(NewsDakota.com/NAFB) – Growers planted 6.81 million acres of sorghum for all purposes this year, up eight percent from last year. Kansas and Texas, the top sorghum-producing states, account for 77 percent of the country’s acreage. Growers expect to harvest 5.94 million acres for grain, up 30 percent from last year.

Approximately 73 percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage was planted by June 18, five percentage points behind the previous year and nine percentage points behind the five-year average. By, June 18, 15 percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage had reached the headed stage, equal to last year but one percentage point behind the five-year average. Sixty percent of the nation’s sorghum acreage was rated in good to excellent condition on June 18, three percentage points above the previous week and 14 percentage points above the previous year.