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The drought of 2011 has continued into 2012 in South Texas and the lack of soil moisture along with above normal temperatures has resulted in some significant stress on some grain sorghum plants. As a result seed formation was hampered as seen in the attached photo and is likely related to stress in the sorghum plant. This symptom is consistent with heat stress during panicle (head) formation
while the developing heads are still wrapped up in the stalk surrounded by leaf
sheaths. Most fields did not have excessive damage from this "heat blasting", so if 20% of the field was impacted, with 20% of the head affected, one would expect about a 4% grain loss. A greater grain loss will occur from simply a lack of soil moisture.
