Double Cropping Forage Sorghum

[Shaggy98]

July 1 and I'm still doing a little planting.  ROTF  Don't worry, July planting of sudan grass and forage sorghum is very popular in my area.

[ECIN]

Hey Shaggy -- you forgot to put the maker down !  lol

[Longcreekfarms]

Pulling a crustbuster shaggy? I've had mine for a year now and am satisfied with it. It's a 20'. Only issues I've had is folding it in. Doesn't always want to center back to the transport pegs and dammed if I can find any adjustment.

[Shaggy98]

LCF, as much as I would like to take credit, this is not my equipment. My tractor and drill was 10 miles away setting in the shed and my neighbor's was 1/2 mile around the corner already connected with about enough remaining seed for 10 acres. The little bottom ground field is only 7.5 acres and he volunteered to drill it for me. I'll pay him for his offer and seed, but him and I do a lot of labor and material swapping throughout the year. Remember my post a couple months ago pertaining to good neighbors, well this is the guy I was referring to.

ECIN, see that little white antenna on top of the cab? I can assure you that the markers are in full use. ROTF

[Longcreekfarms]

Good deal Shaggy. And you're friend runs red equip too, all the better! I do the same with some of my neighbors. My drill has no marker setup, and that's why I went with gps. Figured it would cost just as much to put markers on it.

[ECIN]

ECIN, see that little white antenna on top of the cab? I can assure you that the markers are in full use. ROTF

Oh I'm sorry ! I thought that was a antenna for texting -- lol 

[Shaggy98]

My double crop forage sorghum turned out 15-1/2 six foot round bales, little over 2 bales an acre.  Not bad after being dusted in and than setting under 5' of water twice.  With this little crop added to my oat and hay crop of 14 bales, I might be able to get back into the cattle business, although small scale and debt free.  How many pregnant mama's can I feed all winter with 30 bales?  6, 8, 10?  All together I've got right at 20 ton of feed stock and I will probably grain them a little with cracked corn and rolled milo.  Alfalfa is also available, although I will need to buy it or swap some labor.

[clayton58]

If memory serves me figure about 3% of body weight for dry matter intake. So 36 lb/ day for a 1200 lb cow. So you can do the math for how long you need to feed hay and what else is available such as stockpiled grass or stalks etc. if you alfalfa hay as your protein it would also make your feed bales last longer

[Shaggy98]

Thanks 58, I appreciate it. Feedstocks shouldn't be an issue for this area for a change. If I buy more cattle than I've got feed for, I shouldn't have any trouble finding something to feed them. I'm also going to have 250 milo stub acres if I so desire, but that would be a last resort.

[farmerguy89]

Make sure to pat your cows