Sorghum and Millet

Site/Date/Depth/seeding rate:
Choose deep, fertile, well-drained soil. Sorghums can be planted using either no-till or conventional tillage methods. Planting should be delayed until the soil temperature reaches 65 ͦF – 2 inches below the soil surface. The best seeding depth is 0.75 to 1.5 inches depending on where the moisture is in the soil; seeds should be placed .5 inches below the moisture line. For irrigated acres—75,000 plants per acre; dryland acres—50,000 plants per acre. *Glyphosate can be used for burn-down, but not over the
top of sorghum plants. Pre-emerge herbicides need rainfall for activation.

Weed Control:
Use pre-emergence herbicides in combination with post-emergence options for effective control. Apply herbicides as soon as weeds emerge (weeds 2-4 inches tall), typically within 2-4 weeks after planting. Monitor for resistant weed species and adjust management strategies accordingly.
Soil conditions/Irrigation:
The ideal pH is between 6 to 7.5. Adequate drainage is needed for proper growth. The rule of thumb is to not have standing water for more than 24 hours after a rainfall/irrigation. Grain Sorghum is extremely drought tolerant, but the plant does need 16-24 inches of water per year depending upon weather, plant density, fertility, soil type and days to maturity from boot to bloom (0.2 to 0.3 inches per day). Herbicides such as Pursuit, Reflex, Flexstar and Typhoon applied to soybeans the previous year can remain in the soil and cause stand reductions and/or injury to sorghum. Beacon and Accent in corn and Staple and Zorial applied to cotton the previous year can also injure sorghum.
Pests:
Scout for corn earworm/armyworms, sorghum midge, and sugarcane aphid. The worms and midges can be treated with pyrethroids such as Asana XL. For the sugarcane aphid use Sivanto Prime or Transform. Check your label if your sorghum is being grazed by livestock. Many labels will have a 14 day wait for grazing and 7 day wait for harvest. ** Check and follow your label before applying any pesticides.