Diverse Forage Crop Rotation: Sorghum
alternative practice names:
Alternative Crops; Alternative Forages, Forage sorghums, Sudangrass, Sorghum‑sudangrass hybrids, Sudex, Brown midrib (BMR), Male‑sterile sorghums
Sorghum is a warm-season annual grass similar to corn, known for its versatility and resilience, particularly in hot, dry conditions. It is a diverse botanical genus that includes grain sorghum (milo), forage sorghum, sudangrass, sorghum-sudangrass hybrids, and others. For dairy silage production, the primary interest is in forage types, including sudangrass and various sorghum‑sudangrass hybrids. Forage sorghum can be managed as a single-cut crop similar to corn silage, or it can be grown as sorghum-sudangrass for multiple harvests, providing up to three cuts of high-quality, digestible forage under hot conditions. It can also be used for grazing or haylage, offering a versatile option that provides higher-quality forage than cool-season perennial grasses during the summer months.
Forage sorghums are further divided into four major subtypes:
Forage sorghums are selected for biomass production and are typically used for silage or green chop. These plants are tall—often exceeding ten feet—and generally do not regrow after harvest, making them well suited for single‑cut silage systems.
Sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor var. sudanese) is adapted for grazing or multiple hay cuttings and will regrow after harvest until frost. It grows rapidly, making it a good option for emergency forage or summer feed, and is also widely used as a cover crop. However, it produces less biomass than forage sorghum or sorghum‑sudangrass hybrids.
Sorghum‑sudangrass hybrids (Sudex), combine traits from both parents. Like sudangrass, they can be grazed or harvested multiple times, but they are taller and higher yielding.
Sweet (syrup), sorghum and broomcorn are additional specialized sorghum types. Sweet sorghum has high soluble sugar content and may be used for biofuel production but is not well suited for dairy rations or ensiling.
Forage sorghums may further be characterized by specific traits that influence management and feed value. These types are photoperiod sensitivity (PS), non‑photoperiod sensitivity, male sterile (MS), and brown midrib (BMR).
Brown midrib (BMR) hybrids have reduced lignin content, resulting in improved digestibility and high-quality silage. Because lignin contributes to structural strength, early BMR varieties were prone to lodging, but modern breeding has greatly improved standability. When harvested at the soft‑dough stage (approximately 65–70% moisture), modern BMR hybrids typically show good lodging resistance.
PS sorghums remain vegetative until day length shortens in late summer or fall, resulting in tall plants with very high biomass. However, these plants often have higher lignin levels (unless combined with BMR genetics) and are generally better suited for heifers or dry cows than for high‑producing lactating cows.
Non‑PS forage sorghums mature based on accumulated growing degree units, allowing more predictable harvest timing and easier coordination with custom harvest operations. These hybrids are shorter, have lower lodging risk, and typically produce more consistent fiber quality. While yield is generally lower than PS types, improved forage quality and harvest flexibility often offset this difference. Non‑PS hybrids may also include the BMR trait.
Male‑sterile sorghums do not produce grain, which prevents energy from shifting into seed production. As a result, more energy remains in the stems and leaves, resulting in higher sugar concentrations, reduced lignification, and improved fiber digestibility. Male sterility may be present in either PS or non‑PS hybrids and is often combined with BMR genetics. Because there is no grain to dictate harvest timing, male‑sterile hybrids offer a wider harvest window and reduced lodging risk.
Brachytic dwarf sorghums have shorter internodes and higher leaf‑to‑stem ratios, resulting in shorter plants with excellent standability and harvest efficiency. When combined with BMR genetics, these hybrids can produce high‑quality silage suitable for dairy rations. Brachytic dwarf genetics may be incorporated into various sorghum types depending on breeding goals.
Photoperiod sensitivity and male sterility are often confused, though they control entirely different plant functions. Photoperiod‑sensitive (PS) sorghums flower based on day length, while male‑sterile (MS) sorghums are unable to produce viable pollen and therefore do not set seed.
