Released: January 24, 2003

Grain Sorghum Profit Meeting Slated Feb. 4 in Belleville

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Last year may be a memory for some, but for Kansas farmers, lingering effects from the drought of 2002 are far from over.

"The drought of 2002 left soil moisture levels low and producers concerned about the 2003 growing season," said Scott Staggenborg, northeast area crops specialist with Kansas State University Research and Extension. "Grain sorghum is a natural fit in these unpredictable environments since it needs less water to produce grain than corn or soybeans and is more drought tolerant than other crops."

To provide Kansas producers with the latest grain sorghum production techniques, K-State Research and Extension is partnering with BASF and Syngenta Crop Protection to present a Grain Sorghum Profitability meeting in Belleville on Feb. 4.

The meeting, scheduled for 9:30 a.m., will be held at the 4-H building. It will include presentations on grain sorghum water use and irrigation management; management practices to maximize yields; methods to minimize insect damage; and managing practices to curb the impact of diseases, Staggenborg said.

There is no charge to attend the meeting, which is open to everyone. Preregistration is not required.

For further information, interested persons can contact Staggenborg at 785-532-2277 or Kristie Fulton at 785-527-5048.

-30-

K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Mary Lou Peter, Communications Specialist
mlpeter@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News