Released Auugst 6, 2009
HUTCHINSON, Kan. -- Many summer annual forages grown in Kansas may be cut for hay multiple times. With reasonable care, those forages -- sudangrass, hybrid pearl millets, and even sorghum-sudangrass hybrids -- can produce two and even three cuttings with excellent feed value, said Kansas State University agronomist Vic Martin.
One exception is forage sorghums which are excellent as silage or green chop but poor for haying, said Martin who is a specialist in annual forages and alternative crops with K-State Research and Extension. Forage sorghum can produce high tonnage, good quality hay, especially the newer BMR (brown mid-rib) hybrids, but producers need to take care to condition stems properly so they will dry down properly before baling.
Sudangrass and hybrid pearl millet are well suited for haying and grazing, and while they may also be ensiled or green chopped, these are less-efficient options. In order to maximize quality, hay should be cut before heads emerge. If these crops are allowed to grow until head emergence before cutting, they will produce more tonnage but feed quality will be substantially reduced.
Sorghum-sudangrass hybrids may be successfully used for hay, but have thicker stems than sudangrass and pearl millet. As a result, it is important to crush or crimp the stems of sorghum-sudangrass hybrids to allow for rapid drying. Sudangrass and hybrid pearl millet produce better quality hay than sorghum-sudangrass hybrids as they have smaller stem diameters and their composition is typically 50 percent or less stem.
When planning on multiple cuttings, raise the cutter bar high enough to allow for rapid regrowth, typically six inches for sudangrass and sorghum-sudangrass hybrids and eight inches for pearl millet, Martin said. To further stimulate growth and hay forage quality (protein), apply 30 pounds of nitrogen per acre after harvest. If yields are especially high, it may be advisable to apply up to 50 pounds per acre.
Finally, after baling, to insure hay quality is maintained, producers should move bales to proper storage as soon as possible, he said.
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http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/ksrenews/story/briefs080609.aspx
Editor: Elaine Edwards, elainee@ksu.edu
