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    Grain sorghum

Grain sorghum - a real crop for the future!

Farmer Jan

operates a mixed farm and grows sorghum to enlarge his crop rotation as well as using sorghum for animal feeding. When it comes to feeding his pigs, he has full confidence in the strenghts of grain sorghum.

Heat, drought, diseases and pests: the future poses major challenges for agriculture. Grain sorghum provides the right answers! It is convincing because of its great adaptability to different temperatures, and soil conditions. With its high flexibility and robustness, it adapts to extreme conditions.

The advantages are not only reduced costs and more profitable production. Feeding grain sorghum is also a health benefit for my animals.
Farmer Jan

Benefits and advantages of grain sorghum

1

Tolerances

Sorghum is naturally drought and heat tolerant.

2

Requirements

Sorghum has got low nitrogen, pesticide and water requirements.

3

Usability

Grain Sorghum is a good alternative in animal and human nutrition.

Jan has six successful sorghum-growing
facts for you!

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> And you shorten the germination time by up to two weeks!

Grain sorghum often has advantages over other crops in cultivation on dry solis. Important: Before sowing sorghum, the seedbed should be prepared precisely! If you also choose the right time for sowing, you can significantly increase the yield prospects. The optimum sowing time is beginning of May to mid June.
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> This is how you get an homogenous field emergence of your plants!

Grain sorghum is less demanding on soil quality. For an optimal yield, however, it is recommended to grow sorghum in fields with low grass pressure. This will prevent the plants from being overgrown by more robust native species, especially in the juvenile stage!
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> Before harvesting, check the bottom 1/3 of the sorghum head for ripeness!

The optimal harvest time for sorghum is 35 to 40 days after flowering – when the grain is ripe, the leaves are still green. It is not advisable to wait until the leaves have dried out before harvesting. The grain dries quickly and the harvest takes place at a moisture content of between 15 and 20%.
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> Both for food and feed!

Grain Sorghum can be used in many ways in agriculture – not only because of its lower costs and profitable production. With its high content of nutrients, proteins and starch, it can be used especially as a feed component for animals as well as for human nutrition.
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> The corn rootworm has left the field!

Grain sorghum is particularly tough and resistant to diseases and pests. For example, the larvae of the corn rootworm cannot develop in it! This ensures a high yielding harvest, especially in infested areas!
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> KWS NEMESIS ensures a stable yield under difficult conditions!

Our sorghum product portfolio gets "new blood"! After KWS LUPUS, our first grain sorghum variety on the market, we are expanding our product range with KWS Nemesis. The difference between the two varieties: Lupus ripens early, Nemesis stands for medium maturity. Which remains the same: Both are hardy, resistant to pests and extremely drought-tolerant!

KWS breeding program for grain sorghum

The next step for a high-yield harvest:
Our grain sorghum varieties

You are looking for a strong sorghum crop for your fields? Our grain sorghum product portfolio ensures a stable yield under difficult conditions! Our new variety KWS NEMESIS stands for medium maturity, KWS LUPUS ripens early. Which remains the same: Both are hardly resistant to pests and extremely drought-tolerant! For detailed information visit our country sides.

Find the right sorghum seed for your country!
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Fifth in the world, on the rise in Europe!

Grain sorghum is the fifth most important cereal in the world, with a nutritional profile similar to corn. In Europe grain sorghum is used mainly for animal feeding. In other corners of the world sorghum is known for its versatility - human nutrition, producing of syrups, ethanol, silage or hay for feeding.

Map based on United States Department of Agriculture in “1000ha”

Map based on United States Department of Agriculture in “1000ha”

With it's drought and heat tolerance, Sorghum is naturally able to support farmers due to upcoming challenges posed by climate change.
Dr. Magdalena Buschmann, Product Manager Sorghum

Did you know?

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    It stops growing during drought conditions and will only continue to grow again after receiving water.

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    It has lower nitrogen requirements in comparison to other crops and a reduced need for pesticides and water. No-till technology can be used in cultivating sorghum.

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    It can replace other feed by 40–100% without affecting daily weight gain.

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    In human food alone, sorghum can be used for semolina, flour, syrups, beer, popped sorghum and confectionery. In addition to the grain, the forage can be used as hay, silage and fresh feed for animals.

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    Sorghum’s stay-green trait can increase yields by up to 20% in drought conditions.

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    This characteristic makes sorghum extremely flexible. By choosing the right variety, it is possible to use sorghum as a second crop, which can help against soil and wind erosion during hot summers. And also, of course, this increases the income of the farmer.

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    This wax develops during conditions of stress and helps the plant slow down respiration and photosynthesis. The wax also protects the stem and leaves from direct sunlight.

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    Sorghum is mainly used as a human foodstuff in climates which do not allow for the production of other cereals. In some African countries, annual consumption is 100kg of sorghum per person.

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    This can help with breaking up of crop rotation and controlling Diabrotica, while still delivering very good yields.

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Learn more about grain sorghum in feeding
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Your contact partner

Tobias Kunze
Tobias Kunze
International Product Manager Sorghum
Tel.: +49 151 20 34 73 83
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