Larger Grain Sorghum Crop

WASHINGTON - Jan 12/06 - SNS -- Sorghum grain production in 2005 is estimated at 394 million bushels, up 2% from the November forecast but 13% below 2004, according to the USDA's final crop production report for 2005.

Area harvested for grain is estimated at 5.74 million acres, down 12% from 2004. Average grain yield, at 68.7 bushels per acre, is up 0.5 bushel from the previous forecast but 0.9 bushel below the 2004 average yield. Grain yields are up from the previous forecast in Colorado, Missouri, and Texas.

Silage production is estimated at 4.22 million tons, down 12% from 2004. Area cut for silage is 311,000 acres, 12% lower than the previous year. Silage yields averaged 13.6 tons per acre, unchanged from last year.

Kansas led the Nation in area planted for all purposes and grain production, while Texas led the Nation for silage production. Large decreases in acreage harvested for silage occurred in New Mexico and South Dakota, with declines of 21,000 acres and 20,000 acres, respectively.

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