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In what could benefit state sorghum farmers, DuPont and Kansas State University Research Foundation recently signed an agreement giving DuPont exclusive commercialization rights to two new herbicide-tolerant traits in sorghum.
The new traits were developed by Kansas State University researchers, including an ALS-herbicide-tolerant trait and an ACCase-herbicide tolerant trait. According to the researchers, both traits will provide growers with new, more flexible post-emergence herbicide options for grass control in sorghum with no restrictions on export marketing.
Last year in Nebraska, sorghum for grain production is estimated at 23.5 million bushels, up 23 percent from 2006. Yield was estimated at 98 bushels per acre, up 18 bushels from 2006.
Area harvested for grain was 240,000 acres, unchanged from a year ago when the total was the lowest since 1953.
Nationwide, the USDA said sorghum yielded an average of 74.2 bushels per acre, breaking the all-time yield record of 72.7 bushels per acre, set in 1994. Last year's average yield was 56.2 bushels per acre.
Sorghum prices are also up, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported the average price per hundredweight sorghum in January was $7.80, compared to $5.98 in January 2007.
According to Kansas State researchers, growers will benefit from new herbicide solutions developed with the unique blends technology from DuPont Crop Protection for use on sorghum with the new ALS-tolerant trait. Seed companies will have the opportunity to sub-license both traits from DuPont.
"One of the greatest challenges sorghum growers have faced over the years is control of weeds in the crop," said Forrest Chumley, K-State Research and Extension associate director for research. "To solve the problem, we needed to work with a company, such as DuPont, that has optimal herbicide chemistry, access to good crop genetics, and the willingness to make the innovation available broadly. This is a huge step for sorghum production."
Chumley said growers currently rely on pre-emergence grass herbicides that require rainfall for activation. These treatments, he said, can be inconsistent, especially in the High Plains, where annual rainfall frequently is limited.
Chumley said the new ALS-tolerant and ACCase-tolerant traits will provide sorghum growers with post-emergence grass and broadleaf weed control options needed for more versatile application timing.
The new traits, he said, developed using conventional methods, will also allow growers greater rotational flexibility to sorghum from other crops.
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