{"id":5443,"date":"2023-04-09T19:39:22","date_gmt":"2023-04-09T23:39:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/?p=5443"},"modified":"2026-04-12T17:14:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T21:14:01","slug":"growing-summer-annual-forages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/2023\/04\/growing-summer-annual-forages\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing Summer Annual Forages!!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This time of year, I often get questions about what type of summer annual forages to plant in Colquitt County. Warm season annual grasses are established from seed and are productive during spring and summer.  Below are great tips from Dr. Lisa Baxter on the subject of summer annual forages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Lisa Baxter Extension Forage Specialist (UGA-Tifton)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" type=\"1\">\n<li><strong><u>TEST YOUR SOILS!<\/u><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Follow the soil test recommendations<\/strong> &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/georgiaforages.caes.uga.edu\/management\/fertilization-guidelines.html\">Forage crop fertility recommendations can be found here. <\/a><ul><li>Split fertilizer applications<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Don\u2019t forget about the lime<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Select a recommended species and variety<\/strong><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/georgiaforages.caes.uga.edu\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/georgiaforages.caes.uga.edu\/\">Georgia Forages Website<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/swvt.uga.edu\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/swvt.uga.edu\/\">Statewide Variety Testing Website<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Buy certified seed <\/strong>(look for the blue tag)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2023\/04\/image-15.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"371\" height=\"496\" src=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2023\/04\/image-15.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5449\" srcset=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2023\/04\/image-15.png 371w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2023\/04\/image-15-224x300.png 224w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 371px) 100vw, 371px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Prepare your seedbed<\/strong><ul><li>Plow\/disc at least 2-4 wks prior to planting<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Incorporate lime and fertilizer<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Incorporate PPI herbicide<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Allow time to settle or firm with cultipacker\/roller\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Boot tracks should be ~1\/4 in. deep<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Broadcasting may be faster but will increase seeding costs and will likely result in lower yields!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Seed to soil contact is critical for germination!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Get your seed drill ready <em><u>before<\/u><\/em> its time to plant<\/strong><ul><li>Prep seed cups and drop tubes<\/li><\/ul><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><ul><li>Clean out hoppers<\/li><\/ul><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><ul><li>Calibrate (don\u2019t trust the settings on your seed drill)<\/li><\/ul><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><ul><li>Set up for <em>proper<\/em> drops<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Set your press wheels<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A great resource to use to help calibrate seeders and grains is the publication <a href=\"https:\/\/georgiaforages.caes.uga.edu\/content\/dam\/caes-subsite\/forages\/docs\/2019-baleage-and-silage-short-course---moultrie\/190226_BSSC_Moultrie_12_Preparing_and_Calibrating_No-Till_and_Conventional_Drills_opt.pdf\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/georgiaforages.caes.uga.edu\/content\/dam\/caes-subsite\/forages\/docs\/2019-baleage-and-silage-short-course---moultrie\/190226_BSSC_Moultrie_12_Preparing_and_Calibrating_No-Till_and_Conventional_Drills_opt.pdf\">Preparing and Calibrating a No-Till or Conventional Drill for Establishing Forage or Cover Crops<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2023\/04\/image-16.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"792\" height=\"509\" src=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2023\/04\/image-16.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2023\/04\/image-16.png 792w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2023\/04\/image-16-300x193.png 300w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2023\/04\/image-16-768x494.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Plant the right rate at the right time<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table caes-extended-core-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/td><td colspan=\"2\"><strong>Seeding Rate<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Species<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Planting Date<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Drilled<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Broadcast<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Pearl Millet<\/td><td>Apr. 1 &#8211; Aug. 1<\/td><td>12-15<\/td><td>20-25<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Sorghum x Sudan<\/td><td>Apr. 1 &#8211; Aug. 15<\/td><td>15-20<\/td><td>25-30<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Sudangrass<\/td><td>Apr. 1 &#8211; Aug. 1<\/td><td>10-15<\/td><td>20-25<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Forage Sorghum<\/td><td>Apr. 15 &#8211; June 1<\/td><td>6-8<\/td><td>NR<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Crabgrass<\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td>3-5<\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Plant at the correct depth<\/strong><ul><li>Millets and Sorghums: 1\/2\u201d to 1\u201d<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Crabgrass: no deeper than 1\/4\u201d<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Seeding too deep is a major cause of establishment failure!<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Coulters should cut about twice depth of seed\u2019s size<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Manage insects and weeds<\/strong><ul><li>Scout early and often<\/li><\/ul><ul><li><em>Accurate ID is key!<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Follow recommendations in the <a href=\"https:\/\/ipm.uga.edu\/georgia-pest-management-handbook\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/ipm.uga.edu\/georgia-pest-management-handbook\/\">Georgia Pest Control Handbook<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>10. Graze or bale<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" type=\"a\">\n<li>Yields are contingent on planting date and weather<ol><li>Quality depends on stage of growth<\/li><\/ol>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Don\u2019t graze too short (be aware of growing points \u00e0 especially if you are looking for regrowth)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2023\/04\/image-13.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2023\/04\/image-13.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5446\" width=\"838\" height=\"408\" srcset=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2023\/04\/image-13.png 854w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2023\/04\/image-13-300x146.png 300w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2023\/04\/image-13-768x374.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 838px) 100vw, 838px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pearl millet produces several tillers (new shoots) at the base of the plant (left). After pearl millet<br>is cut or grazed, new tillers emerge from basal buds at the base of the plant (right). As a result of this<br>anatomical trait, pearl millet can be grazed to within 4 \u2013 6 inches and still recover relatively quickly (e.g.,<br>12-18 days of rest before grazing again or 22-35 days for being cut for hay or baleage again.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2023\/04\/image-14.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"830\" height=\"383\" src=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2023\/04\/image-14.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5447\" srcset=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2023\/04\/image-14.png 830w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2023\/04\/image-14-300x138.png 300w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2023\/04\/image-14-768x354.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sorghum x sudangrass paddocks (left) grazed to 8 \u2013 12 inches will optimize regrowth rate. This is<br>because sorghum x sudangrass grows back from axillary buds at the node where the leaf blade connects with<br>the stem.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have forage questions please contact your local county Extension agent.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This time of year, I often get questions about what type of summer annual forages to plant in Colquitt County. Warm season annual grasses are established from seed and are productive during spring and summer. Below are great tips from Dr. Lisa Baxter on the subject of summer annual forages. Dr. Lisa Baxter Extension Forage [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-beef-cattle","category-hay-forages"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5443"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5443\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5454,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5443\/revisions\/5454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}