Compared to forage corn, forage sorghum has high water-use efficiency, is more drought-tolerant, and requires less nitrogen and pesticides. Biomass yields can be similar to corn, but forage sorghum has lower fiber digestibility. This is partly due to the starch in sorghum berries, which do not break down as effectively as corn kernels during processing, limiting digestibility.
When used, in what regions in the U.S. is the practice found:
Northwest, West, Upper Midwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast
FARM SIZE
When used, typically found on farms of the following sizes:
All Sizes
Practice Benefits
Increased profitability: Production costs associated with sorghum are lower than those associated with corn, as its seeds are much less expensive and the crop has a lower nitrogen requirement. However, because forage sorghum has a lower digestibility than corn, farms may need to purchase additional concentrates or grains to balance the ration. A recently conducted feeding study using BMR, male‑sterile forage sorghum in lactating dairy rations have shown that sorghum silage can replace up to 50% of corn silage without reducing milk production, provided that additional grain is included to balance energy (Duhatschek et al. 2026)
Shorter growing season for flexible cropping options: Forage sorghum's shorter growing season makes it ideal for double cropping in cooler climates, where it can be planted later than corn and paired with a cereal grain. In regions where triple cropping is possible, such as the southern U.S., it can be planted after corn silage harvest and harvested before winter cereals are sown, maximizing land use and productivity.
Reduced pesticide use: The resilience of forage sorghum generally allows for lower pesticide usage compared to corn, contributing to reduced chemical inputs and environmental impact.
Water conservation: One of sorghum’s major advantages is its reduced water requirement. Once established, it is highly drought-tolerant, producing up to twice as much dry matter per inch of water compared to corn silage, making it an efficient option in water-limited conditions.
Superior heat tolerance: Unlike corn silage, which ceases growth at temperatures above 85°F, forage sorghum can continue growing in temperatures up to 105°F, providing a reliable forage option in regions with high heat.
Summer grazing advantage: Sorghum-sudangrass offers an excellent option for summer forage, providing high-quality, digestible feed during the summer slump when cool-season perennial grasses are less productive. It supports multiple grazings, with the potential for up to three high-quality cuts under hot conditions, delivering better digestibility and fiber quality compared to cool-season grasses.
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Implementation Insights
Site-specific or Farm-specific requirements
Water availability: Sorghum can be grown in many environments and soil types. It is well-suited to non-irrigated acres or areas with limited supplemental irrigation.
Short growing season: Sorghum may have a niche in northern areas of the U.S. with a shorter growing season as part of a double crop rotation with a small grain, as it can be planted later than corn and into warmer soil temperatures (>65 degrees, ideally).
Required Capital Expenditures (CapEx)
Planting equipment: Forage sorghum can be planted using standard equipment, such as a grain drill or row planter, making it compatible with existing farm machinery. For harvesting, forage sorghum is typically cut using the same equipment used for corn silage (e.g., forage harvesters). However, in some systems, it can be managed like a perennial forage with multiple harvests per year, which may require adjustments to cutting and harvesting equipment.
Storage infrastructure: A suitable storage structure, such as a silage bag, bunker, or pile, is necessary to ensile the forage sorghum properly. Proper storage helps maintain feed quality and ensures the sorghum can be rationed appropriately during feedout, which is essential for balancing livestock nutrition.
Required Operational Expenditures (OpEx)
Growing and harvesting costs: Expenses for growing and harvesting forage sorghum are generally similar to or lower than those for corn, primarily due to lower seed costs and reduced input requirements, such as nitrogen and water. However, it’s important to note that sorghum typically yields less biomass compared to corn silage, which may affect overall productivity per acre.
Supplemental feed costs: Additional feed purchases may be necessary to meet livestock nutrition requirements due to lower starch content and fiber digestibility—depending on the sorghum variety used.
Implementation Considerations
Short harvest window: Harvesting sorghum for forage is challenging due to the need to time the harvest for optimal nutritional quality, which often results in a very narrow harvest window of only a few days.
Uneven ripening: Sorghum's characteristic uneven ripening complicates harvest timing. Efforts have been made to address this by harvesting the grain head ("headlage") separately from the remaining fodder ("footlage").
