Kansas Sorghum Growers Ride a Wave of Export Demand
Strong overseas demand for grain sorghum, a drought-tolerant staple of Kansas fields, is lifting prospects for growers of the crop known locally as milo.
Kansas sorghum growers are enjoying a wave of export demand for the drought-tolerant grain, known locally as milo, that has long been a staple of the state's drier fields.
Kansas leads the nation in sorghum production, and the crop's ability to yield with less water makes it increasingly attractive as farmers confront tightening groundwater and unpredictable rainfall. Much of the crop is destined for overseas buyers who use it for livestock feed and food products.
"Milo is the crop that keeps producing when the rain quits, and the world has taken notice," a grain marketer said. The demand has narrowed the historic price gap between sorghum and corn.
Researchers at the state's agricultural universities are developing new varieties aimed at boosting yield and pest resistance, hoping to build on the crop's momentum.
