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WHAT IS SORGHUM?
Sorghum is truly a versatile crop that can be grown as a grain, forage or sweet crop. Sorghum is one of the top
ve cereal crops in the world. The United States is the world's largest producer of grain sorghum, having
produced 597 million bushels in 2015.
Sorghum is among the most e cient crops in conversion of solar energy and use of water and is known as a
high-energy, drought tolerant crop that is environmentally friendly. Due to sorghum's wide uses and
adaptation, sorghum is one of the really indispensable crops required for the survival of humankind (From
Jack Harlan, 1971).
GRAIN SORGHUM
Grain sorghum can take many shapes and sizes from a tight-headed, round panicle to an open, droopy panicle
that can be short or tall. There are various types of sorghum including red, orange, bronze, tan, white, and black
colored sorghum. Red, orange or bronze sorghum is traditionally grown and is used in all segments of the
sorghum industry.Tan, cream and white colored sorghum varieties are typically made into our for the food
industry, while black and burgundy varieties contain bene cial antioxidant properties and are utilized in other
food applications.
FORAGE SORGHUM
Depending on which species and variety is selected, sorghum can be used for grazing pasture, hay production,
silage and green-chop. Forage sorghumtypically grows 8-15 feet tall and ismost popular for use as silage for
feeding livestock.
BIOMASS SORGHUM
Biomass sorghum has the largest stature of all the sorghum varieties, reaching a height of 20 feet in a normal
growing season. Biomass sorghum has been bred to produce a large amount of non-grain biomass. These hybrids
are used primarily for the production of bioenergy.
SWEET SORGHUM
Sweet sorghum is predominantly grown for sorghum syrup. Unlike grain sorghum, sweet sorghum is harvested for
the stalks rather than the grain and is crushed like sugarcane or beets to produce a syrup.Sweet sorghum was
once the predominate table sweetener in the U.S. Today, sweet sorghum is used as a healthy alternative
sweetener to produce whiskey and rum type products and for biofuel and chemical production.
In the United States, and other countries across the globe, sorghum grain is primarily used for livestock feed
and ethanol production, but is becoming popular in the consumer food industry and other emerging markets.
Traditionally, nearly one-third of the U.S. sorghum crop is used for renewable fuel production. In fact,
sorghum produces the same amount of ethanol per bushel as comparable feedstocks while using up to one-
third less water. Learn more about sorghum's role in ethanol (market-opportunities/renewables) here.
Sorghum is also used for new and expanding markets (market-opportunities/new-uses) such as building
material, fencing, oral arrangements, pet food (market-opportunities/pet-food), brooms and more.
Sorghum's versatility gives it the exibility to reach beyond traditional marketplaces, further enhancing
producer pro tability. Discover more about sorghum's innovation.
HISTORY OF SORGHUM
The origin and early domestication of sorghum took place in Northeastern Africa. The earliest known record of
sorghum comes from an archeological dig at Nabta Playa, near the Egyptian-Sudanese border, dated 8,000
B.C. Sorghum spread throughout Africa, and along the way, adapted to a wide range of environments from the
highlands of Ethiopia to the semi-arid Sahel.
The development and spread of ve di erent races of sorghum can, in many cases, be attributed to the
movement of various tribal groups in Africa. Sorghum then spread to India and China and eventually worked
its way into Australia. The rst known record of sorghum in the United States comes from Ben Franklin in 1757
who wrote about its application in producing brooms.
Thirty-one forage and grain sorghum introductions from Africa, India and China to the U.S.
1853-1910
Genetics (germplasm) for improved varieties, primarily from milos and ka rs, in the rst
introductions
1923-1956
1931>
1956
1958
Downy mildew and anthracnose a ects U.S. sorghum with resistant hybrids to follow
1966-1969
1968
1976
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