News

USDA sorghum guess down, still above a year ago

The USDA has trimmed its outlook for the 2021 sorghum crop.

Production is expected to be 471.125 million bushels, down 325,000 from October, with no official adjustments to yield and harvested area this month, holding at 72.3 bushels per acre and 6.52 million acres, respectively.

That is up 98.165 million bushels on the year as producers expanded acreage to meet demand, especially export demand from China, but also as a component in some domestic feed rations. A year ago, production totaled 372.96 million bushels with an average yield of 73.2 bushels per acre and harvested area of 5.095 million acres.

The USDA left 2021/22 ending stocks steady at 37 million bushels and the average farm price unchanged at $5.45 per bushel. In 2020/21, sorghum ending stocks were 20 million bushels with an average farm price of $5.04.

As of Sunday, 86% of the U.S. sorghum crop was harvested.

The USDA’s next set of supply, demand, and production numbers is out December 9^th.

Comparisons for Brownfield states:

Kansas: 271.35 million bushels, compared to 238 million in 2020; average yield of 81 bushels per acre, compared to 80 a month ago and 85 a year ago; harvested area of 3.35 million acres, compared to 2.8 million last year

Nebraska: 19.875 million bushels, compared to 13.65 million in 2020; average yield of 75 bushels per acre, compared to 81 a month ago and 91 a year ago; harvested area of 265,000 acres, compared to 150,000 last year

South Dakota: 16.815 million bushels, compared to 11.36 million in 2020; average yield of 59 bushels per acre, compared to 56 a month ago and 71 a year ago; harvested area of 285,000 acres, compared to 160,000 last year