Sorghum plot?
Whitetail Deer
I received some free left-over sorghum seed this spring and had a plot that I was tilling anyway, so threw in the seed right after last frost to see what happened. This is in southeast Indiana. No fertilizer and no weed control. Just checked on it and the sorghum is about 12 to 18" tall, sparse in some areas and decent coverage in others. It looks green and healthy but probably behind pace for a properly planted and fertilized field.
My 1st question: Is there enough growing season remaining for these plants to grow a viable seed head or are they too stunted and behind schedule? If there is a chance of them reaching maturity, I assume I should hit them with some Nitrogen.
My 2nd question: do they generate much deer food? I'm considering this a free failed experiment and tilling under for a fall plot.
I doubt you are going to see much grain production, depends on the type/variety of sorghum. There are lots of varieties of forage sorghum and milo. I have sorghum plots in Ks for pheasants. The deer have very little interest in the plant itself. They do nibble on the grain heads some in the winter, but I would not call sorghum much of an attractant for deer.
I don't know your zone, plant date, or maturity days so no advice on if they will make heads or not.
Grasses ALWAYS like a shot of nitrogen!
Deer ignore our sorghums until the berries hit the doughy stage, then they wipe it out in a week. After that it's just cover for the winter.
Hope this helps.
Sorghum this time of year in Ohio should be above your waist, and maybe closer to shoulder height by end of August.
For what it's worth we have several plots this year with sorghum and they all suck. I think it was due to real wet spring in Ohio (late start) then has been SUPER dry until just recently. We are planning on killing and replanting for fall plots.
Regarding sorghum use, I think deer like it and they do learn to eat the heads. They hit it really hard later in the year - bit its a flurry from limited usage to all gone in 2-3 weeks. We will plant it again, as its a good food source and valuable for screening. But I personally would make sure you have some clover, turnips/radish, wheat, etc. for hunting season.
I don't think it will make any crop. If it were mine, I'd burn it down w/ glyphosate next month & no-till a cereal rye, turnip, brassica blend. Or establish a stand of clover or alfalfa w/ oats as a nurse crop. I'd also apply some fertilizer. Good luck
I did not have much luck with the deer eating them in Virginia . They piddled around in them but didn’t make them a priority..won’t replant myself
Thanks. I will bushhog the field and start over with a fall crop. Acres4wildlife mentioned alfalfa with oat nurse crop which was where I was leaning.
If you don’t have the capability to Bale the alfalfa, and or cut it on its maturation date, consider clover. Much easier, cheaper to maintain, and once your stand is established, an excellent draw for your property. My property is 70% clover and the deer love it
I’d go with a brassica rye mix
We went to sorghum and corn plots;can't grow soybeans or clover;the deer eat the clover and beans as fast as it comes up.Can't grow sunflowers either.We have too many deer. Don't know what they like about the sorghum but they are in it all the time in the fall. Been buying from Pheasants Forever for about three years,mixed sorghum.
Never had luck with that stuff, but last month had 9 teeth pulled and boy did I have "sore gums"... sorry, it's a rain day here and I found myself back on bowsite typing puns. scentman
The humor is appreciated by me scentman...I could wear out a dad jokes thread...
