2021 Grain Sorghum Hybrid Suggestions

Grain Sorghum is a warm-season grass crop that is very drought and heat tolerant, compared to many other major crops, making it well-adapted to hot, droughty climates. Grain sorghum is typically about 30% less productive than corn in productive environments. Therefore, grain sorghum is best suited to grow in the Mid-South in rain-fed (dryland) fields or where productivity is marginal. Grain sorghum produces many benefits when grown in a crop rotation system with soybeans or cotton. The limitations of sorghum in our region include fewer herbicide options to control weeds, sensitivity to off-target glyphosate herbicide injury, high likelihood of insect pest issues, including Sugarcane aphid, and susceptibility to kernel sprouting given moist, humid conditions prior to harvest.

Mississippi State University conducts Grain Sorghum Hybrid Trials so you have sound, independent, local performance data to help pick suitable sorghum hybrids for your farm. The 2020 trials evaluated 33 grain sorghum hybrids representing six seed companies at three locations.

If you would like to see additional hybrids tested, please contact your seed company representative, as participation is voluntary and they are responsible for submitting hybrids they wish to enter. Mississippi State is committed to serving Mississippi growers, so if you have any suggestions, feel free to contact us as well.

Those grain sorghum hybrids which have been productive when grown in dryland culture include (ranking based upon grain yield performance in the Mississippi Grain Sorghum Hybrid Trials):

• Pioneer 84P80
• DEKALB DKS51-01
• Pioneer 83P17
• DEKALB DKS47-07
• DEKALB DKS53-53
• Sorghum Partners SP 7715
• Sorghum Partners SP 68M57
• Local Seed LGS12R19
• Dyna-Gro M72GB71
• Gayland Ward 20313
• Local Seed LGS06B19
• Pioneer 83G19
• DEKALB DKS54-07
• Dyna-Gro M71GR91

University Grain sorghum hybrid performance data are available from:

MAFES – Mississippi Grain Sorghum Variety Trials, 2020

Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Performance Tests 2020

LSU AgCenter – Grain Sorghum Hybrids for Grain 2021