My husband and i buy land adjoining our last fall. Had been a bean field in '06, not much before that. Husband plants millet in it (no till drill) this spring because he hears from somewhere that it is aggressive enough to compete with weeds. He wants to bale at least one crop before letting cattle at it. 3 weeks go by, weather is good for growing, weeds are flourishing millet is sprouting but poor growing. Husband has it sprayed with something besides round up to kill weeds (mix by local fertilizer plant custom made for our field). Give that a week, weeds not dead but probably no longer competive. Millet looks healthy but is still not growing. New weeds sprouting all over. I suggest spraying with round up to kill whole works and start over. Hubby says round up is good but has no residual so new weeds will continue to grow and compete with new millet seed. He suggests spending summer pulling the disc over it continually (every 3-4 weeks) to kill weeds before they have an opportunity for weed seeds to ripen. Says this is cheaper than round up and might work better. Also may give him a chance to plant millet again in late July and harvest maybe on crop so summer is not a total loss. Says weeds on it make it unfit for pasture. Sorry this is so long but the more info i give maybe the better advice i'll get,and farmers up here have limited experience with millet so not many at all to ask. Any help is appreciated ~ after that next few hours may not have access to boards again till Friday, will try to check in. Thank you for your help in advance!
Could use some help here
- Thread starter angie1
- Start date
pdfangus
Well-known member
I am a darn long ways from Minnesota so i don't know what i am talking about up there.
However millet is a warm season annual.
Here in virginia the guys are planting it this week.
My perception of minnesota is one of ice fishing and eskimos so i have no idea what the temp is there now but I doubt it is in the 90's like it is here.
My guess is that the millet was planted too early.
also you did not provide any information on soil test or nutrient balance or ph or previous pesticide history.
could something have been applied to the field that might inhibit millet? I dunno.
From a conservation standpoint, dragging an implement over it continually is not going to do much good. Every pass will just bring up more weed seed to germinate. Every rain will haul off a little more soil. I will let someone from up there advise you on what to plant and when, as i don't have a clue.
However millet is a warm season annual.
Here in virginia the guys are planting it this week.
My perception of minnesota is one of ice fishing and eskimos so i have no idea what the temp is there now but I doubt it is in the 90's like it is here.
My guess is that the millet was planted too early.
also you did not provide any information on soil test or nutrient balance or ph or previous pesticide history.
could something have been applied to the field that might inhibit millet? I dunno.
From a conservation standpoint, dragging an implement over it continually is not going to do much good. Every pass will just bring up more weed seed to germinate. Every rain will haul off a little more soil. I will let someone from up there advise you on what to plant and when, as i don't have a clue.
Millit needs hot nights to do well about 70 deg. Spray the field with round up and 2-4D then replant when the nights get hot. The old folks around here plant millit when the wife kickes the sheets off all night and leaves the fan on.
Millit will make in 45 days so you should have plenty of time ansl millit loves N so put som on about 2 weeks after planting. If weeds come up with the millit spray with 2-4D and Dicamba.
Or if you have a good stand of millit just spray with 2-4D and dicamba. You can buy that mixture as a product called Rifile-D.
Millit will make in 45 days so you should have plenty of time ansl millit loves N so put som on about 2 weeks after planting. If weeds come up with the millit spray with 2-4D and Dicamba.
Or if you have a good stand of millit just spray with 2-4D and dicamba. You can buy that mixture as a product called Rifile-D.
mnmtranching
Well-known member
I'm in North Central MN and I'm planting my Millet now, well not today it's raining.
This works best for millet up here. Millet doesn't do well until the soil is warm. It likes well tilled soil. I plow, disk and plant right after the soil is worked. If the soil is warm and the millet germinates before the weeds it will dominate. most weeds are smothered out.
What weeds are in there, bale it up and feed it.
This works best for millet up here. Millet doesn't do well until the soil is warm. It likes well tilled soil. I plow, disk and plant right after the soil is worked. If the soil is warm and the millet germinates before the weeds it will dominate. most weeds are smothered out.
What weeds are in there, bale it up and feed it.
Ryder
Well-known member
Went through a spell here where I guess I could have planted it year 'round. :roll:alabama":1shso8lr said:
