UNL CropWatch June 2, 2010: Consider Annual Forages when Replanting

UNL CropWatch June 2, 2010: Consider Annual Forages when Replanting

June 2, 2010

It’s June in Nebraska, which likely means that somewhere in the state crops will sustain damage from excessive rain, floods, hail, or tornadoes and replanting may be warranted.

Replanting a grain crop may be nearly impossible due to herbicide carryover, the late planting date, or lack of seed; however, there may be another replanting option — annual emergency forage crops.

Match Forage to Herbicide Restrictions

No one likes to replant, but if you must, be sure to check the label of previous herbicides before selecting a forage. Many herbicides have restrictions on grazing or feeding forage grown in their presence.

In addition, previously applied herbicides other than glyphosates can injure forages. Many herbicides for corn and milo will injure pearl millet, foxtail millet, and teff. Sudangrass, forage sorghum, and sorghum-sudan hybrids will tolerate moderate levels of atrazine.

Safened seed can be used if Dual, Bicep, or a generic equivalent herbicide were previously applied. These sorghums also tolerate most herbicides labeled for use with grain sorghum. Other emergency forage options include using short-season corn as silage or drilling bin-run corn for late season pasture or hay, especially if corn herbicides eliminate other possibilities.

Soybean herbicides other than glyphosate cause even bigger problems for replanting to forages. Summer grasses are sensitive to most soybean herbicides. Sunflowers for silage and soybeans for hay or silage are among the few alternatives compatible with soybean herbicide carryover.

Bruce Anderson
Extension Forage Specialist

 

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