Check out our summer annual guide!

Summer Annuals

Definitions & Tips:

Brachytic Dwarf - reduces length between nodes to shorten plant height, which results in higher leaf-to-stalk ratio and reduced lodging.
BMR - brown midrib varieties have lower lignin than conventional products resulting in higher palatability and digestibility.
WMR - white midrib varieties have lower lignin than conventional products resulting in higher palatability and digestibility.
PPS - photo-period-sensitive varieties will not produce a head until late in the season when daylight is reduced. This results in higher yield of vegetative material.
Prussic Acid - a harmful acid that can build up in the sorghum family of plants and have harmful effects on livestock. Occurs when plants are harvested too immature, or after a killing frost. Only occurs in sorghum family products. To mitigate risk, allow plants to reach 24" height before grazing or harvest and wait 7 days after a killing frost before harvesting.
Soil temps need to be at least 55°F before planting summer annuals. Frost will kill all summer annual species.
Make sure to apply adequate nitrogen fertilizer prior to seeding!

Sudangrass

Sudangrass has the finest stem of the sorghum family products. It is a great hay option or grazing option, and is multi-cut. For those looking to make dry hay, plant 40#/acre and mow with a conditioner. Sudangrass varieties may be available with the following traits: BMR, PPS

Seeding Rate: 25-40# / acre (higher rate = finer stems)

Depth: 1/2" - 1" deep

Piper

Piper is an industry standard sudangrass. It yields well and performs under many conditions. It is an economical option for chopping, haying or grazing.

7106BMR - SOLD OUT

7106 is an improved variety offering that has BMR to enhance palatability. 7106 yields well and has vigorous regrowth, great for a multi-cut harvest!

Sorghum-Sudangrass

Sorghum-Sudangrass is a flexible option for those who are looking for both tonnage and quality. It can be hayed (best when planted at 35+#/acre), chopped, or grazed. Most producers use it as a multi-cut option. Sorghum-sudan varieties may be available with the following traits: BMR, WMR, PPS, BD

Seeding Rate: 25-40# / acre (higher rate = finer stems)

Depth: 1" - 1.5"

Cadan

Cadan is a leafy variety of sorghum-sudangrass. It is palatable, easy to establish, and very cost-effective.

4105BMR/PPS

4105 is a high quality option to maximize tonnage and reduce the chance of the plant producing a seed head. This helps it to produce high yielding, palatable forage!

4555BMR

This BMR variety offers great flexibility and yield potential while still offering a tremendous value!

Forage Sorghum / Grain Sorghum

Seeding Rate: 6-9# / acre. Depth: 1" - 1.5"

2606 BMR Forage Sorghum - SOLD OUT

Typically the tallest and most leafy type of summer forage. Forage sorghum is the most "corn like", meaning that it has wider leaves, and is not able to produce much regrowth after cut. Forage sorghum is ideally suited for single cut operations. Due to it's large stalk it is not suited for hay. 2606 is a BMR variety that can produce high tonnage and offers a 95-100 day maturity.

31A15 Grain Sorghum

31A15 is a bronze headed grain sorghum variety. It has a early maturity of approximately 55 days to mid bloom. It has good agronomics and yield potential.

Millets

Millets are not a member of the sorghum family and do not have the risk of prussic acid poisoning.

Pearl Millet

Pearl Millet is a great option for those that do not want to have to manage a sorghum product. It has no prussic acid risk. It can be grazed, hayed, or chopped. Pearl Millet is a high-tonnage option for quality forage - without risk!

Planting Rate: 25-45# / acre

Depth: 1" - 1.5"

Japanese Millet

Japanese Millet is occasionally used for forage, but is primarily used for wildlife seed. It is one of the most tolerant species of wet feet, and is commonly used on ground too wet for other species.

Planting Rate: 25-45# / acre

Depth: 1" - 1.5"

Golden German Millet

German Millet is a popular choice for plots for game birds. It can also be used as a single cut emergency hay option. Needs to have well drained soils.

Planting Rate: 15-25# / acre

Depth: 1"

White Proso Millet

White Proso Millet is a summer annual that matures in about 70 days and produces lots of seed for game birds. It is rarely used for forage.

Planting Rate: 20-35# / acre

Depth: 1/2"

Teff Grass

Teff is a very fine summer annual grass that makes exceptional quality dry hay, and can command a premium! Teff should be planted in late May - early July. First cut is typically 50 days after planting, with subsequent cuts every 30 days. Do NOT seed deeper than 1/8". Teff has no prussic acid risk! Seeding Rate: 6 - 10# / acre

Bonus Teff

Bonus is a high yielding product with very good agronomics. First cut is typically 45-55 days after planting and subsequent cuts are every 30 days afterwards!

Summer Annuals

Definitions & Tips:

Sudangrass

Sorghum-Sudangrass

Forage Sorghum / Grain Sorghum

Millets

Teff Grass

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