The latest United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) report, released on 13 January 2024, reveals a forecasted global coarse grain production increase of 11.9 million tons for 2023/24, totalling 1,513.9 million tons. Of this, Australia produces about 1.65 million tons.
Sorghum produced in Australia is used almost exclusively for feed, especially for cattle, pigs and poultry. None is used for human consumption and a significant market exists in the pet food industry. An export market of around 1 Mt exists, particularly to Japan, but the average amount exported is in the order of 300–500 kt.
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Grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolour (L.) Moench) is the main dryland summer grain crop in the northern grains region of Australia, and it plays a key role in providing feed grains to the beef, dairy, pig and poultry industries. It is a good rotation crop, as it can tolerate heat and moisture stress, and it performs better than maize on soils with marginal potassium (K) levels.
More broadly, sorghum is the fifth most produced grain globally. It is a two-meter-tall plant from the grass family and is often grown where there are high temperatures and lower rainfall. In wetter regions, sorghum production is lower than that of more lucrative crops such as rice and maize. Sorghum is an essential crop in Africa, second to maize, and is the staple grain for millions of people. Although it is mainly consumed as a grain, sorghum is also prepared into a wide variety of other food products such as porridge, breads, lactic and alcoholic beverages, as well as weaning meals.
Sorghum produced in Australia is used almost exclusively for feed, especially for cattle, pigs and poultry. None is used for human consumption and a significant market exists in the pet food industry. An export market of around 1 megatonnes exists, particularly to Japan, but the average amount exported is in the order of 300–500 kt.
Approximately 60% of the Australian crop is grown in Queensland and the remainder in northern NSW. Sorghum is predominantly a summer season crop, with an extended season in higher latitudes including Central Queensland and further north.
The area of sorghum planted for grain in northern NSW is on average 160,000 ha and in Queensland 470,000 ha annually. The main zones for sorghum production are the area east of the Newell Highway and the Liverpool Plains in NSW and the Darling Downs in Queensland.
As of the 16th of January 2024, ABARES forecasts the current sorghum crop at 1.5 million tonnes, but a potential upside exists if northern region storms persist during the growing season.
Sorghum is a warm short-cycle annual crop, adapted to withstand higher average temperatures than most other cereal crops.
After germination, average temperatures between 24 °C to 27 °C are ideal for the best yields. Low temperatures can be limiting to sorghum growth and most plants will die when exposed to freezing temperatures.
Sorghum is often grown in regions that get between 350 and 700 mm of precipitation annually. As a predominantly rain-fed crop, its yield depends largely on its drought resistance.
The ideal soil moisture during germination ranges between 25% and 50% of field capacity and the sorghum plant can survive flooding events as it is more tolerant of wet soils. Sorghum is often grown in shallow to medium-deep or light to medium-textured soils and/or medium-to-deep soils of high water capacity after the rainy season.
If you’d like to learn more about other grains please explore other pages on this site or you can read our articles.
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