Agricultural News
New Sorghum Technology is Available for Oklahoma Sorghum Producers
Mon, 24 Jan 2022 14:36:43 CST
New technology is available for Oklahoma sorghum farmers that offers superior grass control against grasses like green foxtail, crabgrass and more. KC Sheperd, farm director for the Oklahoma Farm Report, caught up with Brent Bean, director of agronomy for the United Soybean Checkoff, recently at the Red River Crops Conference to talk about what is available this year.
Two products are ready for producers to try: iGrowth by Alta Seeds and Double Team by Sorghum Partners, a brand of S&W Seed Company, according to Bean. Both are non-GMO, herbicide-tolerant grain and forge sorghum seeds. iGrowth is bred to work with IMIFLEX and Double Team is bred to work with FirstAct Herbicide.
"I encourage guys that have a grass issue to try them," Bean said. "I would not plant the whole farm to any of these but maybe pick a farm where you have a lot of grass and try it - see how those hybrids work for you."
Since these new products are brand-new, some sorghum-seed availability will be limited, Bean warned.
"I think there will be plenty of iGrowth seed available, so that should not be hard to get," Bean said. "The Double Team is going to be tighter supplied. You should be able to get seed but maybe to get the one you really want; maybe a little more difficult this first year."
Producers who are interested in trying this new technology should reach out to their seed dealers.
Also new in the sorghum world is a new variety of waxy sorghum, according to Bean. No, it is not naturally coated with a greasy or shiny substance. The difference is the makeup of starch in the grain and may increase the value of grain sorghum.
In traditional grain sorghum the ratio of the two is approximately 75% amylopectin and 25% amylose. However, waxy sorghum is made up almost entirely of amylopectin. Amylopectin is easier to digest than amylose. Research has suggested that ethanol yield and fermentation efficiency may be improved with the use of waxy sorghum.
Additionally, grain sorghum is the preferred source of starch for the baijiu market. Baijiu is the most popular alcoholic drink in the world, most notably in China, and waxy sorghum may have some significant benefits to this market. There are also potential uses for waxy sorghum in the U.S. food industry.
Hit the LISTEN BAR to hear KC Sheperd and Dr. Brent Bean talk about what is new for sorghum in 2022, including new seed technology, waxy sorghum and more.
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