LUBBOCK, Texas (RFD-TV) — A new multi-institutional effort led by the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center aims to identify the genetic traits that make sorghum one of the most stress-tolerant bioenergy crops in U.S. agriculture.
These photos are from an ARPA-E event hosted by Danforth, the Department of Energy, and the University of Arizona. At the time, this was the world’s largest robot conducting research on sorghum as an enhanced biofuel crop. (2025)
Tony St. James
Backed by a $2.5 million DOE grant, the three-year project focuses on how sorghum responds to drought, heat, and other environmental pressures — knowledge that could expand production into resource-limited regions without competing with food crops.
Researchers will analyze natural genetic variation, gene networks, and molecular responses across diverse sorghum lines grown in sharply contrasting field environments in Missouri and Arizona. High-resolution, sensor-based phenotyping, remote sensing, GeoAI tools, and gene-editing methods will be used to link plant genetics to field performance, including oxidative stress biomarkers and morphological changes.
The project unites teams from the Danforth Center, the University of Arizona, and Saint Louis University, pairing plant genetics with advanced sensing systems that capture how sorghum responds across entire growing seasons.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Stronger sorghum genetics could enhance the resilience of bioenergy crops and broaden production options for growers in harsher climates.
Producers across the country spent the week balancing spring planning with tight margins and uneven moisture outlooks. Input purchasing stayed cautious, while marketing and cash-flow decisions remained front and center for many operations.
Tony St. James joined the RFD-TV talent team in August 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 Sirius XM. In addition to his role as Market Specialist (collaborating with Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady to provide radio and TV audiences with the latest updates on ag commodity markets), he hosts “Rural America Live” and serves as talent for trade shows.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
