In 1853, a pivotal moment occurred with the arrival of Chinese Amber sweet sorghum from France, marking the first significant introduction of sweet sorghum into the United States. The credit for the initial cultivation of sweet sorghum goes to William R. Prince, a prominent New York nurseryman. Prince's efforts helped lay the groundwork for broader experimentation and adoption of sorghum across the country.
The momentum continued to build as the United States government actively supported the distribution of sorghum seeds. In 1855, the Commissioner of Patents facilitated the distribution of French-acquired sorghum seeds, followed by a more extensive dissemination the next year.
Significantly, in 1857, Leonard Wray imported around 16 sorghum cultivars from Natal, South Africa, adding diverse genetic material to the American sorghum landscape. This influx of genetic diversity fueled early hybridization efforts, both natural and deliberate.
By 1914, deliberate hybridization efforts gained traction, with some of the earliest crosses undertaken in pursuit of improved sorghum varieties. The breakthrough came in 1916 when H. Willets Smith, farming near Garden City, Kansas, achieved the first improved sorghum cultivar. Smith's selection and refinement of uniform sorghum strains from a chance hybridization of kafir and milo types marked a pivotal moment in sorghum breeding.
The journey of sorghum in the United States reflects a rich history of agricultural innovation, cultural exchange, and the relentless pursuit of improved crop varieties. From its humble beginnings as ship provisions to the development of high-yielding cultivars, sorghum's integration into American agriculture underscores the resilience and adaptability of this ancient grain. Today, sorghum remains a vital crop, valued for its versatility and sustainability in modern agricultural practices.
The Introduction of Sorghum in the United States
