What is sorghum farming in Australia?
Sorghum is a summer grain crop grown mainly in Queensland and northern New South Wales. It is valued for its tolerance of heat and dry conditions, and most of it is used as feed for livestock.
Sorghum is sown in spring and summer and harvested in autumn. It fits into farming systems where winter crops such as wheat and chickpeas are grown in the cooler months.
The crop is grown on the Darling Downs, in central Queensland and in the Liverpool Plains of New South Wales. These areas have deep soils that store moisture from summer rain.
Uses and exports
In Australia, most sorghum is used in feed for cattle in feedlots, as well as for pigs and poultry. Some of the crop is exported, mainly to China, where it is used for animal feed and to make baijiu, a strong spirit.
Sorghum is drought tolerant, and its roots can extract moisture from deep in the soil. This makes it suitable for regions where rainfall is variable.
Researchers at the University of Queensland and other institutions have developed new varieties that cope better with heat and stress. Sorghum is also gluten free and is used in some foods for people with coeliac disease.
Did You Know?
The Liverpool Plains around Gunnedah is one of Australia's most productive summer cropping areas.