LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Sorghum grain can be used to replace maize grain in poultry feed industry with a very little modification in the feed formular. From 10 years average (1992 – 2001), it shows that sorghum planting area is about 10% of maize and trend to decrease because some farmers interested to planting sunflower instead. The national average yield of sorghum is about half of maize. In addition, grain sorghum price is 0.19 to1.18 Baht per kilogram lower than maize price. Therefore, using grain sorghum instead of maize grain in poultry feed formular can reduce its cost. This results to get more competitive in oversea market for frozen chicken meat. Suphanburi Field Crops Research Centre (SPFCRC), has developed many sorghum varieties, both pure line and hybrid, and test over many locations to persuade sorghum farmers to continue planting sorghum. In this issue there are two reports about sorghum standard and regional trials from SPFCRC.
New Theory Agriculture (NTA) which was initiated by His Majesty the king Bhumipol to help Thai farmers improve their agricultural practices, which finally, improve their living as well. In this issue “archan Mana” has interviewed the farmers in Lop-Buri, Sara-Buri, and Sing-Buri provinces who participated in the NTA project. Their attitude and their living were observed and reported here.
Also with this issue a questionnaire attached to collect reader opinion about this bulletin. Your comments and suggestion will be used to improve this bulletin to suit your interest. Also, everybody research works on Field crops are welcome to be published in this Bulletin.
Editor