O/T: Sudangrass

Anonymous-0 · Jul 19, 2008

I'm experimenting this year with rotating in Sudangrass instead of corn for my alfalfa fields. Unfortunately, it won't quit raining here (rains about an inch every 4 days). I have it growing in clay and by the time the ground dries up enough to mow the forecast goes right back to rain. The stuff is already 6ft tall in spots and i wanted to mow it last week at 40 inches. My question is if the stuff heads out, can i forget about a second crop? Just looking for someone else with experience growing Sudangrass for hay.

kyplowboy · Jul 19, 2008

I have cut it with it headed out and it came back. It may not come back as fast but you should be able to get another cutting or graze'n before frost.

Be sure to get the cows away from it or it worked in before frost. Not good for'm after it has been frosted on.

Dave

Anonymous-0 · Jul 20, 2008

Thanks Dave.

I damn near cut it today since I saw a couple plants starting to head, but the 80% chance of rain stopped me. Glad I didn't because by the sound of the storm we got over 1" tonight.

When you grow Sudangrass, do you harvest as dry hay? I've read some articles that say Prussic Acid is never a concern in dry hay, and some that say you should always get it tested. I'm going to get it tested anyway since this is my first year growing it, but what is your experience with Prussic Acid (HCN) in Sudangrass?

kyplowboy · Jul 20, 2008

The only time I have ever herd of it cause'n a problem with Acid is after a frost, it is like wilted wild cherry leaves then.

If you have a real dry year it can have high levels of nitrates in it. Sounds like you could NOT have a problem with that this year.

I have not raised any the last seveal years. I have gone to pearl millet insted in my rotation from tobacco back to pasture/hay. Pearl millet does not from prussic acic so it can be grazed way up into the fall if it is wet or I just don't get round to work'n it up to plant grass/clover/wheat. It also is alot easier to get to cure if you don't have a conditioner. Some say it can't be done but I have cured sudan with 2 passes with a tedder, but it is a pain and still takes alot of time.

Dave

thurlow · Jul 20, 2008

Is this a hybrid (Sudex) or true Sudangrass? I used to grow about 100 acres of Sudex every year and have cut it as tall as 10 or 12 feet. It'll continue to grow and 'come back' 'til frost. Cut it high..........around 6 inches......... to allow for quicker regeneration.

Formerly PaMike · Jul 20, 2008

I bought some high moisture round bales from a guy this year. The stuff fed good, but since it was so long when it was cut the cattle seemed to waste a lot. I asked the guy a lot about it and he gave me a bunch of info. He said cut it high and dont go on the field if it is a little wet. He said it doesnt take traffic well and then cut one field when it was a little too wet and the areas where the tire tracks were never grew back. Some of the stuff I had was headed out, but the cattle still loved it and ate it well. Just my 2 cents.

dieseldoc · Jul 20, 2008

I chop all my sudex and sudan grass for silage . makes great feed if you can get it made at the right time.

Sam#3 · Jul 20, 2008

When I lived at home and Dad was still farming he raised sudan nearly year. He always let it head out before he cut it and, depending on summer rain, he would have a second cutting.

cadet trooper · Jul 20, 2008

I'm trying to remember but the question about Sudex rings a bell I remember dad after two dry years in a row and farming 240tillable acres milking 80 cows we were running out of pasture so we planted 10 acres of Sudex for green chop Wow, what a mess the good thing is it came on fast but with good rainfall then we couldn't stay ahead of it because as someone already said you shouldn't and couldn't go in while it was wet because it was like going into a wet cornfield no grass cover so it was slippey slimey mess the flail chopper would keep sliding sideways if you were going up a hill pulling a bunk wagon it would take me a couple hours to chop a couple small bunk wagons full then the milking barn walls started to take on an Olive green tint due to loose bowels the old milk pails had to be kept covered and you walked with caution down the aisleways. The stuff made good plowdown.

O/T: Sudangrass

Anonymous-0

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kyplowboy

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Anonymous-0

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kyplowboy

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thurlow

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Formerly PaMike

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dieseldoc

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Sam#3

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cadet trooper

Well-known Member

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