Below-average sorghum harvest in full swing

RIO HONDO - This year's sorghum harvest is in full swing and there is no shortage of the grain, which is used primarily as animal feed. However, the quality of the commodity is far from good, growers say.

More sorghum was planted this spring compared to the spring and fall of 2008, but the increase in acreage is not producing a better crop.

Very little rain, stronger than usual wind and extremely hot weather are being blamed for what is described as a way below average season, people familiar with the farming industry said.

There is a lot of sorghum this season, George David, a local grower, said. But in general, the quality is not as good as in years past.

He said the heads - the plant's upper sections with the grain - are lighter and smaller than in previous seasons.

That's significant because David's sorghum fields are irrigated.

On the other hand, those who grow the dry-land sorghum are at the mercy of Mother Nature.

Since Hurricane Dolly pounded the Rio Grande Valley last July, there has been very little significant rain.

David said he is lucky to have water to irrigate his crop, but added that nothing beats rainwater.

It washes the dust from a plant, he said. It makes a plant a lot healthier.

David estimated that from 3,500 pounds to 5,000 pounds of grain per acre could be harvested this season, compared to 4,000 pounds to 7,000 pounds during a good year.

Teofilo Flores, a grower and custom harvester, estimated this year's harvest season as being way below average.

He began harvesting dry-land sorghum about two weeks go.

Some areas around Rio Hondo are yielding about 3,600 pounds per acre, he said. Other areas are producing 1,600 pounds per acre.

He said there is more sorghum this year, but the 2008 season was a lot better.

Sam Simmons, a Harlingen grower, said he began harvesting dry land sorghum this week and his crop is way off.

I think it will be less than normal even in irrigated land, he said. We irrigated four times this season, compared to the normal three times per season.

Prices for the commodity are also on the downside.

Last week, for example, the going rate was a little more than $6 per 100 pounds, compared to $9.50 at about the same time last year.

Gerald Milligan, manager at the Lyford Co-Op, also described the 2009 season as below average.

Because of an increase in acreage, harvesting is expected to take from six to eight weeks, compared to the normal three weeks it takes to harvest sorghum in the Valley.

A lot more sorghum was planted but less will be harvested, Milligan said.

There were 97,740 acres planted with sorghum this spring in Cameron County, compared to 92,000 acres planted in both the spring and fall of 2008, according to records from the Farm Service Agency in San Benito.