Top Grain Sorghum Producing Counties in Kansas

North Central Kansas had the highest production of grain sorghum in 2011. Last year, production was highest mostly in the Southwest portion of Kansas. The state saw much warmer and drier conditions this year compared to last and production shifted due to drought in the Southern two-thirds of the state.

Jewell County led the state in highest sorghum production with 5.95 million bushels followed by Smith County with 4.97 million bushels. Mitchell, Rooks and Osborne County rounded out the top five. Marshall County saw the highest yields in 2011 with 112.5 bushels per acre.

The Kansas grain sorghum crop totaled 110.0 million bushels, 36 percent below the 2010 crop and the lowest since 1964. The total acreage planted was up 250,000 acres from the previous year and yields averaged 55 bushels per acre. Despite production being down, Kansas continues to lead the Nation in sorghum production and accounts for 51 percent of the U.S. grain sorghum production.