Grain Sorghum: Bird-resistant
(Sorghum bicolor)
Sorghum is an annual plant in the grass family that grows up to 5 m in height. Grain sorghum is a staple crop in many hot dry areas and ranks 5th worldwide among cereal grains. Depending on the variety, sorghum is grown for grain, forage, fuel, fiber, syrup, and sugar. Cleaned grain can be cooked like rice or ground into flour. It is naturally gluten-free.
A dwarf yellow-seeded variety developed at Purdue University. This variety contains tannins, giving the unripened grain a bitter taste which leads to its resistance to bird damage. The tannin content decreases as the grain matures. Tannin is low when grain reaches 16-18% moisture content. WARNING!! Don't roast unripe seedheads which may still contain toxins.