grain sorghum: a “new” old crop for nc
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Grain Sorghum: A “New” Old Crop for NC. Don Nicholson, Regional Agronomist NCDA&CS Agronomic Division January 31, 2012. Why the Interest?. Palmer Amaranth — Game Changer. Why? Cont’d. Drought years Difficult to be successful w/ corn Crop insurance changes??. Why? Cont’d. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Grain Sorghum: A “New” Grain Sorghum: A “New” Old Crop for NCOld Crop for NC
Grain Sorghum: A “New” Grain Sorghum: A “New” Old Crop for NCOld Crop for NC
Don Nicholson, Regional AgronomistDon Nicholson, Regional AgronomistNCDA&CS Agronomic DivisionNCDA&CS Agronomic Division
January 31, 2012January 31, 2012
Why the Interest?Why the Interest?
Palmer AmaranthPalmer Amaranth
— — Game ChangerGame Changer
Why? Cont’dWhy? Cont’d
Drought yearsDrought years
Difficult to be successful w/ Difficult to be successful w/ corncorn
Crop insurance changes??Crop insurance changes??
Why? Cont’dWhy? Cont’d
Rotational Rotational benefitsbenefits
Rotational BenefitsRotational Benefits
Rotational BenefitsRotational Benefits
Why? Cont’dWhy? Cont’d
High cost of grainHigh cost of grain
High cost of transportationHigh cost of transportation
Livestock industryLivestock industry
Livestock Industry Livestock Industry InvolvementInvolvement
Murphy Murphy Brown Brown Pilot Pilot ProjectProject
Offered growers a contract at Offered growers a contract at 88% of corn prices. Industry 88% of corn prices. Industry standard until now . . . 80 to standard until now . . . 80 to
85%.85%.
Importance of Local GrainImportance of Local Grain
Economical feed supplyEconomical feed supply
Important to local grain producersImportant to local grain producers
Economically important to N.C.Economically important to N.C.
Farmland preservationFarmland preservation
Nutrient ManagementNutrient Management
Offers flexibility in Offers flexibility in nutrient nutrient management management plansplans
Good fit for N-Good fit for N-based waste planbased waste plan
Appears to be less Appears to be less sensitive to Mnsensitive to Mn
What have we seen so What have we seen so far?far?
About every row width . . . 7.5, 15, 24, 30, About every row width . . . 7.5, 15, 24, 30, 38”38”
Advantages and disadvantages for allAdvantages and disadvantages for all Strip till, no till, conventionalStrip till, no till, conventional
What can it take?What can it take?
Evidently, a lotEvidently, a lot
One grower says “its almost bulletproof”One grower says “its almost bulletproof”
60 days, no rain, 9560 days, no rain, 95+ + temps temps
still heads with rainstill heads with rain
Older heads Older heads and new ones comingand new ones coming
What does it need?What does it need?
Rain, at the right time.Rain, at the right time. Nitrogen-recommended 80-100Nitrogen-recommended 80-100 Phosphorus- 60+ indexPhosphorus- 60+ index Potassium- 70+ indexPotassium- 70+ index Sulfur- important on light soilsSulfur- important on light soils
What does it offer?What does it offer?
Less risk/investmentLess risk/investment
Wider window to make a cropWider window to make a crop
Planting timing options— Planting timing options— full season / double cropfull season / double crop
Flexible cropping optionsFlexible cropping options
Variable Cost BudgetVariable Cost Budget
SeedSeed 8lbs8lbs $ 8.00$ 8.00 HerbicideHerbicide 2.5qt2.5qt $12.50$12.50 InsecticideInsecticide $12.50$12.50 LaborLabor $25.00$25.00 MachineryMachinery $40.22$40.22 Interest on variable costInterest on variable cost $12.68$12.68 DryingDrying $15.50$15.50
Variable Cost Budget Variable Cost Budget cont’dcont’d
FertilizerFertilizer– 100# N100# N $50.00$50.00– 35# P 35# P $21.00$21.00– 50# K50# K $26.00$26.00
TotalTotal $223.40 $223.40
What does it offer? What does it offer? (cont.)(cont.)
Short season, early harvest Short season, early harvest — 65 to 72 days — 65 to 72 days
Same equipmentSame equipment
Good scavenger for Good scavenger for nutrients and waternutrients and water
Where is it going?Where is it going?
Generating interest across the board of several integratorsGenerating interest across the board of several integrators
One company offering 90% of corn to incentivize planting One company offering 90% of corn to incentivize planting for them for 2012for them for 2012
Another integrator looking for 20,000 acres in 2012 at Another integrator looking for 20,000 acres in 2012 at 95% of corn price95% of corn price
Research Opportunities…Research Opportunities…
Fertilization requirementsFertilization requirements
Crop managementCrop management
Management with animal wasteManagement with animal waste
Challenges…Challenges…
Planter setup/populationsPlanter setup/populations Harvest timingHarvest timing Grass control post emergenceGrass control post emergence Storage issuesStorage issues Diseases/InsectsDiseases/Insects Unloading issuesUnloading issues
Pitfalls…Pitfalls…Pitfalls…Pitfalls…
Grower dissatisfaction with processGrower dissatisfaction with process MarketingMarketing Problems in storageProblems in storage Old biases about the crop (bird Old biases about the crop (bird
resistance)resistance)
Bottom LineBottom Line
Can’t consistently make corn Can’t consistently make corn
Pigweed is a game changerPigweed is a game changer
Nematode pressure limiting soybean yieldsNematode pressure limiting soybean yields
Livestock industry important to NC economyLivestock industry important to NC economy
Bottom Line, cont’dBottom Line, cont’d
Good rotational partner for many cropsGood rotational partner for many crops
Market seems to continue to mature Market seems to continue to mature
Fits in well with conservation goalsFits in well with conservation goals
Deer depredation a problem in many areasDeer depredation a problem in many areas
Bottom Line, Bottom Bottom Line, Bottom LineLine
Farmland preservationFarmland preservation
– We can grow it, successfullyWe can grow it, successfully
– It gives growers optionsIt gives growers options
We’ve got to streamline the marketing aspectWe’ve got to streamline the marketing aspect
Growers and elevators need to know what to expectGrowers and elevators need to know what to expect
For more information . . . For more information . . .
contact your NCDA&CS regional agronomistcontact your NCDA&CS regional agronomist
visit visit ncagr.gov/agronomi/rahome.htmncagr.gov/agronomi/rahome.htm
call the Agronomic Division at 919-733-2655call the Agronomic Division at 919-733-2655