Oklahoma’s 2026 sorghum harvest has reached 41% as farmers continue field operations amid increasingly difficult agricultural conditions across the Southern Plains. The latest USDA crop progress figures show substantial variation in harvest progress between Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas, while sorghum ratings remain relatively weak throughout the region.

In Oklahoma, approximately 81% of the sorghum crop has reached the colouring stage, one percentage point behind the corresponding period last year. Harvesting has progressed to 41%, placing the state well ahead of Kansas but behind neighbouring Texas.

The condition of Oklahoma’s sorghum crop presents a mixed picture. USDA rated 26% of the crop as good or excellent, while 37% was classified as fair. The remaining 37% was rated poor or very poor, indicating that more than one-third of the crop is experiencing significant production stress.

Kansas sorghum is developing at a similar pace but remains much further behind in harvesting. Approximately 84% of the crop has reached colouring, while only 7% has been harvested. Crop conditions were rated 25% good to excellent, 40% fair and 35% poor to very poor.

Texas has made the greatest harvest progress among the three states. Sorghum colouring reached 98%, and farmers had harvested 77% of the crop. However, only 24% of Texas sorghum was rated good or excellent. Another 47% was assessed as fair, while 29% fell into the poor or very poor categories.

At the national level, the condition of the United States grain sorghum crop also weakened slightly. The proportion rated good to excellent declined from 28% in the previous week to 27%, reflecting the challenging conditions affecting several important production areas.

The broader agricultural situation is particularly severe in Oklahoma’s grazing lands. Only 5% of the state’s pasture and range area was rated good or excellent, compared with 9% one week earlier and 58% during the corresponding period in 2025. Meanwhile, 67% was classified as poor or very poor.

Pasture conditions were also weak in Texas and Kansas, although Oklahoma recorded the most serious deterioration. These conditions can increase pressure on livestock producers by reducing available forage and raising dependence on stored or purchased feed.

Sorghum is widely valued for its ability to perform under comparatively dry conditions. However, the latest ratings demonstrate that drought tolerance does not completely protect the crop from prolonged moisture shortages and broader environmental stress.

Harvest progress and final yields will remain important indicators as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas complete their 2026 sorghum seasons.