There are many words used interchangeably to describe different summer annual forages in Texas. This is especially true among the different sorghums. Here are the main types of summer sorghums that may be grown across the state.
- Sorghum/sudan, also generally known as ‘haygrazer’. This forage is a cross between sorghum and sudangrass (Fig. 1). By acres it is the most common forage in the sorghum family in Texas. It is one of my favorite crops for its versatility, broad adaptation, and ease of production. The key trait of sorghum/sudan is its retillering ability. This enables multiple hay cuts (up to three in one growing season) or grazing cycles.
- Forage sorghum. This sorghum type is intended for large one-time cuts, usually for silage. It retillers much less than sorghum/sudan. Regrowth is not enough to justify continuing to a second crop. In Texas regions where silage is needed but rainfall and irrigation are less, forage sorghum is a good substitute for corn silage.
- Sudangrass. Sudangrass looks similar to Johnsongrass. It does not produce rhizomes in the soil (which makes Johnsongrass as a weed hard to control). It retillers well, but as an overall forage tonnage and performance tends to be better with sorghum/sudans.
- Sorgo-sorghum/sudan. Some companies offer this three-way cross. They are comparable to sorghum/sudan. The sorgo, used in making molasses, is assumed to produce a ‘sweeter’ forage (i.e., more sugars).
- Other sorghum forages. These include ‘hegari’ (which Texans pronounce Hi’-gear), early sumac, and yes, grain sorghum which might be used for forage if the grain fails.
- Hybrid pearl millet. HPM is not a member of the sorghum family. It is often used for hay and sometimes grazing. Unlike sorghums millet can be fed safely to horses. A future Memo will highlight some nice traits of HPM.
There are many educational pointers about sorghum family forages. They will fill many Memos to come. These include brown-mid rib (BMR) trait, forage quality vs. stage of growth, tillering regrowth, etc. For an advance look at some of these topics, consult the May 2020 AgriLife Row Crops Newsletter at:
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Nominate your farm dog for national recognition.
Nominations are now open for the 2024 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest, supported by Purina. Applications close July 14.
The grand prize winner is the Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year. The title comes with a year’s worth of Purina Pro-Plan dog food and $5,000 in prize money.
The winner will be recognized at a Farm Dog of the Year award ceremony at the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in January 2024 in Salt Lake City. Up to three regional runners-up will each win $1,000 in prize money.
The judging of the contest will be based on nomination materials submitted. Desired attributes in the Farm Dog of the Year are helpfulness to the farmer and his/her family, playfulness, and obedience.
Joe Sheeran of Texas owns Woody, the winner of the inaugural Farm Dog of the Year contest in 2019. Joe says Woody is now 12 years old and recently retired from herding cattle, sheep, and ducks. But he’s still Joe’s constant companion and is helping train two of his puppies in stock dog duties.
The contest celebrates farm dogs everywhere who work alongside their people to bring nutritious food to our table and our pets’ bowls.
Go to www.fb.org for more details.