2019 Grain Sorghum Hybrid Suggestions

Grain Sorghum is a warm-season grass crop that is very drought and heat tolerant, compared to many other major crops, making it well-adapted to hot, droughty climates. Grain sorghum is typically about 30% less productive than corn in productive environments. Therefore, grain sorghum is best suited to grow in the Mid-South in rain-fed (dryland) fields or where productivity is marginal. Grain sorghum produces many benefits when grown in a crop rotation system with soybeans or cotton. The limitations of sorghum in our region include fewer herbicide options to control weeds, sensitivity to off-target glyphosate herbicide injury, high likelihood of insect pest issues, including Sugarcane aphid, and susceptibility to kernel sprouting given moist, humid conditions prior to harvest.

Mississippi State University conducts Grain Sorghum Hybrid Trials so you have sound, independent, local performance data to help pick suitable sorghum hybrids for your farm. The 2018 trials evaluated 24 grain sorghum hybrids representing 5 seed companies at three locations.

If you would like to see additional hybrids tested, please contact your seed company representative, as participation is voluntary and they are responsible for submitting hybrids they wish to enter. Mississippi State is committed to serving Mississippi growers, so if you have any suggestions, feel free to contact us as well.

Those grain sorghum hybrids which have been productive when grown in dryland culture include (ranking based upon grain yield performance in the Mississippi Grain Sorghum Hybrid Trials):

• Pioneer 84P80
• DEKALB DKS53-67
• Pioneer 83P17 (*SCA tolerance – see below)
• Pioneer 83P99
• DEKALB DKS53-53
• Dyna Gro M73GR55
• DEKALB DKS51-01
• Terral REV 9782
• Sorghum Partners SP7715 (*SCA tolerance – see below)
• Terral REV 9562
• DEKALB DKS54-00
• Terral REV 9924

*The United Sorghum Checkoff has compiled a list of sorghum hybrids which have exhibited some degree of tolerance to sugarcane aphid. These hybrids must be recommended as tolerant by the respective seed company and have independent data, usually from university or USDA trials, that confirm some tolerance. The extent of tolerance may vary among hybrids and no hybrid should be immune to SCA. As a result, all hybrids may need to be sprayed at some point during the season.

Sorghum Checkoff – 2018 Hybrids Identified with Sugarcane aphid tolerance

University Grain Sorghum hybrid performance data are available from:

MAFES – Mississippi Grain Sorghum Hybrid Trials, 2018

University of Arkansas – Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Performance Tests 2018

LSU AgCenter – Louisiana Grain Sorghum Hybrid Trials 2018