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, dry climates. Grain sorghum is typically about 30% less productive than corn in productive environments. Therefore, grain sorghum is generally best suited to be grown in the Midsouth in 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 growing sorghum, relative to other crops in our region, include limited 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 2021 trials evaluated 37 grain sorghum hybrids representing six seed companies at three locations.

If there are additional hybrids, you would like to see tested, please contact your seed company representative, as participation is voluntary and each company is 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.

This publication lists those grain sorghum hybrids which have demonstrated superior grain yield dryland culture in the Mississippi Corn for Grain Hybrid Trials. Hybrids are listed in order of historical yield performance. These trials are conducted using replicated research data generated from multiple locations and cropping seasons in order to thoroughly analyze hybrid genetics grown in diverse environments and improve predictability of future performance. Accordingly, this is a great barometer to judge performance of numerous corn hybrids in today’s marketplace.

2022 MSU Grain Sorghum Hybrid Suggestions