Undigestible sorghum berries: The hard seeds (berries) of sorghum can pass through an animal's digestive system with limited nutritional benefit. Recent developments in BMR male-sterile varieties, which do not produce viable seed heads, have shown promise. These varieties may offer a longer harvest window and retain nutritional quality for a more extended period. Alternatively, recent advances in forage harvest equipment have improved kernel processing in sorghum silage. This has the potential to significantly increase starch availability by breaking the berry and exposing the endosperm to rumen microbes, creating a higher quality silage more comparable to corn silage.
Harvest timing: Attention to harvest chop length and harvest timing also interact with forage quality. Harvesting forage sorghum at the soft‑dough stage (approximately 65–70% whole‑plant moisture) improves berry fracture and reduces the proportion of whole grain in the silage.
Starch and sugar content: Sorghum typically has lower starch and sugar content than corn. Forage sorghum should be supplemented with other grains to balance the diet and be comparable to a corn silage ration. It is essential to work with a nutritionist to achieve the correct balance.
Prussic acid poisoning: Sorghum contains dhurrin, which can break down into prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide) and is very toxic to cattle. Dhurrin content is highest in young plants and, after a frost, farmers grazing or green-chopping forage sorghum need to take precautions. Most prussic acid is lost during curing and ensiling, making it rare for sorghum hay and silage to be toxic. Recent dhurrin‑free forage sorghum genetics have significantly reduced this risk and became commercially available in limited varieties beginning in 2025. Importantly, the BMR trait does not reduce prussic acid risk and is a common misconception.
Nitrate Accumulation: Nitrate accumulation can occur in both corn and sorghum under stress conditions, particularly with excessive nitrogen fertilization and drought. Nitrates are concentrated in the lower portion of the stalk, so leaving adequate stubble height and testing questionable forage are critical management practices. Ensiling helps reduce nitrate levels but does not eliminate risk entirely. If there is doubt, it is advisable to test the forage.
Genetic Complexity and Breeding Challenges: Sorghum readily outcrosses, which poses tremendous challenges for crop improvement and modern weed management. Herbicide trait development in sorghum has been limited by the risk of gene flow to weedy relatives, most notably johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) and shattercane (Sorghum bicolor var. drummondii), which are closely related off‑types and considered noxious weeds in many states. Because sorghum readily crosses with these weedy relatives, certain herbicide traits—most notably glyphosate tolerance—cannot be pursued due to the high risk of creating herbicide‑resistant weeds. This genetic and biological reality has historically constrained herbicide trait development in sorghum relative to corn, much more than technological constraints.
Herbicide Tolerance: Post‑emergence weed control options—particularly for grasses—have historically been limited, and growers have relied heavily on pre‑emergence programs. Recent advances have expanded these options. A newly developed trait derived from naturally resistant johnsongrass confers tolerance to ACCase‑inhibiting herbicides, allowing effective post‑emergence control of difficult grass weeds such as barnyardgrass, signalgrass, Texas panicum, and johnsongrass (Lovett, 2025). This provides an alternative mode of action and helps address concerns about herbicide resistance. In addition, ALS herbicide tolerance has recently been introduced in sorghum, enabling post‑emergence grass control—an option that was previously unavailable in sorghum production systems.
Financial Considerations and Revenue Streams
PROFIT POTENTIAL
Production costs for sorghum will likely be lower than corn's. When replacing corn silage with sorghum silage, these savings may be offset by the need to purchase additional concentrates to balance the ration. A solid enterprise analysis would confirm this.
FEDERAL COST-SHARE PROGRAM
Funding is available for this practice through USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).
Related CSP Enhancements: Resource conserving crop rotation (E328A).
Notes:
Check with the local NRCS office on payment rates and crop rotations relevant to your location.
CARBON CREDITS
This practice is commonly credited in carbon markets. The practice can generate both offset and inset credits.
Notes:
To participate, operators generally need at least three years of management data prior to implementing a new practice. Common management data requirements cover planting, tillage, harvest, grazing, fertilization, liming, and residue management.
