Pearl Millet

[circlew]

Has anyone planted pearl millet? When would you plant it in south Alabama? How much would you put per acre? Also when would you fertilize it? Thanks.

 

[LaneFarms]

I planted mine at 30lbs/ac in mid may. Make sure you are going to have moisture for germination. I would fertilize as soon as it germinates, and you should be able to graze it in a month.

 

[1982vett]

Plant it like and when you would any haygrazer or soughum in your area.

As to planting rate...TAMU must have gotten some stimulus money to change their website to make it totaly useless till I figure where they hid everything... irritatingly ... but best recollection on recommendations is 12 -20 lbs drilled to 1/2 - 1 inch deep April - June in a prepared seedbed. Fertilzer to soil test recommendations prior to planting.

Search "pearl millet" and you will find plenty information...

Supposed to have another planting chart bookmarked somewhere and can't find it either. My bookmarks really do need some housecleaning attention.

 

[circlew]

From what I've read on the internet I need to plant around the first of May. Using a drill they said I should use 15# to the acre and broadcasting 23# to the acre. That sound about right?

 

[sizmic]

What are your intentions for use? Haying, I would use the dwarf type from Southern States. Grazing, I would use the common type. 15-20 #'s sounds pretty accurate.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 ... 326a8948d0

Photos are of the dwarf type with tyrone soybeans.

Sizmic

 

[circlew]

I'm thinking about doing some for hay and some for grazing. Will the common be fine to roll for hay? Sizmic how much hay did yall get off that field? How big of a field is it?

 

[sizmic]

65 tons at 50% water on 15 acres. I like the dwarf stuff for hay, same amount of leaves with a lot less stem, tillers out good too.

Sizmic

 

[circlew]

How long does it take the millet to dry if you cut it for hay?

 

[sizmic]

Should also say we got a second cutting off the millet before it got too cold, made 20 of those same bales after a good 18-46-50 spred of fertilizer.

Sizmic

 

[sizmic]

Never let any dry down so I'm not sure. 1 1/2 days for haylage. Cut with a conditioner. If you do everything by the book I'd say atleast 3 days of good drying: conditioning, tedding and curing.

Sizmic

 

[circlew]

I don't have a conditioner. No one around here has one either. I have a disc mower and a tedder. I've read that it will take forever to dry. Do you store yours in a barn or outside?

 

[sizmic]

I put ours up as haylage, wrapped in plastic, outside. I would think it would be similar to sudex or sudan in dry down time. Dwarf type seems to ensile better than the common type due to compactness of the plant.

Sizmic

 

[circlew]

How long after you plant do you cut your millet?

 

[1982vett]

How long does it take the millet to dry if you cut it for hay?

No set answer on that. It is weather, density of stand, height of stand, how wet the ground is, temp, was it cut with a conditioner....and so on.

Generally 5 - 6 days with July temps.

 

[1982vett]

How long after you plant do you cut your millet?

Depends on if you want quality or quantity...Idealy just or before it enters boot stage.

 

[Angus Cowman]

How long does it take the millet to dry if you cut it for hay?

No set answer on that. It is weather, density of stand, height of stand, how wet the ground is, temp, was it cut with a conditioner....and so on.

Generally 5 - 6 days with July temps.

:nod: :nod:

 

[circlew]

How would yall plant the millet? With a drill or spreader?

 

[Angus Cowman]

How would yall plant the millet? With a drill or spreader?

I have done it both ways and I prefer to work the ground and broadcast it but when I don't have the time I No till
it seems like I get about 20-30% less stand when I no till over broadcasting

 

[circlew]

Angus Cowman have you ever had a bad stand of the millet?

 

[Angus Cowman]

Angus Cowman have you ever had a bad stand of the millet?

Not really my worst stand produced about 5 bales or 2.5 tons per acre and the best was around 11 bales or 5.5 tons per acre