A tough start to the season combined with a downturn in the Chinese economy has sorghum producers feeling the pinch.
According to MCA Goondiwindi’s Angus Elder, sorghum prices are significantly softer now than at this time last year and are trading about $235-$240/tonne for March to April delivery to the Downs.
Mr Elder said these prices are about a $50-$80/t difference to last year.
“My understanding is there was a lot of demand coming from China but given their economic downturn, among other reasons, this market has fallen away,” he said.
Besides market pressures creating road blocks for growers, the dry weather patterns existent throughout Queensland made for a tough grain fill period for many crops.
Mr Elder said initial indicative yields are solid enough given conditions.
“Most of the early September planted crops went in after a long fallow which meant the profiles were full of moisture but high temperatures and dry weather didn’t do growers any favours,” he said.
“Another widespread healthy rainfall event in the next week or ten days would really kick all the crops along and cool conditions for the crops that are still flowering would be ideal.”
With harvest set to kick off this week for September planted crops, Mr Elder said early indications pointed towards yields ranging between three and 4t/hectare after limited rainfall.
“The later planted sorghum has had a better run with rainfall coming at booting and flowering and we can expect yields significantly higher for these crops,” he said.
Stephen Gibson, Dulacca Farms, said he expected much greater results from his October sorghum than the earlier September planted crops.
“We’ve got about 400 of 2600 hectares sprayed out now to harvest next week and it looks like doing 4t/hectare,” he said.
“Later crops like this one (pictured) have the potential to do that and more but it depends on rain.
“If we could get one more decent steady fall it’d be perfect.”
With the Bureau of Meteorology predicting an equal chance of above or below average January rainfall for most of Australia, sorghum growers are hoping for the right toss of the coin to deliver the lucky last drop.
