Audio Files:    

with Tim Lust       

 

  Cut #1     :33     nsp-seedavailability-lust-1                 O.C... " have that seed available ."

  Cut #2     :27     nsp-seedavailability-lust-2                 O.C..." across the board ."        

 

 

Sorghum Seed Still Available Across the Country

 

High grain prices and solid moisture profiles have sorghum producers looking forward to a good g rain sorghum crop this season. But, many are wondering if there will be enough seed to plant.

 

Tim Lust, CEO of the National Sorghum Producers (NSP), said that sorghum growers should still be able to find seed that meets their needs.

 

"There certainly have been a lot of questions recently about the availability of sorghum seed. I travel around the country and Ive heard them in the last two weeks. While each individual producers favorite hybrid number may not be available, as far as an industry, we still have a good base of seed. We have reached out and visited with several of our industry seed company partners. We know that in each maturity classification, we still have seed available. If a producer is having trouble finding seed, be sure to get in touch with our office and we can certainly point you in the direction of people who have seed available."

 

Lust is optimistic about the promising year ahead. The National Agricultural Statistics Service, in its March Prospective Plantings report, projected an increase of 587,000 acres. Texas is expected to account for a 450,000 acre increase. Other significant increases are in the Southeast. Mississippi was expected to have almost a 7-fold increase in sorghum acreage with Arkansas tripling and Louisiana doubling their normal acreage.

 

"There is no doubt, obviously based upon the seed situation and the questions that are being asked, that we do have a significant increase in acres," said Lust. "The other thing we are very excited about, at least in our southern regions, is that the crop is off to a tremendous start with very good moisture conditions. Throughout the Sorghum Belt, were blessed this year with well above normal moisture. So certainly, producers are excited looking at the possibilities of having some really good yields this year across the board." 

 

NSP represents U.S. sorghum producers. Headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, in the heart of the U.S. Sorghum Belt that stretches from the Rockies to the Mississippi River and from South Texas to South Dakota, the organization works to ensure the profitability of sorghum production through market development, research, education and legislative representation. To learn more about NSP, visit www.sorghumgrowers.com.  

 

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