Check out our summer annual guide!
Summer Annuals
Definitions & Tips:
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Brachytic Dwarf - reduces length between nodes to shorten plant height, which results in higher leaf-to-stalk ratio and reduced lodging.
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BMR - brown midrib varieties have lower lignin than conventional products resulting in higher palatability and digestibility.
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WMR - white midrib varieties have lower lignin than conventional products resulting in higher palatability and digestibility.
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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.
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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.
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Soil temps need to be at least 55°F before planting summer annuals. Frost will kill all summer annual species.
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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 is an industry standard sudangrass. It yields well and performs under many conditions. It is an economical option for chopping, haying or grazing.
9131 - BMR/PPS Sudangrass
9131 is an improved variety offering that has BMR to enhance palatability. 9131 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, PPS, BD, PAF
Seeding Rate: 25-40# / acre (higher rate = finer stems)
Depth: 1" - 1.5"
This BMR hybrid brings consistent performance and excellent regrowth with a high leaf to stem ratio. It has a good disease package and is well suited for both mechanical and hoof harvest. It is a medium-early, approx 60 to 65 days to boot.
This photo sensitive, BMR SorgXSud offers a wide harvest window and has great regrowth making it a very high yielding option that can be multi-cut. It strongly prefers warm, well-drained soils. It offers great palatability and digestibility.
4408 is the first Prussic-Acid-Free sorghum product to come to market. This trait gives producers peace of mind when grazing or harvesting that they will not have to manage risk. This vigorous, high yielding, palatable option is a great tool to reduce risk!
Forage Sorghum / Grain Sorghum
Seeding Rate: 6-9# / acre. Depth: 1" - 1.5"
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. This early maturity forage sorghum offers a quick silage harvest for producers looking for a fast maturing, high-tonnage single cut option. It is very digestible and palatable.
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. 5277 offers an extremely high yield and palatability for silage. This product offers both BMR and BD traits to maximize digestibility and palatability. This is a great single cut option with good agronomics!
1910AT 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, as well as excellent aphid tolerance.
Millets
Millets are not a member of the sorghum family and do not have the risk of prussic acid poisoning.
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 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"
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 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 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!