What is Sorghum?

While sorghum is an ancient grain that was domesticated in Africa around 8,000 years ago, it has become a cornerstone crop of Kansas, better known as the number one sorghum-producing state at 185 million bushels annually, or half of the grain’s production within the U.S. It is drought-tolerant, non-GMO, and requires fewer inputs, including water and fertilizer, than other grains. The mature sorghum crop can range in color, such as cream, orange, bronze, and black.

You will find a majority of U.S. sorghum being grown in the area known as the Sorghum Belt, which stretches from South Dakota all the way to the Texas panhandle. Different varieties of sorghum are grown for different end uses. The most common varieties grown in the United States include:

Grain sorghum, used for gluten-free baking products, ethanol production, and even pet food!
Forage sorghum, used for livestock feed rations, such as for beef and dairy cattle.
Sweet sorghum, which is harvested for its stalk to create a sweet sorghum syrup that resembles to molasses. It is predominant in the Southern U.S.

In Kansas, sorghum (also nicknamed “milo”) is planted between May and June and is harvested between mid-September and mid-October. In 2024, according to the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission’s annual report, 2.8 million sorghum acres were harvested, averaging 65 bushels per acre. According to the Kansas Department of Agriculture, the Kansas sorghum industry generated an economic impact of $767 million, down from $1.48 billion in 2023.

Domestic and Foreign Markets

Countries around the globe have continued to praise U.S. sorghum for its qualities across many end uses, particularly for ethanol and livestock feed, but for human consumption as well. Check out the graphic below from the U.S. Grains Council to see who our top trade partners are:

Traditionally, a majority of U.S. sorghum has been exported, but domestic markets are diversifying, thanks to the work of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, United Sorghum Checkoff Program, and their partners. Dairies and feedlots on the High Plains are making the switch to sorghum silage-based feed rations in order to conserve water, and pet food companies like sorghum for its high antioxidant content.

Sorghum also makes a great substitute for wheat in many baked goods, and can even be popped like popcorn, extruded into a puff, or steamed for an excellent addition to a grain stir-fry bowl.