When should I plant sorghum seeds?
Even in warm climates, sorghum is customarily planted in late May or early June. Prepare soil much as you would for corn, and be sure to mix a balanced organic fertilizer into the bed or row before planting. Unlike corn, sorghum is self-fertile, so a large plot is not needed for pollination purposes.
Is forage sorghum a good no till crop?
Forage sorghum has performed well in no-till systems when conditions are favorable in the seed zone. It has less tolerance than corn to cool soil conditions under heavy residue or to soils that may be wet where furrow closure is a problem. Optimum planting rates for forage sorghum are about 8 to 12 pounds of seed per acre.
When should I Harvest sorghum/sudangrass for hay?
Sorghum and sorghum-sudangrass leaves and stems are coarse and high in moisture at time of harvest. Sweet sorghum and sorghum-sudangrass often cannot be stored as hay because of the difficulty in drying the forage to a safe storage moisture content of 25% or less. Sudangrass should be harvested for hay whenever it reaches the boot stage.
Why is my sorghum not ready to harvest?
This causes harvest delays because of prussic acid concerns, and may result in forage quality reductions. Sorghum maturity is rated either as full, medium, and early or by the days needed to flower. Adapted forage sorghums range from full season in southeastern counties to early maturity in the short-season areas of the state.
See more
How late can you plant sorghum?
The range of planting dates, however, occurs from late April to mid July.
Can you plant sorghum in the fall?
This fills a nutritional need, but if you want sorghum to remain available until later in fall, adjust your planting date accordingly based on the maturation rate of the variety you are planting (it ranges from 60 to over 100 days) while allowing time for maturity before first frost.
How late can you plant Sudan grass?
The crop should be planted after the threat of frost in spring and before July 15 in most of the Northeast to allow for maximum growth. Planting with less than six weeks until frost will result in low levels of dry matter production.
Can you plant sorghum in August?
As mentioned above, warm-season grasses (sudangrass, sorghum-sudangrass, forage sorghum, millets, teff) will need to be planted by July 15-18. If sufficient soil moisture is present, dry matter yields can reach 2 to 4 tons of dry matter per acre, depending on the species.
What wildlife eats sorghum?
Wildlife Grain Sorghum was specifically developed as a fall and winter food source for upland game birds (quail, turkey, pheasant and prairie chicken) and migratory birds (ducks, geese and doves).
Does sorghum come back every year?
Sorghum is a tall plant, reaching heights up to 12 feet. Plants can be annual or perennial, depending upon the variety.
What is the difference between forage sorghum and sorghum sudangrass?
Sudangrass is suited to harvesting as silage, hay, or greenchop. The finer stems allow for a fast dry down. Forage sorghum is used primarily for silage and is drought resistant, growing best during the warm days of mid- to late summer.
Is Sudan grass the same as sorghum?
Sorghum and sudangrass plants contain a compound called dhurrin, which can break down to release prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide, HCN). Sudangrass has low levels of this compound and rarely kills animals. Sorghum has the highest levels and sorghum-sudangrasses are intermediate.
When should you plant sorghum sudangrass?
In early to mid-June, plant the sorghum-sudangrass. Drill at 35 to 40 lb per acre, as deep as 2 inches to reach moist soil. If surface moisture is adequate, broadcasting the seed is an option; however, increase the rate to 45 to 50 lb per acre.
Can I plant sorghum in July?
Hybrids suitable for planting from late May through early July must be early enough in maturity to complete dry matter accumulation prior to a killing fall frost. As with corn, there is no industry-wide standard for describing hybrid maturity in grain sorghum.
Is sorghum hay good for cows?
“Sorghum grain can be utilized in the rations of beef cattle as a replacement for corn.” Sorghum, both grain and forage, is an important feedstuff for livestock.
What grows well with sorghum?
The sorghum with companion crops is part of a SARE grant, or Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education project. The companions include mung beans, guar, crimson clover, flax and buckwheat.
What is the best time to plant sorghum?
Time of Planting It grows best in climates with long summers. Many gardeners do not direct sow their sorghum until mid-May or even early June.
How late can you plant fall crops?
