b'and grass seed availability. East Texas Seed markets a full product line of grass and field, wildflower and turf seed. He says it was too wet for field prepara-tion for Bermuda, Bahia and sorghum-sudangrass in the spring. Worsening the potential yield problem was high fertilizer prices that kept growers from applying the normal rates.We get legumes and winter grass seed from the Willamette Valley, where summer drought and high temperatures impacted production. Higher prices were already being quoted, he says.With the winter freeze, Texas A&M Agrilife reports that vegetables and fruit took a Drought was a major concern in west- major hit.CREDIT: TIPAern Texas during the summer, according to Gentsch.We normally do not expect much rainfall after June 1 but received well under our normal for the spring andThe winter storm was a big event with an entire-state impact. But winter headed into the normally hot, dry periodsstorms are less frequent and relatively less damaging than regional with less soil moisture than usual. Hybrid sorghum and peanuts may be the twohurricanes . You have to factor in the weather. largest seed crops affected by drought Samuel Zapatafollowed by cotton, he explains.About 85% of the global supply of hybrid sorghum seed is produced on the Texas High Plains and there are limits as to how much irrigation water can bedelayed anticipated harvest dates. Nearlyare excited with the prospects, despite used. Advanta Seed is one of the com- daily rains in May and June also delayedthe weather, and see a bright future for panies producing sorghum seed in theharvest for farmers. sorghum growth.state. Advantas seed research is based inProspects for sorghum seed produc- And while no crystal ball can predict Hereford and seed production is pri- tion are more promising since that seedthe forecast for the remainder of 2021, marily around Dumas and the northernwas planted later than crops planted bythe National Weather Service extended panhandle. farmers. Good rainfall and humidity forforecast into September predicted the Zach Eder, technology developmentevapotranspiration in the summer shouldwestern half of Texas could have above-manager based in El Campo, Texas,make a good seed crop, he says. Thenormal temperatures with near-normal agrees weather during the last year haslast three or four years we had earlyprecipitation while the rest of the state been a test. I go back to November/ freezes. We need to make it to October 10may experience near-normal tempera-December 2020 when a large marketwithout a freeze to preserve seed qualitytures and a greater chance of above-nor-had developed for sorghum and wewith strong supplies. mal precipitation. saw a big flux of acreage into sorghum.Eders confidence also comes withThe winter storm was a big event We had adequate seed supply then andresearch that has strengthened seed pro- with an entire-state impact, says Zapata. geared up for larger production in 2021 toduction capabilities. But winter storms are less frequent and accommodate the increased demand.Finding herbicide-tolerant and sug- relatively less damaging than regional Eder says sorghum seed planted inarcane-aphid tolerant parents has beenhurricanes. Hurricane Hanna in 2020 left January came under attack during thean opportunity to really step up the seedSouth Texas with almost $400 million in February cold spell. Replanting ate intoproduction system, he says. We aredamage to commodities, including corn, existing seed supplies. A mildable to use these weed- and pest-tolerantcotton lint, cottonseed, sorghum, citrus, spring delayed cropsorghum hybrids to make seed produc- sugarcane, sesame and soybean. You growth, whichtion even more stable and reliable. Wehave to factor in the weather.SWSEPTEMBER 2021SEEDWORLD.COM /69'