The photos in this section were taken in late July and early August west of Jonesboro, Arkansas just east of the Cache River. Grain sorghum will likely be produced on Amerigui Plantation, especially in the initial years of operation. Grain sorghum will be used as a primary ingredient in poultry feed for local poultry producers.
The production of grain sorghum at Amerigui Plantation has several advantages over corn, its nearest grain substitute. Harvest equipment used for grain sorghum and rice are similar and may be harvested with the same header. In contrast, the harvest of corn requires use of a header specially designed for corn harvest only. Therefore, production of grain sorghum reduces the initial investment required for farm machinery and maintenance.
Grain sorghum is also more resilient to production on soils low in fertility. The soils at Monchon are much the same as other sites in West Africa, in that they exhibit good soil physics, but are severely lacking in soil fertility. Nutrients have leached out over thousands of years and have not been replaced.A major investment in phosphorus and potassium will be required on all fields in order to bring the soil nutrition to acceptable levels. While corn has greater yield potential, this potential will not be realized until soil fertility, nutrition, and balance has been attained.
Grain sorghum is also more tolerant to drought than corn. While irrigation will be readily available on the developed fields at Amerigui Plantation, the production of grain sorghum on undeveloped areas could be an option worth considering. If workable, this would provide more planted acres earlier in the program and assist in generating much-needed cash flow. 
The growing season for grain sorghum and corn is very similar. Here in northeast Arkansas both crops are planted in late March--early April and harvested in late August or early September. The fields pictured here should be harvested in about a week, or around August 20th.