Generally speaking, here's the rule of thumb: 10-12 weeks before first frost: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, celery. 8-10 weeks before first frost: Arugula, Chinese cabbage, collards, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, spinach, Swiss chart, turnips. 6-8 weeks before first frost: Beets, radishes.
What is good to plant in fall?
Fall is a great time to plant another crop of spring greens such as spinach, leaf lettuce, arugula, mustard greens, and mâche because they require cooler soil for seed germination and they mature quickly.
What do farmers plant in the fall?
Those include: beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery/celeriac, collards, chicories, fennel, greens, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsnips, peas, radish, rutabaga, spinach, Swiss chard, and turnips.
What temperature should soil be when planting sudangrass?
It is important to check soil for residual nitrogen before fertilizing to further fine-tune nitrogen rate. Seeding Timing. Soils should be above 60°F when sudangrass and sorghum are planted.
How much moisture should be in silage?
Wilting high moisture forage can be difficult because the crop dries slowly and regrows rapidly when soil moisture is adequate. Silage at 70-75% moisture can be stored in trench or bunker silos.
What is the best grain for silage?
For silage choose forage sorghums, especially hybrids with high grain production. They can't be beat for tonnage or for feed value. As silage, forage sorghums usually yield more dry matter per acre than dryland corn, and will yield similarly to corn under irrigation.
Why cut silage after frost?
Silage is often cut soon after frost to reduce moisture, especially with forage sorghums. Cutting short will maximize yield from that harvest. Taller stubble (8 inches) can hasten drying, reduce the risk of nitrate poisoning, and encourage regrowth.
Why is no till planting important?
No-till planting techniques can save water, increase forage yield on rainfed land, save labor, be beneficial to soil health and provide residue cover from the previous crop to protect the soil surface and influence soil temperatures in the summer to the benefit of microbial activity.
Is sorghum good for rotation?
Forage sorghum is a good crop to use in rotation to break the insect and disease cycles that can develop in continuous corn. For example, corn rootworm larvae cannot survive on sorghum roots, so sorghum after corn works well. Corn after sorghum can sometimes still be a problem because rootworm adults can lay eggs in sorghum, ...
Can you graze sorghum after cutting?
Cautions (After Cutting the Forage Sorghum for Silage). Grazing of forage sorghums is not recommended. They usually contain much higher levels of prussic acid than other summer annual grasses and can be dangerous to graze even when plants are completely headed, especially when young shoots are present. Grazing regrowth or young plants before a killing freeze after silage harvest would be a very high risk or dangerous situation for cattle.
When is the best time to grow forage?
For forage producers who anticipate short forage supplies, these crops may help to stretch forage supplies. Early June is an ideal time to establish these forage crops for both dry and normal growing conditions.
Is sorghum a high yielding crop?
More than just an emergency forage crop: forage sorghums and sudangrass crosses are highly digestible and high yielding.
Why is sorghum grown?
Sorghum was grown primarily as a source of sugar for syrup until the settlement of the semiarid West created a demand for drought-resistant forage crops. By the 1950s, about 90% of the acreage of sweet sorghums in the United States was grown for forage.
Where did sorghum originate?
Sorghum ( Sorghum vulgare Pers.) is indigenous to Africa, and many of today's varieties originated on that continent. Sorghum was also grown in India before recorded history and in Assyria as early as 700 B.C. The crop reached China during the thirteenth century and the Western Hemisphere much later.
What is sorghum used for?
Forage sorghums are used primarily as silage for livestock. They are sometimes grown and harvested with soybeans to improve the protein content of the silage. Sudangrasses and sorghum-sudangrass hybrids are grazed by livestock or fed as green chop or hay.
What are the pests that attack sorghum?
Forage sorghums are attacked by wireworms, seed beetles, cutworms, aphids (especially greenbugs), sorghum midge, chinch bugs, spider mites, armyworms and earworms. Some of these pests can be controlled with insecticide seed treatments in the planter box.
What is sorghum sudangrass?
4) Sorghum-sudangrass hybrids are a cross between the two forage types that have intermediate yield potential and can be used for pasture, hay or silage.
How tall is sorghum?
