DARLING Downs farmer Andrew Ruhle is all smiles thanks to a strong spot price of between $250 and $300/tonne on-farm being offered for 8000 tonnes of sorghum now being trucked off the family property Jalbirri at Bongeen.
Sold in the past month to grain traders, the sorghum was planted in three windows - early September, late November-December and early January - and most of
it was harvested by mid-June.
"It's going anywhere and everywhere on the Downs. Some is going to export and some is going straight down the throats of cattle," Mr Ruhle, who farms with parents Raymond and Judith, said.
"The yield averaged 2.5 tonnes per acre, which is on the top side of our average of two to 2.5 tonnes."
While he might have missed the price peak a few months back of about $320, Mr Ruhle said sorghum is still a better option than cotton when it comes to gross margin.
"Cotton's had a bit of bounce in the price, but not enough for us to get back into it."
The Ruhles will harvest 600 hectares of wheat this spring and plan to plant 1200 hectares of sorghum and 400 hectares of corn this spring and summer.
"We have got moisture profiles for early sorghum, but moisture for the late stuff is getting a little low.
"Any time between now and late September we'd like some rain."
Provided sufficient top-up rainfalls, the Ruhles are planning to grow their second crop of mungbeans this summer, following the success of their maiden crop which was harvested in autumn.
"They're a good crop that's come a fair way in the past few years and we'll put 500 acres in if we get enough rain."
The Ruhles have some corn stored on-farm which needs to be sold prior to their winter-crop harvest.
"The price has been slowly creeping up as the situation out west deteriorates," Mr Ruhle said.
