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USDA cuts sorghum production estimate

The USDA has lowered their outlook for this year’s sorghum crop.

Production is now pegged at 252.115 million bushels, down 34.005 million on the month with the USDA lowering yield by 7.2 bushels per acre to 46 because of drought in some key growing areas, with harvested area of 5.48 million acres. In 2021, production was 447.81 million bushels with an average yield of 69 bushels per acre and harvested area of 6.49 million acres.

That’s on top of a big year-to-year decline also because of a drop in yield, along with a significant decline in planted area due to slower demand, including export demand from China.

The new crop sorghum ending stocks projection was below a month ago with that production decline mostly canceled out by a lower export estimate.

The USDA’s next round of supply, demand, and production numbers is out October 12^th.

Comparisons for Brownfield states:

Kansas: 139.5 million bushels, compared to 265.2 million in 2021; Yield: 45 bushels per acre, compared to 61 a month ago and 78 a year ago; Planted Area: 3.3 million acres, an increase of 200,000 from the prior guess; Harvested Area: 3.1 million acres, compared to 3.4 million last year

Nebraska: 15.9 million bushels, compared to 19.78 million in 2021; Yield: 60 bushels per acre, compared to 60 a month ago and 86 a year ago; Planted Area: 320,000 acres, a decrease of 20,000 from the prior guess; Harvested Area: 265,000 acres, compared to 230,000 last year

South Dakota: 13.735 million bushels, compared to 13.44 million in 2021; Yield: 67 bushels per acre, compared to 67 a month ago and 64 a year ago; Planted Area: 280,000 acres, a decrease of 60,000 from the prior guess; Harvested Area: 205,000 acres, compared to 210,000 last year