This practice would need to be new to the producer or expanded to additional acres to qualify for most programs.
In offset projects, producers have to guarantee soil carbon storage for 50-100 years, though avoided emissions (for example, from nitrous oxide reductions) do not carry risks of reversals (see Verra methodology and Climate Action Reserve's Soil Enrichment Protocol).
Producers typically are protected against natural disasters or unintended carbon reversals when they contribute to a carbon insurance or "buffer" pool. Intentional reversals from intensive tillage or land sales may require operators to return proceeds from the project.
The length of inset commitments would vary based on the opportunity with the corporate partner.
Credit amounts vary widely based on past management, location, weather, and the interaction between practices. A high-level estimate can be calculated using USDA COMET-Planner.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES, TOOLS, AND CASE STUDIES
Additional Resources
Article: Forage Sorghum as an Alternative Silage Crop (University of Maryland Extension)
Article: Male-Sterile Sorghum May Offer Dairy Cows Needed Energy with Less Water Use (Seed Today)
Article: Sorghum Silage: An Alternative to Corn (Progressive Dairy)
Article: What to Expect from Alternatives to Corn Silage (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
Factsheet: Guidance for Growing BMR Brachytic Dwarf Forage Sorghum (Cornell University)\
Report: Utilizing the BMR Trait in Sudangrass and Sorghums (California Alfalfa and Forage Symposium)
Scientific Paper: Meta-Analysis of Dairy Cows Fed Conventional Sorghum or Corn Silages Compared with Brown Midrib Sorghum Silage (Journal of Dairy Science)
Video: Male Sterile BMR Sorghum: Alternative Summer Energy Crop (Advanced Ag Systems LLC)
Video: Male Sterile BMR Sorghum as an Energy Forage Replacement for Corn Silage (Virtual Forage Conference)
Website: The Sorghum Checkoff
Environmental Impacts
REDUCES FARM GREENHOUSE GAS FOOTPRINT
Sorghum's high water-use efficiency and ability to grow under hot, dry conditions reduce the need for irrigation, which can indirectly reduce energy use and emissions associated with water management. In addition. sorghum, especially varieties with the Biological Nitrification Inhibition (BNI) trait, can suppress soil nitrification, reducing the release of nitrous oxide, a potent GHG. This trait helps retain nitrogen in the soil, lowering the need for fertilizer applications and decreasing nitrogen losses as both nitrates and nitrous oxide emissions are key contributors to the GHG footprint of crop systems.
See research highlights:
Subbarao et al. (2007) demonstrated that sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) roots release BNIs, such as sorgoleone (SGLN) and methyl 3–4-hydroxyphenyl propionate (MHPP), which can significantly reduce soil nitrification and N₂O emissions. By intercropping sorghum with maize, the study observed improved crop productivity and a reduced transformation rate of NH₄⁺ to NO₃⁻, compared to maize grown alone.
Colombini et al. (2015) conducted a study of the use of forage sorghum in dairy rations. They concluded while corn silage resulted in higher milk yields and lower GWP per kilogram of milk, sorghum systems showed potential benefits in reducing resource inputs but may require more supplementation to match the energy and starch levels provided by corn.
CONSERVES WATER
Sorghum’s adaptability to dry conditions and its ability to maintain productivity with less water input allow dairy farms to conserve water resources while still producing quality forage. Moreover, the flexibility of sorghum hybrids, including early-maturing types, provides options to optimize water usage over the growing season, allowing better allocation of limited irrigation supplies.
REFerences
Sorghum Checkoff. (n.d.) The Carbon Footprint of Sorghum. Sorghum Checkoff.
Alignment with FARM Program
FARM Environmental Stewardship (ES) V2-V3 Alignment
FARM ES Version 3 includes an optional crop module, allowing users to enter their cropping practices including unique rotations to capture the benefit of those field practices. The optional FARM ES Conservation Practice Questionnaire (CPQ) also includes opportunities for farms to indicate crop rotation.
