ΒιΆΉΣ³» Extension’s Alternative Crop Program is offering an online series of four workshops focusing on growing sorghum. The “Exploring Sorghum in ΒιΆΉΣ³»” workshops are every Tuesday, 1 – 2 p.m., March 22 – April 12. Researchers in the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources will update ongoing sorghum research and present practical growing information.
With increased drought conditions in ΒιΆΉΣ³», producers are considering crop and irrigation options that use less water than traditional crops such as alfalfa and maintain a high yield and profitability. Researchers at the University have been exploring sorghum as an alternative crop for ΒιΆΉΣ³», both for its hay for forage for livestock, as well as for its grain for malting and brewing.
“Producers in ΒιΆΉΣ³» are looking for opportunities to grow crops that require less water, and sorghum is such a crop,” said Maninder Walia, assistant professor and field crop specialist with the College’s Extension unit. “We have been researching various aspects of sorghum production here at the University, and are happy to share the information with growers and others who may be interested.”
The workshops are free and will take place via Zoom, but registration is required for each event. The workshops include:
- March 22 – The Basics: Presented by Walia, who will discuss sorghum, its types and production requirements. .
- March 29 – Breeding for Malting and Brewing: Presented by Assistant Professor Melinda Yerka with the College’s Experiment Station unit. Yerka will provide an update to local growers on the current status of the sorghum breeding program at the University that focuses on malting and brewing traits. She will also summarize a range of new traits that have recently been commercialized. .
- April 5 – Irrigation Management: Presented by Assistant Professor Alejandro Andrade-Rodriguez with the College’s Experiment Station unit. Andrade-Rodriquez will provide an update on the irrigation management of sorghum including studies applying full irrigation (no water stress), moderate deficit irrigation (60% of full irrigation) and severe deficit irrigation (30% of full irrigation) treatments to two sorghum varieties in northern ΒιΆΉΣ³».
- April 12 – 3D Remote-Sensing Sorghum Traits: Presented by Associate Professor Robert Washington-Allen with the College’s Experiment Station unit. Washington-Allen will focus on the progress in 3D remote-sensing technologies for above- and below-ground measurements of grain sorghum. He will discuss how technology is being used to measure the traits of sorghum, including root depth, plant height and biomass.
Once registration is completed, participants will be sent a Zoom link to access the workshop. For questions about Zoom access, contact Linda Brown prior to the event at 775-423-5121 or email Linda. Persons in need of special accommodations or assistance should notify Paul Lessick, civil rights and compliance coordinator, at Paul's email or call him at 702-257-5577 at least three days prior to the scheduled event.
