over the last couple of years, and we’re seeing especially the entire western Plains still locked in that drought. Perhaps Nebraska may be the worst scenario out of all the states in the region. You might find this as interesting reading: http://247wallst.com/2013/03/21/the-seven-states-running-out-of-water/2/ .
 This all gives me food for thought, especially when we saw last year how growers had struggled with other enterprise options. Corn and soybeans really suffered last year, especially in our dry-land fields. A combination of dry weather and increased demand from the ethanol sector could have grain sorghum poised for a comeback in Nebraska. For you that know me, I have always thought that grain sorghum has had a bad rap, and is a much unappreciated grain crop that deserves another look. I am going to suggest that maybe this may be the year for grain sorghum, or better known as milo. 
     When I was growing up – we, and about everyone else I knew raised grain sorghum, and particularly on our dry-land fields. It seems that even in dry weather that milo had a mechanism to survive and would make a crop. We do know that it is one of the best grazers for fall grazing and can consider that as a benefit of growing the crop. I am not sure what the acres of grain sorghum planted was in the sixties and seventies, but Nebraska was one of the leading, if not the top grain sorghum producing states in the United States. If you go back to 2000 you can find that Nebraska had 550,000 acres planted to milo. Grain sorghum plantings in the state plummeted since then to just 165,000 in 2012. 
     I know that milo is a four letter word, and some producers think of some other four letter words when it comes to raising and harvesting grain sorghum. Those that come to mind are dust, itch, cane, and cash. Let’s take a look at that last four letter word. It may be that milo could be the safest of all or our grains when it comes to the potential of actually providing something to harvest, and that means cash. Who knows what corn price will do. With the potential of another dry, hot year it makes sense to use something that withstands that kind of challenge and grain sorghum may be the ticket.
     Sorghum is a hardier and more drought-tolerant option than the other grain mix we’ve seen in other years. Research from Kansas State University shows that sorghum’s shorter plant height, deeper root system, and waxy leaves for moisture retention offer significant advantages when precipitation is less than 20 inches per year compared with corn. Grain sorghum is very efficient about using water for producing grain up to 80-120 bushels per acre on rain-fed fields and much higher than that on irrigated acres in normal years. If we’re going to be in a low rainfall or drought condition then grain sorghum makes a lot of sense, in many circumstances, as we decide our planting decisions. 
     Besides lower rainfall totals, declining water supplies for irrigation also make sorghum a more-popular row-crop choice this year. When we see broad-scale water resource issues, whether it’s natural rain-fed or deep-well irrigation issues and, following the 2012 drought, tighter irrigation water supplies are already in effect; for example, like right here in southern Nebraska. Those that live in the Republican River Basin know exactly what I am talking about in regards to those restrictions. As I recall, we are capped at 10 ½ inches. Those low allocations highlight another advantage of sorghum - its water needs are about 50% less than corn. To me, that speaks volumes, even with irrigation acres.
     It might also be good to point out the fact that we have seen an improved market for the grain for other reasons. One includes its gluten-free designation (Celiac Disease). The biggest reason may be changes in the ethanol industry. Granted, milo has not been a popular staple of the ethanol industry, but that has changed tremendously. In reality, any starch-based ethanol plant can use sorghum; it takes very minor modification for sorghum use. An ethanol plant in northwestern Kansas, in fact, uses sorghum extensively, and two Nebraska ethanol plants - Abengoa at Ravenna and Trenton Agri-Products at Trenton, have both indicated they want to use more grain sorghum in the ethanol production process. Grain sorghum is also benefitting from its recent designation as an advanced biofuel under the Renewable Fuels Standard. 
     I know that many producers have made their seed selections for this planting year, but if conditions occur that makes that early decision moot, then looking for some milo seed may be a good option like never before. I have a feeling that if we do have another year like last year, and with the lack of subsoil moisture - those that didn’t plant this drought resistant alternative to soybeans or corn may be wishing they had. There is still plenty of time to rethink your dry-land strategies.
     Crop Stubble Management Meeting:  There was supposed to be a Crop Stubble Management meeting in Guide Rock on Thursday, April 18, but the inclement weather and treacherous road conditions didn’t allow, so it was postponed. I hope everyone got that message.  The good news is that the meeting has been rescheduled for May 1. It will be at the same place and the same time.  If you are interested in the May 1 meeting you will need to register in advance.  You can contact our office, or directly contact John Laux at (308) 928-2541, or email him at  john.laux@nebraska.gov. You can also go to www.stubbleforwildlife.com   for more information on the program. This is a chance to perhaps gain $10 or more per acre on this year’s wheat or milo stubble left undisturbed for wildlife until April 1 of 2014.  See there, here is another good reason to raise grain sorghum this year!  Add one more advantage to milo!

The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: http://www.webster.unl.edu/home