Sorghum is a warm-season annual grass similar to corn, known for its versatility and resilience, particularly in hot, dry conditions. It is a diverse botanical genus that includes grain sorghum (milo), forage sorghum, sudangrass, sorghum-sudangrass hybrids, and others. For dairy silage production, the primary interest is in forage types, including sudangrass and various sorghum‑sudangrass hybrids. Forage sorghum can be managed as a single-cut crop similar to corn silage, or it can be grown as sorghum-sudangrass for multiple harvests, providing up to three cuts of high-quality, digestible forage under hot conditions. It can also be used for grazing or haylage, offering a versatile option that provides higher-quality forage than cool-season perennial grasses during the summer months.
Forage sorghums are further divided into four major subtypes:
Forage sorghums are selected for biomass production and are typically used for silage or green chop. These plants are tall—often exceeding ten feet—and generally do not regrow after harvest, making them well suited for single‑cut silage systems.
Sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor var. sudanese) is adapted for grazing or multiple hay cuttings and will regrow after harvest until frost. It grows rapidly, making it a good option for emergency forage or summer feed, and is also widely used as a cover crop. However, it produces less biomass than forage sorghum or sorghum‑sudangrass hybrids.
Sorghum‑sudangrass hybrids (Sudex), combine traits from both parents. Like sudangrass, they can be grazed or harvested multiple times, but they are taller and higher yielding.
Sweet (syrup), sorghum and broomcorn are additional specialized sorghum types. Sweet sorghum has high soluble sugar content and may be used for biofuel production but is not well suited for dairy rations or ensiling.
Forage sorghums may further be characterized by specific traits that influence management and feed value. These types are photoperiod sensitivity (PS), non‑photoperiod sensitivity, male sterile (MS), and brown midrib (BMR).
Brown midrib (BMR) hybrids have reduced lignin content, resulting in improved digestibility and high-quality silage. Because lignin contributes to structural strength, early BMR varieties were prone to lodging, but modern breeding has greatly improved standability. When harvested at the soft‑dough stage (approximately 65–70% moisture), modern BMR hybrids typically show good lodging resistance.
PS sorghums remain vegetative until day length shortens in late summer or fall, resulting in tall plants with very high biomass. However, these plants often have higher lignin levels (unless combined with BMR genetics) and are generally better suited for heifers or dry cows than for high‑producing lactating cows.
Non‑PS forage sorghums mature based on accumulated growing degree units, allowing more predictable harvest timing and easier coordination with custom harvest operations. These hybrids are shorter, have lower lodging risk, and typically produce more consistent fiber quality. While yield is generally lower than PS types, improved forage quality and harvest flexibility often offset this difference. Non‑PS hybrids may also include the BMR trait.
Male‑sterile sorghums do not produce grain, which prevents energy from shifting into seed production. As a result, more energy remains in the stems and leaves, resulting in higher sugar concentrations, reduced lignification, and improved fiber digestibility. Male sterility may be present in either PS or non‑PS hybrids and is often combined with BMR genetics. Because there is no grain to dictate harvest timing, male‑sterile hybrids offer a wider harvest window and reduced lodging risk.
Brachytic dwarf sorghums have shorter internodes and higher leaf‑to‑stem ratios, resulting in shorter plants with excellent standability and harvest efficiency. When combined with BMR genetics, these hybrids can produce high‑quality silage suitable for dairy rations. Brachytic dwarf genetics may be incorporated into various sorghum types depending on breeding goals.
Photoperiod sensitivity and male sterility are often confused, though they control entirely different plant functions. Photoperiod‑sensitive (PS) sorghums flower based on day length, while male‑sterile (MS) sorghums are unable to produce viable pollen and therefore do not set seed.
Compared to forage corn, forage sorghum has high water-use efficiency, is more drought-tolerant, and requires less nitrogen and pesticides. Biomass yields can be similar to corn, but forage sorghum has lower fiber digestibility. This is partly due to the starch in sorghum berries, which do not break down as effectively as corn kernels during processing, limiting digestibility.
