Millet
Millet
These are warm season grasses that are fairly drought tolerant and can produce good growth for cover and hay/grazing. They generally perform well on poor soils, and they will form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations. There are several types of millet including Foxtail, Pearl, and Proso.
Foxtail millet has low water use and crude protein of the hay might be around 15%.
Proso millet has medium water use and crude protein of the hay might be around 10%.
Pearl millet has low water use and crude protein of the hay might be around 13%. Pearl millet tends to produce higher tonnage than the foxtail millets or Sudan grass on sandy soils. Prussic acid toxicity is not present in pearl millet. Four to six weeks of growth or 24-30” are recommended before grazing. Plants grazed before this point may have nitrate levels toxic to livestock. Drought stresses pearl millet, causing nitrate levels to be higher than normal. Two distinct advantages over sorghum or proso, seed will not over-winter in moist soil, and there are no wild relatives in the U.S. to naturally outcross, so it would not become a weed in subsequent crops.
Japanese Millet
Japanese millet is a quick growing grass that provides excellent habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. It tolerates wet ground and even standing water as long as the plant is above it. Japanese millet is primarily seeded in wetland areas when they are drier in...
Pearl Millet
Pearl millet has low water use and crude protein of the hay might be around 13%. Pearl millet tends to produce higher tonnage than the foxtail millets or Sudan grass on sandy soils. Prussic acid toxicity is not present in pearl millet. Four to six weeks of growth...
German (Foxtail) Millet
German or Foxtail Millet has low water use and crude protein of the hay might be around 15%. We have German "R" strain millet. It can provide a quick hay/forage crop with excellent feed quality when put up in a timely manner. For cover crop uses, some may prefer it...
