As we close out #harvest24 (can you believe it?), it’s time to reflect on what this season taught us. The year brought its fair share of challenges, from pest pressures to drought, but it also demonstrated the strength and resilience of both sorghum and the farmers who grow it. Here’s a look at the main agronomic lessons from 2024 and how they might shape our approach moving forward. 

Drought

Once again, drought tested sorghum in the Sorghum Belt. National yields showed improvement over the previous two years, but it was far from an easy season. The USDA slashed yield expectations mid-summer, only to adjust upward in early fall, when harvest data came in and proved yields were better than anticipated.

The lesson here? Sorghum’s resilience and ability to withstand stress are among its greatest assets. But as drought becomes a more constant factor, selecting drought-tolerant varieties and optimizing planting dates will remain vital to consistently strong yields. 

Pests

This season highlighted some perennial pest issues that shouldn’t be underestimated. Chinch bugs were especially active in localized areas. Infestations in south-central Kansas turned destructive, particularly in fields where sorghum was double-cropped into wheat stubble. Unfortunately, even insecticide-treated seed was sometimes overwhelmed, especially in cases where double-cropping followed wheat. Going forward, we’ll need to stay proactive by scouting early and, when needed, applying border treatments to control chinch bugs before they have a chance to spread.  

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Headworms also proved challenging in a few fields. Often overlooked, these pests can cause significant damage if not managed carefully. A single headworm consumes about 4.65 grams of grain in its life cycle, and although that might not sound like much, it adds up quickly across a field. Scouting from flowering to soft dough stage is critical for spotting headworms before they inflict substantial yield loss. Inconsistencies with pyrethroids have led many to explore alternative insecticides such as Lannate, Blackhawk or Vantacor for more effective control without harming beneficial insects. 

Lodging

Lodging also posed difficulties in pockets, as it seems to do every year, highlighting the importance of planting hybrids with strong stalks and harvesting timely. Rainfall provided help in finishing the crop in many areas, but during the year, there still were plenty of calls about irrigation management.

With increasing interest in intensively managing irrigated sorghum production, questions around when to terminate irrigation seemed to be on the upswing. As we know, getting this timing right can mean the difference between a quality yield and lost potential.

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Resources on optimal irrigation termination are invaluable and worth revisiting each season to ensure that every drop counts, especially during dry years. This year was no exception. 

Regulations

This year also saw some regulatory changes that directly affect sorghum. Chlorpyrifos, long a go-to for pest management, was reapproved after a court decision, but the future remains uncertain, making it all the more critical to explore alternative control options. On the herbicide front, products such as Reviton (a PPO herbicide) gained traction due to new 24c labels allowing for use before sorghum planting.

Regardless of the active ingredient, proper adjuvant selection is essential, as research has shown that treatments without the correct mix — such as omitting MSO with Roundup — can lead to reduced effectiveness. For preplant control, expect Reviton to remain a viable alternative in 2025. 

Lessons

The 2024 season was a lesson in both the challenges and opportunities that sorghum farmers face. Drought, pests and regulatory shifts will continue to test our resilience, but this year has underscored the crop’s ability to adapt and thrive even when the odds are tough. Moving forward, staying informed on best agronomic practices, and investing in pest and weed management, will be crucial to ensuring that sorghum remains a profitable and viable choice for years to come. 

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As we look to 2025, the lessons learned from this harvest season give us a strong foundation. Sorghum has proven itself once again to be “the resource-conserving crop,” capable of weathering storms — both literal and regulatory — and continuing to serve the farmers who put it in the ground year after year. Let’s take what we’ve learned in 2024 and make it count.