Practices and technologies
Diverse Forage Crop Rotation: Sorghum
alternative practice name:
Alternative Crops; Alternative Forages, Forage sorghums, Sudangrass, Sorghum‑sudangrass hybrids, Sudex, Brown midrib (BMR), Male‑sterile sorghums
REGIONALITY
When used, in what regions in the U.S. is the practice found:
Northwest, West, Upper Midwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast
COMPARABLE FARM SIZE
When used, typically found on farms of the following sizes:
0 - 100 cows, 100 - 500 cows, 500 - 2500 cows, 2500 - 5000 cows, Over 5000 cows
Practice Benefits
Increased profitability: Production costs associated with sorghum are lower than those associated with corn, as its seeds are much less expensive and the crop has a lower nitrogen requirement. However, because forage sorghum has a lower digestibility than corn, farms may need to purchase additional concentrates or grains to balance the ration. A recently conducted feeding study using BMR, male‑sterile forage sorghum in lactating dairy rations have shown that sorghum silage can replace up to 50% of corn silage without reducing milk production, provided that additional grain is included to balance energy (Duhatschek et al. 2026)
Shorter growing season for flexible cropping options: Forage sorghum's shorter growing season makes it ideal for double cropping in cooler climates, where it can be planted later than corn and paired with a cereal grain. In regions where triple cropping is possible, such as the southern U.S., it can be planted after corn silage harvest and harvested before winter cereals are sown, maximizing land use and productivity.
Reduced pesticide use: The resilience of forage sorghum generally allows for lower pesticide usage compared to corn, contributing to reduced chemical inputs and environmental impact.
Water conservation: One of sorghum’s major advantages is its reduced water requirement. Once established, it is highly drought-tolerant, producing up to twice as much dry matter per inch of water compared to corn silage, making it an efficient option in water-limited conditions.
Superior heat tolerance: Unlike corn silage, which ceases growth at temperatures above 85°F, forage sorghum can continue growing in temperatures up to 105°F, providing a reliable forage option in regions with high heat.
Summer grazing advantage: Sorghum-sudangrass offers an excellent option for summer forage, providing high-quality, digestible feed during the summer slump when cool-season perennial grasses are less productive. It supports multiple grazings, with the potential for up to three high-quality cuts under hot conditions, delivering better digestibility and fiber quality compared to cool-season grasses.
Implementation Insights
Site-specific or Farm-specific requirements
Water availability: Sorghum can be grown in many environments and soil types. It is well-suited to non-irrigated acres or areas with limited supplemental irrigation.
Short growing season: Sorghum may have a niche in northern areas of the U.S. with a shorter growing season as part of a double crop rotation with a small grain, as it can be planted later than corn and into warmer soil temperatures (>65 degrees, ideally).
Required Capital Expenditures (CapEx)
Planting equipment: Forage sorghum can be planted using standard equipment, such as a grain drill or row planter, making it compatible with existing farm machinery. For harvesting, forage sorghum is typically cut using the same equipment used for corn silage (e.g., forage harvesters). However, in some systems, it can be managed like a perennial forage with multiple harvests per year, which may require adjustments to cutting and harvesting equipment.
Storage infrastructure: A suitable storage structure, such as a silage bag, bunker, or pile, is necessary to ensile the forage sorghum properly. Proper storage helps maintain feed quality and ensures the sorghum can be rationed appropriately during feedout, which is essential for balancing livestock nutrition.
Required Operational Expenditures (OpEx)
Growing and harvesting costs: Expenses for growing and harvesting forage sorghum are generally similar to or lower than those for corn, primarily due to lower seed costs and reduced input requirements, such as nitrogen and water. However, it’s important to note that sorghum typically yields less biomass compared to corn silage, which may affect overall productivity per acre.
Supplemental feed costs: Additional feed purchases may be necessary to meet livestock nutrition requirements due to lower starch content and fiber digestibility—depending on the sorghum variety used.
Implementation Considerations
Short harvest window: Harvesting sorghum for forage is challenging due to the need to time the harvest for optimal nutritional quality, which often results in a very narrow harvest window of only a few days.
