Seeding Rate: 25 to 40 Lbs. per acre

Planting Date: May (when soil temperature approaches 70^o)

Prussic Acid Poisoning: Possible - Manage to avoid

Nitrate Poisoning: Possible - Manage to avoid

Harvest Frequency: 1st cutting 45 to 55 days after emergence,

subsequent cuttings every 30 to 40 days.

Utilization: Haying, Grazing, Silage, Greenchop, Haylage

The hybrid sorghum/sudans and sorgo/sudans are versatile, high yielding forages. These products are best utilized by haying, silage, or ensilage, or by greenchopping.  They produce greater yields of dry matter per acre than other sudan-type crops.  However, the forage produced is generally of lesser quality.  Daily gains of livestock grazing the sorghum/sudans have been disappointing when compared to the other summer annuals.  This is due in large measure to the thick stems, which translate into high crude fiber and low palatability.  Large stem diameters can be tempered somewhat by high plant populations. 

When managing sorghum/sudan for pasture or hay production, fertilize with 40 to 60 lbs. actual nitrogen preplant.  Then apply 20 to 30 lbs. nitrogen after each cutting or grazing.  If managing for silage 50 to 70 lbs. nitrogen should be applied preplant.  Potash and phosphate materials should be supplied as determined by soil tests.

The sorgo/sudans are generally sweeter and juicier stalked than the sorghum/sudan crosses.  The sorgo/sudans are also smaller seeded and thus are more economical as a given weight of seed will plant a larger area.