Farm Director KC Sheperd spoke with Dr. Brian Arnall, who joined the discussion to highlight several exciting developments in sorghum research and outreach in Oklahoma. “We’ve had the opportunity this year, with the support of the Oklahoma Grain Sorghum and US Sorghum groups, to do a concerted effort to get out there and help growers with sorghum.” One key initiative is the upcoming “Sorghum in the Field” event on July 29 in Dacoma, which aims to be an interactive and hands-on experience. “We’re going to be doing scouting tours. How do we scout for aphids? How do we scout for chinch bugs? Let’s cut some plants and get a little dirty.”
Unlike traditional seminars, the field day is designed to foster conversation rather than lectures. “We really want it to be a back-and-forth. We don’t want this to be a bunch of folks wearing orange talking at the farmers.” Along with Dr. Arnall, the event will feature a strong lineup of specialists from Oklahoma State University. The goal is to provide insights into forage trials, soil fertility, cropping systems, and regional adaptations specific to sorghum.
Dr. Arnall also discussed sorghum’s vital role in Oklahoma agriculture. “Sorghum is a beautiful crop for us especially in the western part of the state. Sorghum is a tough crop. It has the ability to just shut down when it gets ugly in Oklahoma, it just stops.” He emphasized its value for marginal or drought-prone land and its potential as a double-crop option where corn may not be as viable. “We’re probably running 250,000 to 400,000 acres of sorghum at any one time so sorghum as a whole is a really important crop for the state.”
For those unable to attend the July event, there will be additional opportunities throughout the year. “We will be out in the Panhandle in August and we’re going to be doing an in-depth dive into sorghum production in El Reno on December 10.” These events will allow producers across the state to connect with research, attend trainings, and review data collected throughout the growing season.
To stay informed and register for events, Dr. Arnall pointed everyone to a central online resource. “SorghumOklahoma.com, that’s a website that has all the information as it changes or as it goes along.” He encouraged attendees to register so organizers can plan appropriately, adding, “We’ll serve breakfast, we’ll have some donuts and such, and we’ll have lunch for everybody.” Dr. Arnall closed by thanking the key sponsors: “We could not be doing this without the Sorghum Checkoff and the Oklahoma Sorghum Commission, and of course, the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.
To get signed up, and to see more events click here.
