Area farmers in the Texas Coastal Bend are invited to attend the farmer focused educational program, Sorghum U 2014, set for January 9. The one-day educational series is designed to provide participants with the latest developments and news related to growing grain sorghum as an alternative crop, according to Southwest Farm Press.
Information ranging from the changing business environment for farmers and marketing strategies to managing sorghum for top yields will be addressed. In addition, lessons learned from farmers in previous growing seasons also will be shared.
A special presentation of the latest research on grain sorghum conducted by the USDA Cropping Systems Research Laboratory in Lubbock is scheduled as part of the day’s activities. The research has focused on water and temperature stress on crops, searching for plants that germinate earlier in the season.
Laboratory Director and Research Team Leader Dr. John Burke says the research team has discovered a breakthrough that makes the plant more adaptive to early planting schedules and has developed traits that allow for increased drought tolerance.
The educational program is sponsored by the Sorghum Checkoff, Sorghum Partners, CrustBuster/Speed King Inc., and others. The event also will be held in Kansas and Nebraska.
Registration for the free event is available at www.hpj.com/sorghumu or call (855) 422-6652. A complete schedule can be found at www.SorghumU.com.