Sorghum is a coarse grass that grows as an annual in the Upper Midwest. Stems are erect and solid and reach a height of 2 to 12 ft. In many respects, the structure, growth, and general appearance of forage sorghums are similar to corn: stalks have a groove on one side between the nodes; grooved internodes alternate from side to side; a leaf is borne at each node on the grooved side, with the leaf sheath and blade arrangement also much like that of corn.
Why is the midrib of a sorghum leaf white?
If the pith is not juicy, the midrib of the leaf is white in color because of the air spaces in the tissues; when the air spaces are filled with juice, the color is more neutral.
What is the best soil for growing sorghum?
Sorghum grows best where summers are quite warm, with daytime temperatures regularly topping 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Sandy soils in warm climates are especially good for growing sorghum because it withstands drought and flooding better than corn does.
How long does it take for sorghum to bleed?
Like corn, grains of sorghum go through an immature “milk” stage when a pierced kernel will bleed a milk-like juice. Sweet sorghum is harvested about two weeks after the milk stage by cutting off the canes at ground level, stripping off the leaves, and setting aside the green canes.
How tall does sorghum grow?
Six weeks after planting, drench sorghum with a high-nitrogen liquid fertilizer to invigorate new growth. Many grain sorghum varieties grow to only 5 feet tall, but sweet sorghum and broom corn plants can top 8 feet.
What is grain sorghum?
Grain sorghum, also called milo, produces tall panicles covered with small, round seeds in late summer. The grain can be milled into fresh flour, and some varieties such as “Tarahumara” can be popped like popcorn. Cracked grain sorghum makes excellent animal feed. Sweet sorghum, also called cane sorghum, is grown for the sweet juice ...
Is sorghum self fertile?
Prepare soil much as you would for corn, and be sure to mix a balanced organic fertilizer into the bed or row before planting. Unlike corn, sorghum is self-fertile, so a large plot is not needed for pollination purposes.
Can sorghum be grown for grain?
One of the most versatile members of the grass family, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) can be grown for grain, crafting or for processing into sorghum syrup. Appropriate sorghum varieties must be chosen for each use, but all types are as easy to grow as corn. Sorghum grows best where summers are quite warm, with daytime temperatures regularly topping 90 ...
How long does it take for sorghum to dry?
Drying may take 3 to 5 days for sorghum-sudangrass since it has large stems.
What is the energy content of sorghum?
The energy content of sorghum silage can be 60 to 65% TDN with a crude protein content of 7 to 8%. A good target is to harvest at soft dough, especially if you do not have the ability to process the kernel. It may be necessary to swath and then chop to get the correct moisture (30 to 35%).
What is the best hay to cut for boot?
A good balance between yield and quality is to cut sorghum-sudangrass or pearl millet hay during the boot stage. Forage quality can range from 55 to 65% total digestible nutrients (TDN) and 6 to 10% crude protein when the plant is between the dough and boot stage. Foxtail millet hay yield potential is less than sorghum-sudangrass or pearl millet.
How much hay does Foxtail Millet produce?
Foxtail millet hay yield potential is less than sorghum-sudangrass or pearl millet. Typical hay yields range from 1.5 to 2.5 tons/acre, but it is also earlier maturing and dries quickly. Seed cost is also usually less for foxtail millet.
What is a Nebguide summer annual forage?
The Nebguide Summer Annual Forage Grasses provides a lot of detailed information on using these warm season annuals for forages, including seeding rates, fertilization and other special considerations.
Is sorghum good for silage?
While both sorghum-sudangrass and pearl millet can be used for silage, forage sorghum may be a better option due to its greater yield potential with expected yields of 4 to 6 tons of dry matter (DM) (11 to 17 tons at 35% DM). The energy content of sorghum silage can be 60 to 65% TDN with a crude protein content of 7 to 8%.
Is pearl millet good for winter grazing?
High yield, but lower quality winter grazing. If the target animals are non-lactating, spring calving cows, then forage quality does not need to be high. In this situation, planting a forage with increased forage yield potential is a good option. Sorghum-sudangrass and pearl millet planted in mid-July, would have TDN from 50 to 55% and crude protein of 6 to 8% in the early winter. These forages are sensitive to cold temperatures and will usually die due to frost in early October.
