U.S. Sorghum Plantings Sink 15%

WASHINGTON - Jun 30/16 - SNS -- Area planted to sorghum in 2016 is estimated at 7.23 million acres, down 15% from last year, according to the USDA's seeded area estimates for 2016.

Kansas and Texas, the leading sorghum-producing States, account for 77% of the United States acreage. Record low planted acreage is estimated in Arkansas. Growers expect to harvest 6.46 million acres for grain, down 18% from last year.

As of June 26, 95% of the crop had been planted, 4 percentage points ahead of last year and 2 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Roughly 26% of the crop was headed, 6 percentage points ahead of last year and 4 percentage points ahead of the five-year average; while 70% of the crop was in good to excellent condition on June 26, compared with 68% at the same time last year.

Beginning in 2016, sorghum estimates were discontinued in Arizona. Estimates began in 2016 for North Carolina.

Sorghum Area Planted for All Purposes and Harvested for Grain - States and United States:
2015 and 2016
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :   Area planted for all purposes   :     Area harvested for grain
       State      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :      2015       :      2016       :      2015       :     2016 1/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :                              1,000 acres
                  :
Arizona 2/ .......:         24              (NA)                 4              (NA)
Arkansas .........:        450                40               440                37
Colorado .........:        440               390               400               340
Georgia ..........:         50                35                34                20
Illinois .........:         38                15                34                13
Kansas ...........:      3,400             3,150             3,200             2,900
Louisiana ........:         77                70                74                63
Mississippi ......:        120                20               115                18
Missouri .........:        155                80               140                66
Nebraska .........:        270               190               240               150
                  :
New Mexico .......:        125               135                90                95
North Carolina 3/ :       (NA)                50              (NA)                39
Oklahoma .........:        440               420               410               380
South Dakota .....:        270               230               220               185
Texas ............:      2,600             2,400             2,450             2,150
                  :
United States ....:      8,459             7,225             7,851             6,456
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(NA) Not available.
1/   Forecasted.
2/   Estimates discontinued in 2016.
3/   Estimates began in 2016.