Uneven ripening: Sorghum's characteristic uneven ripening complicates harvest timing. Efforts have been made to address this by harvesting the grain head ("headlage") separately from the remaining fodder ("footlage").
Undigestible sorghum berries: The hard seeds (berries) of sorghum can pass through an animal's digestive system with limited nutritional benefit. Recent developments in BMR male-sterile varieties, which do not produce viable seed heads, have shown promise. These varieties may offer a longer harvest window and retain nutritional quality for a more extended period. Alternatively, recent advances in forage harvest equipment have improved kernel processing in sorghum silage. This has the potential to significantly increase starch availability by breaking the berry and exposing the endosperm to rumen microbes, creating a higher quality silage more comparable to corn silage.
Harvest timing: Attention to harvest chop length and harvest timing also interact with forage quality. Harvesting forage sorghum at the soft‑dough stage (approximately 65–70% whole‑plant moisture) improves berry fracture and reduces the proportion of whole grain in the silage.
Starch and sugar content: Sorghum typically has lower starch and sugar content than corn. Forage sorghum should be supplemented with other grains to balance the diet and be comparable to a corn silage ration. It is essential to work with a nutritionist to achieve the correct balance.
Prussic acid poisoning: Sorghum contains dhurrin, which can break down into prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide) and is very toxic to cattle. Dhurrin content is highest in young plants and, after a frost, farmers grazing or green-chopping forage sorghum need to take precautions. Most prussic acid is lost during curing and ensiling, making it rare for sorghum hay and silage to be toxic. Recent dhurrin‑free forage sorghum genetics have significantly reduced this risk and became commercially available in limited varieties beginning in 2025. Importantly, the BMR trait does not reduce prussic acid risk and is a common misconception.
Nitrate Accumulation: Nitrate accumulation can occur in both corn and sorghum under stress conditions, particularly with excessive nitrogen fertilization and drought. Nitrates are concentrated in the lower portion of the stalk, so leaving adequate stubble height and testing questionable forage are critical management practices. Ensiling helps reduce nitrate levels but does not eliminate risk entirely. If there is doubt, it is advisable to test the forage.
Genetic Complexity and Breeding Challenges: Sorghum readily outcrosses, which poses tremendous challenges for crop improvement and modern weed management. Herbicide trait development in sorghum has been limited by the risk of gene flow to weedy relatives, most notably johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) and shattercane (Sorghum bicolor var. drummondii), which are closely related off‑types and considered noxious weeds in many states. Because sorghum readily crosses with these weedy relatives, certain herbicide traits—most notably glyphosate tolerance—cannot be pursued due to the high risk of creating herbicide‑resistant weeds. This genetic and biological reality has historically constrained herbicide trait development in sorghum relative to corn, much more than technological constraints.
Herbicide Tolerance: Post‑emergence weed control options—particularly for grasses—have historically been limited, and growers have relied heavily on pre‑emergence programs. Recent advances have expanded these options. A newly developed trait derived from naturally resistant johnsongrass confers tolerance to ACCase‑inhibiting herbicides, allowing effective post‑emergence control of difficult grass weeds such as barnyardgrass, signalgrass, Texas panicum, and johnsongrass (Lovett, 2025). This provides an alternative mode of action and helps address concerns about herbicide resistance. In addition, ALS herbicide tolerance has recently been introduced in sorghum, enabling post‑emergence grass control—an option that was previously unavailable in sorghum production systems.
Financial Considerations and Revenue Streams
PROFIT POTENTIAL
Production costs for sorghum will likely be lower than corn's. When replacing corn silage with sorghum silage, these savings may be offset by the need to purchase additional concentrates to balance the ration. A solid enterprise analysis would confirm this.
FEDERAL COST-SHARE PROGRAM
Funding is available for this practice through USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).
Related CSP Enhancements: Resource conserving crop rotation (E328A).
Notes:
Check with the local NRCS office on payment rates and crop rotations relevant to your location.
CARBON CREDITS
This practice is commonly credited in carbon markets. The practice can generate both offset and inset credits.
