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USDA Reduces Sorghum Area Estimate

WASHINGTON - Oct 10/19 - SNS -Sorghum production is forecast at 349 million bushels, down 1% from the previous forecast and down 4% from last year, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Acreage updates were made in several States following a thorough review of all available data. Planted area, at 5.26 million acres, is down 1% from the previous estimate and down 8% from last year. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 4.72 million acres, down less than 1% from the previous forecast and down 7% from 2018.}

Based on October 1 conditions, yield is forecast at 73.9 bushels per acre, 0.4 bushel lower than the previous forecast but 1.8 bushels per acre above the 2018 yield of 72.1 bushels per acre. Growers are expecting a record high yield in South Dakota.

Sorghum Area Planted for All Purpose and Harvested for Grain - States and United States:
2018 and 2019
[Includes updates to planted and harvested area previously published]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :           Area planted            :          Area harvested
       State      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :      2018       :      2019       :      2018       :     2019 1/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :                              1,000 acres
                  :
Arkansas 2/ ......:         12              (NA)                10              (NA)
Colorado .........:        355               365               325               325
Georgia 2/ .......:         25              (NA)                15              (NA)
Illinois 2/ ......:         18              (NA)                16              (NA)
Kansas ...........:      2,800             2,600             2,650             2,400
Louisiana 2/ .....:          8              (NA)                 6              (NA)
Mississippi 2/ ...:          4              (NA)                 3              (NA)
Missouri 2/ ......:         30              (NA)                21              (NA)
Nebraska .........:        230               195               170               140
New Mexico 2/ ....:         80              (NA)                47              (NA)
                  :
North Carolina 2/ :         18              (NA)                 8              (NA)
Oklahoma .........:        300               305               240               270
South Dakota .....:        260               245               200               180
Texas ............:      1,550             1,550             1,350             1,400
                  :
United States ....:      5,690             5,260             5,061             4,715
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(NA) Not available.
1/   Forecasted.
2/   Estimates discontinued in 2019.
Sorghum for Grain Area Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and United States: 2018 and
Forecasted October 1, 2019
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :   Area harvested    :          Yield per acre          :     Production
                    :------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        State       :          :          :          :         2019          :          :
                    :   2018   :   2019   :   2018   :-----------------------:   2018   :   2019
                    :          :          :          :September 1: October 1 :          :
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :     1,000 acres        ---------- bushels ----------        1,000 bushels
                    :
Arkansas 1/ ........:     10       (NA)       77.0        (NA)        (NA)         770       (NA)
Colorado ...........:    325        325       53.0        48.0        45.0      17,225     14,625
Georgia 1/ .........:     15       (NA)       53.0        (NA)        (NA)         795       (NA)
Illinois 1/ ........:     16       (NA)      111.0        (NA)        (NA)       1,776       (NA)
Kansas .............:  2,650      2,400       88.0        82.0        82.0     233,200    196,800
Louisiana 1/ .......:      6       (NA)       84.0        (NA)        (NA)         504       (NA)
Mississippi 1/ .....:      3       (NA)       90.0        (NA)        (NA)         270       (NA)
Missouri 1/ ........:     21       (NA)      100.0        (NA)        (NA)       2,100       (NA)
Nebraska ...........:    170        140       94.0        93.0        93.0      15,980     13,020
New Mexico 1/ ......:     47       (NA)       38.0        (NA)        (NA)       1,786       (NA)
                    :
North Carolina 1/ ..:      8       (NA)       60.0        (NA)        (NA)         480       (NA)
Oklahoma ...........:    240        270       50.0        53.0        52.0      12,000     14,040
South Dakota .......:    200        180       80.0        83.0        83.0      16,000     14,940
Texas ..............:  1,350      1,400       46.0        68.0        68.0      62,100     95,200
                    :
United States ......:  5,061      4,715       72.1        74.3        73.9     364,986    348,625
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(NA) Not available.
1/   Estimates discontinued in 2019.

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