Sorghum in United States

Sorghum in United States
Wild sorghum dates back prior to 3000 BC. Grain sorghum first was carried into North America from West Africa with the slave trade, along with other grain crops.

In about 1857, 16 cultivars of sorghum were brought to the United States from Natal.

Early sorghum development in North America involved natural hybridization.

Deliberate hybridization followed soon thereafter, with some of the earliest crosses being made in 1914.

This was followed with the development of extensive hybridization programs.

Sorghum ranks fifth in acreage and production among major cereal crops on a worldwide basis behind wheat, rice corn and barley.

World production in the mid 1970s was approximately 52 million ton produced in some 104 million acres.

Slightly more than 50% of sorghum grain is produced in North America.

Sorghum grain is used for human consumption and as feed for animals.

Sorghum has been vital food source for billion of people, especially in the semi arid tropics of Africa and Asia.

The grain can be used in the making of leavened and unleavened bread and in the production of beer.

It also can be boiled into porridge.

Sorghum stems and foliage are used for pasture, green chop or hay, and silage; plant bases are used for fuel for cooking and stems are used o make basket and fish traps.
Sorghum in United States