Notes:
To participate, operators generally need at least three years of management data prior to implementing a new practice. Common management data requirements cover planting, tillage, harvest, grazing, fertilization, liming, and residue management.
This practice would need to be new to the producer or expanded to additional acres to qualify for most programs.
In offset projects, producers have to guarantee soil carbon storage for 50-100 years, though avoided emissions (for example, from nitrous oxide reductions) do not carry risks of reversals (see Verra methodology and Climate Action Reserve's Soil Enrichment Protocol).
Producers typically are protected against natural disasters or unintended carbon reversals when they contribute to a carbon insurance or "buffer" pool. Intentional reversals from intensive tillage or land sales may require operators to return proceeds from the project.
The length of inset commitments would vary based on the opportunity with the corporate partner.
Credit amounts vary widely based on past management, location, weather, and the interaction between practices. A high-level estimate can be calculated using USDA COMET-Planner.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES, TOOLS, AND CASE STUDIES
Additional Resources
Article: Forage Sorghum as an Alternative Silage Crop (University of Maryland Extension)
Article: Male-Sterile Sorghum May Offer Dairy Cows Needed Energy with Less Water Use (Seed Today)
Article: Sorghum Silage: An Alternative to Corn (Progressive Dairy)
Article: What to Expect from Alternatives to Corn Silage (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
Factsheet: Guidance for Growing BMR Brachytic Dwarf Forage Sorghum (Cornell University)\
Report: Utilizing the BMR Trait in Sudangrass and Sorghums (California Alfalfa and Forage Symposium)
Scientific Paper: Meta-Analysis of Dairy Cows Fed Conventional Sorghum or Corn Silages Compared with Brown Midrib Sorghum Silage (Journal of Dairy Science)
Video: Male Sterile BMR Sorghum: Alternative Summer Energy Crop (Advanced Ag Systems LLC)
Video: Male Sterile BMR Sorghum as an Energy Forage Replacement for Corn Silage (Virtual Forage Conference)
Website: The Sorghum Checkoff
Research
REFerences
Sorghum Checkoff. (n.d.) The Carbon Footprint of Sorghum. Sorghum Checkoff.
REDUCES FARM GREENHOUSE GAS FOOTPRINT
Sorghum's high water-use efficiency and ability to grow under hot, dry conditions reduce the need for irrigation, which can indirectly reduce energy use and emissions associated with water management. In addition. sorghum, especially varieties with the Biological Nitrification Inhibition (BNI) trait, can suppress soil nitrification, reducing the release of nitrous oxide, a potent GHG. This trait helps retain nitrogen in the soil, lowering the need for fertilizer applications and decreasing nitrogen losses as both nitrates and nitrous oxide emissions are key contributors to the GHG footprint of crop systems.
See research highlights:
Subbarao et al. (2007) demonstrated that sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) roots release BNIs, such as sorgoleone (SGLN) and methyl 3–4-hydroxyphenyl propionate (MHPP), which can significantly reduce soil nitrification and N₂O emissions. By intercropping sorghum with maize, the study observed improved crop productivity and a reduced transformation rate of NH₄⁺ to NO₃⁻, compared to maize grown alone.
Colombini et al. (2015) conducted a study of the use of forage sorghum in dairy rations. They concluded while corn silage resulted in higher milk yields and lower GWP per kilogram of milk, sorghum systems showed potential benefits in reducing resource inputs but may require more supplementation to match the energy and starch levels provided by corn.
CONSERVES WATER
Sorghum’s adaptability to dry conditions and its ability to maintain productivity with less water input allow dairy farms to conserve water resources while still producing quality forage. Moreover, the flexibility of sorghum hybrids, including early-maturing types, provides options to optimize water usage over the growing season, allowing better allocation of limited irrigation supplies.
Alignment with FARM Program
FARM Environmental Stewardship (ES) V2-V3 Alignment
FARM ES Version 3 includes an optional crop module, allowing users to enter their cropping practices including unique rotations to capture the benefit of those field practices. The optional FARM ES Conservation Practice Questionnaire (CPQ) also includes opportunities for farms to indicate crop rotation.