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LATE SUMMER SEEDED CROPS

BMR Sorghum sudans

AS6401

A Gene 6 hybrid with improved disease resistance and better regrowth.We have observed occasional fields of other hybrids where regrowth due to disease pressure (fusarium) was a problem. (Cutting when soil conditions are moist and humidity is high.) AS6401 has been developed with disease resistant tropical parentage and our observations have been very positive. AS6401 replaces Summer Prince.

AS6402

This gene 6 BMR has a much different growth habit then our other hybrids.AS6402 has lots of wide leaves packed on a short stalk that only gets 5 to 6 ft tall. Yield, however, is very similar to AF7401 tall hybrids.A winner for grazing but also very good for machine A gene 6 BMR dwarf forage sorghum with superior standability cut as well. Retains its quality very well if harvest is delayed. AS6402 replaces Summer Dream.

AS6501

This wide leafed hybrid has both gene 6 genetics and delayed maturity. Forage quality will remain high even if the crop gets taller than recommended cutting height because the crop remains vegetative. AS6501 has the best drought tolerance of our entire Sorghum sudan line up. Improved disease tolerance. AS6501 replaces Summer Queen.

AS6503

A new high sugar photo-period sensitive hybrid with wide harvest window.

Sudangrass

AS9301

A very exciting new Gene 6 sudangrass that has get up and go and extreme quality. AS9301 dries easier than sorghum Sudangrass, which makes it possible to dry for hay. Excellent for grazing, baleage and dry hay.

Hayking

This BMR is not a gene 6 BMR and does not have a very dark mid rib. Hayking has excellent yields, but its fiber digestibility is lower than AS9301. Fiber digestibility and animal performance is, however, much better than Piper sudangrass and other non BMR hybrids.

Forage sorghum

A warm season annual that is an excellent choice for one direct cut systems (like corn silage) on marginal corn ground or after double crops. Uses 30 to 50% less water than corn and less nitrogen too. BMR trait has improved forage sorghums dramatically, and they are now considered an excellent dairy feed. Energy levels are comparable to corn and protein level is around 10 or 11%. Sugar levels are also very high. Can also be seeded with corn. Call for management info.

AF7101

An early season gene 6 BMR forage sorghum with good standability and drydown. It is a little earlier than AF 7201 in maturity, but with similar plant height. Very sweet stands and good for boot or soft dough harvest.

AF7201

A shorter season gene 6 BMR forage sorghum that has very good standability and drydown. Very sweet stalks. A good choice for seeding with corn.

AF7301

A male sterile gene 6 BMR forage sorghum with good standability. Does not set grain which results in better standability, low starch content and very high sugar levels. This is a full season forage sorghum.

AF7401

A gene 6 BMR dwarf forage sorghum with superior standability and great nutrition. This hybrid is a full season product and is best used south of the Mason-Dixon line. AF7401 replaces Little Titan 112 in our product line up.

Teff

A very small seeded warm season grass that has fine leaves and stems. This product is native to northern Africa (Ethiopia) and tolerates many soil conditions. Will make very palatable dry hay that livestock and horses love. Also is good for grazing after 1st cutting. We were very pleased with its performance in 2007 in regard to yield, drydown, standability and quality.

Because this is a relatively new crop we are still learning about its management. Many customers have had excellent performance even in severe drought. However, many customers had stand establishment problems including King’s in one of our test plots. From the successes and failures we have learned the following:

• Seed after soil has warmed over 60° F
• Weeds must be controlled prior to seeding
• Soil must be very firm prior to seeding. A cultipacker seeder (with all cracks taped up and the seeder practically closed) works well but soil must be very firm prior to using the seeder.
• Seed very shallow (surface seeding is better than too deep). If using a drill, just scratch the seed in.
• Broadleaf weeds may need to be controlled with 2,4-D after the teff is established (3 or more leaves per plant)
• Thickening thin alfalfa stands has had good success for making dry hay in the summer months. Works best on late 1st cuttings and 2nd cuttings. Grass and annual weeds must be controlled prior to seeding.

Corvallis

This is a variety that was researched in New York state. Was also an excellent performer of 3 varieties in Penn State’s 2007 trial. Looked best in King’s farm plots.

Millet

Wonderleaf

This is a warm season annual, similar to sorghum sudans, with no prussic acid. Dry matter production is 20 percent less than sorghum sudans with better digestibility and protein. Non-BMR Millet has smaller seeds, thus a lower seeding rate.

It needs a soil temperature of 65oF or more to germinate, and growth slows down when cool weather comes (September). Frost kills it, but it can still be grazed with no fear of prussic acid. Will tolerate wetter years better than Sudan.

It needs good seed-to-soil contact and it’s not as competitive with existing grass as sorghum sudans. Like sorghum sudans, it can use lots of nitrogen.

Wonderleaf will grow a little bushier and not as tall as Sudan. Start grazing at 12 inches, but make sure the roots are not being pulled up. It should not be allowed to grow taller than 3 feet (or it will lose palatability), nor grazed lower than 6 inches.

Summer Feast Mixture

Seed at 15 to 20 lbs/A.This summer annual mix will give your herd or flock lots of summer feasting. A mix of Wonderleaf Millet and forage brassica.As withWonderleaf there is no worry about prussic acid.

Brassica Crops

Brassicas are used to extend the grazing season into late fall/ early winter, or to provide very high quality summer or fall grazing. Brassicas will not lignify in hot weather which results in very high- quality feed.They can be seeded in a mix with Millet or Sorghum Sudan.The seeding rate is very low and it makes cows pick up in milk. Sometimes cattle won’t eat it the first day or two. Introduce them slowly and make sure adequate effective fiber is being fed. Brassicas are low in fiber.Typical forage analysis: 25% protein, 215 RFV.

Forage Brassica

A hybrid brassica that is a cross between turnip and rape and looks like a turnip without the bulb. Our Summer Feast Mix contains forage brassica and Wonderleaf Millet. Varieties may change due to availability. Hybrids are T-Raptor and Pasja.

APPIN TURNIP

A forage turnip was bred for fast, vigorous establishment and quick maturity (60-100 days). It is firmly anchored in the ground for minimum waste.Appin has a significantly higher proportion of leaf yield compared to other turnips, and is multi-crowned for improved re-growth potential. The high leaf-to-bulb ratio results in a very leafy crop with high digestibility.

Barkant Turnip

Barkant is a vigorous summer/autumn turnip from Holland. It is extremely high yielding and bred specifically for increased leaf growth. The highest concentration of protein and yield is in the leaf.The tankard shaped bulb offers good accessibility. It’s suitable for milking, lamb fattening, ewe flushing or hog rearing. It can be grazed about 2 times.

BONAR RAPE

A late maturing forage rape with relatively short stems and large paddle-like leaves. A higher leaf-to-stem ratio gives increased utilization compared to giant type rapes. Bonar can be sown where soil fertility and moisture is good, and is ideal for finishing stock over the summer/autumn period. It is a high yielding rape variety that can provide quality winter feed after crops, or can be used as part of a pasture renovation program.