Sorghum Market Data, Grades and Trade

Editorial evidence reviewedReviewed 2026-09-09Release 2026-09-19-batch-230

Global production

67M MT

2023/24

Market value

$9B

Producing countries tracked

9

Grading systems

1

Active supply risks

3

Trade corridors

3

Latest reviewed evidence

The figures below are USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service estimates for the 2025 United States grain-sorghum crop, published in January 2026. They are dated national crop measures—not global production, a current physical offer, a futures quote or a live delivered price. Grain production and yield are not interchangeable with separately reported sorghum silage tonnage and yield.

United States sorghum planted area

6.64

million acres · crop year 2025

United States sorghum area harvested for grain

6.02

million acres · crop year 2025

United States sorghum grain yield

72.6

bushels per acre · crop year 2025

United States sorghum grain production

437

million bushels · crop year 2025

Grain sorghum, silage and processed products are separate markets

Grain sorghum is harvested and traded on a dry-grain basis, while silage is a high-moisture forage measured in tons with different yield, quality, storage and end-use economics. Flour, grits, feed products, starch, syrup, ethanol and other processed forms add their own composition and performance specifications. Atlas keeps product stage and intended use attached to every record before comparing volumes, grades, prices or trade evidence.

Class, grade, test weight and condition travel with the lot

USDA FGIS divides sorghum into Sorghum, Tannin sorghum, White sorghum and Mixed sorghum, with no subclasses. The four numerical grades use minimum test weight and maximum limits for heat-damaged and total damaged kernels, foreign material, and combined broken kernels and foreign material; U.S. Sample Grade and special grades capture additional quality or condition boundaries. For U.S. No. 1, the cited standard sets a minimum test weight of 57.0 pounds per bushel, but a comparable lot still requires the full factor results, class, inspection method and certificate context.

Crop totals do not determine a delivered sorghum price

USDA NASS estimated 437 million bushels of United States grain-sorghum production from 6.02 million harvested acres in 2025, with an average yield of 72.6 bushels per acre. Those dated national aggregates do not identify class, grade, test weight, moisture, damage, foreign material, end use, origin, destination or delivery terms. A physical price therefore requires a defined lot and current permitted evidence rather than conversion of the national crop total into an offer.

Questions procurement teams ask

Are grain sorghum and sorghum silage interchangeable?

No. Grain is measured and graded as harvested kernels, while silage is a high-moisture forage measured in tons. Their yields, quality factors, storage, uses and prices are separate.

Which sorghum classes are recognized by the U.S. grain standard?

USDA FGIS recognizes Sorghum, Tannin sorghum, White sorghum and Mixed sorghum. The class must stay attached to the grade and lot evidence.

What does the 437 million bushel figure represent?

It is USDA NASS's estimate of United States grain-sorghum production for the 2025 crop year. It is a dated national crop measure, not global production and not a current physical price.

Which fields make physical sorghum offers comparable?

Intended use, product stage, class, grade and inspection basis, test weight, moisture, damaged kernels, broken kernels and foreign material, discoloration and special grades, crop year, treatment or biotechnology status where required, bulk or package basis, origin, quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window and evidence date.