SORGHUM seed is hard to come by in northern Australia as farmers look towards a monster 2018-9 plant.
Good October rain, coupled with raging sorghum prices, have the industry enthused about a big plant.
Prices for new crop sorghum currently sit at around $370 a tonne, about a $65/t discount to feed barley, which is in the highest 10 per cent of values based on historical averages.
The recent rain that has given farmers a chance to plant has meant rural resellers have been swamped with people wanting seed.
The extent of the demand was borne out by data from leading sorghum seed breeder and distributor Pioneer Seeds.
Pioneer grain sorghum product manager Rob Crothers said the company was set to sell more seed than in 2016-17 and 2017-18 combined.
“It’s going to be a big year and while we are not sold out yet we are getting close.
“This hasn’t been due to supply issues it is purely demand, especially since the drought meant people couldn’t plant a winter crop, and if there is more rain in areas like the Liverpool Plains the plant will get bigger again,” Mr Crothers said.
Major breeder and wholesaler of hybrid grain sorghum seed, Pacific Seeds said in spite of above average seed production many of its hybrid lines were now sold out.
Pacific Seeds managing director, Barry Croker said the sheer volume of demand for seed over early October has been unusual for this time of year.
“The quantity of ordering prior to rain is unprecedented in our experience, very limited winter sowings and high commodity prices are some of the key drivers for the level of demand,” Mr Croker said.
Wayne Newton, outgoing Agforce grains section president, said nearly all of the Darling Downs, a key sorghum producing region, had received 50mm or more for the month, with some areas having over 100mm.
“With the planting window for the Downs now open I’d expect once the paddocks are dry enough to get onto there will be a lot of people going out and planting, especially on the long fallow where there is better moisture,” he said.
But summer grain agronomist with Pacific Seeds Trevor Philip has cautioned growers they needed to ensure there was sufficient moisture before planting as they were unlikely to be able to get their hands on replacement seed should establishment fail.
Mr Philp warned growers to make sure conditions were right for planting before putting seed in the ground.
“With a small break in the weather after such a long period of dry the temptation is always there to get a crop in the ground,” Mr Philp said.
“However, given the expected amount of ground going to sorghum this summer growers need to be sure they do not over estimate soil moisture and get a reduced crop establishment as there will not be seed available of their hybrid of choice for a replant down the track.”
Mr Newton said there had been a massive move on sorghum over the past week.
“It’s going to be a much larger area planted than normal.”
“Everywhere from northern NSW to central Queensland will look to plant sorghum if they can, even if not all the areas have had the rain as yet.”
“There wasn’t really a lot of winter crop around and given the high grain prices people want to get a crop in and take advantage of the prices.”
Andrew Loorham, Nuseed commercial manager, confirmed the rain had seen a big run on seed.
“Forage sorghum sales moved significantly in a 24 hour period and we currently have more interest than we have supply unfortunately,” Mr Loorham said.
Although the company is a relatively new player in grain sorghum, Mr Loorham said there had been a lot of interest in its new grain sorghum variety Cracka.
“It looks like we will be in a sold out position for that new product also.”
Both Mr Croker and Mr Crothers said getting seed ready for farmers was an 18 month process.
“We knew there would be demand for sorghum when people could not plant a winter crop earlier in the year but you can’t generate more seed at that stage of the process,” Mr Crothers said.