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GRASSES

Hay in Humid Areas: Multiple cuttings, high digestibility, ity, and the bristly awns on the seedheads can cause sores in
rapid regrowth, and rapid drydown. Look for a BMR, DS animal mouths. Foxtail millet should not be used for horses, as
sorghum-sudan. it contains a compound that can cause joint pain and problems
Hay in More Arid Areas: Single large cutting, delay head- with the urinary tract.
ing as long as possible. Look for BMR, PPS sorghum-sudan Browntop Millet is another rapid-maturing, lower-yielding
or DM sorghum-sudan for later plantings. (as compared to hybrid pearl) millet variety, commonly used

Stockpiled Winter Pasture: Excellent standability, high di- in the southern plains as it is more tolerant to higher humidity
levels but it can move north also. Browntop holds its palat-
gestibility, and palatability even when mature. Look for BMR, ability after maturity better than other millets so it has a fit in
PPS forage sorghums or BMR, PPS forage sorghum-sudans, stockpile mixes. Browntop is also safe to feed to horses. It is
and if planting late (after July 4th, roughly) then a long matu- often used in wildlife food plots as it is a good seed producer
rity BMR, BD forage sorghum is the best choice. with an open panicle for easier foraging.
Silage: Use a long maturity BD, BMR forage sorghum for Japanese Millet matures rapidly and typically yields less forage
early silage plantings. For later plantings, consider a shorter than other millets but is more palatable than foxtail millet after
maturity BMR forage sorghum. maturity and has better regrowth. Japanese millet is exception-
Biomass Production and Cover: Conventional sorghums ally tolerant of wet soil and will even grow in standing water,
and sorghum-sudans are the least expensive, but oftentimes finding use in duck food plots.
a PPS, MS, or DM product may be desired to extend the Proso Millet is used strictly as a grain crop and has very little
growing season and prevent seed formation. forage value, being both unproductive and unpalatable. How-

Wildlife Cover and Habitat: Use a blend of grain-produc- ever, it is one of the most water-efficient grain crops, and is
ing hybrids with different maturities, lodging resistance, used to provide animal feed in areas too dry for corn or sor-
and heights. Consider adding a variety of millets as well. ghum. It is also used as a rapid-maturing (as little as 60 days
to maturity) grain crop when the growing season is too short
Millets for a full-season crop, such as when hail takes out the primary

Millets are diverse and broadly adapted group of summer crop or for wildlife food plots.
annual grasses that fit a variety of needs. Because millets orig-
inate from Asia and Africa, they tend to have excellent heat
and drought tolerance and in these countries of origin, they
are still widely used as a staple for human consumption. There
are a variety of different millets that serve a variety of different
purposes, so it is important to understand the different types
of millets and when and where they should be used, so you can
select the one that is right for you.
Pearl Millet has the highest yield potential among millets Left: German Millet | Right: Pearl Millet - 5 weeks of growth
because of its hybrid heterosis. Because millets have no prus-
sic acid potential, hybrid pearl millet is preferred for grazing Teff Grass
under conditions in which prussic acid might be hazardous.
Millets, like any plant, can still accumulate nitrates and should Teff grass is a summer annual forage for livestock and com-
mercial hay producers who need a fast growing, high yield-
be tested if high nitrates are a potential concern. Pearl millet is
more tolerant of sandy and calcareous soils than sorghum-su- ing crop with excellent forage quality. Teff is fine stemmed,
dan, but less tolerant of heavy clay or wet soils. Pearl millet is leafy and “soft” which makes it very palatable to livestock,
especially horses. Teff is planted in late spring after the
usually higher in protein than sorghum, but loses palatability danger of frost has passed and can be harvested multiple
more rapidly upon maturity and unlike sorghums, pearl millet
is safe for horses. times during the hot summer months. Teff germinates
quickly and is usually ready for first harvest at the early
Foxtail Millet is also known as German or White Wonder boot stage 45-55 days after planting. Subsequent cuttings
millet. It is earlier in maturity and has lower forage yield po- are usually ready for harvest in 28-35 days, depending upon
tential than pearl millet; however, it is finer-stemmed and growing conditions and the region. For more information
cures more rapidly for hay than pearl millet. When growing as about Teff grass, visit teffgrass.com.
a forage, be aware that once it heads out, it loses forage qual-

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