Forages May be the Answer if Replant Options are Limited

By Bruce Anderson
Extension Forage Specialist

Crop disasters like hail, flash floods, and tornadoes can happen any time and when they do, replanting options may be needed.

Sometimes replanting a grain crop may be nearly impossible due to the late planting date or herbicide carryover.  In these instances, annual emergency forage crops may be an option; however, they also are challenged by previous herbicide use.

Many preemergence herbicides for corn and milo will injure teff, pearl millet, and foxtail millet. Sudangrass, forage sorghum, and sorghum-sudan hybrids will tolerate moderate levels of atrazine; and safened seed can be used if several other herbicides have been applied.  These sorghums also tolerate most herbicides labeled for use with grain sorghum.  Another possible emergency forage crop is short-season corn as silage or as late season pasture, especially if corn herbicides eliminate other possibilities.

Soybean herbicides that have residual soil activity can cause even bigger problems for replanting to forages.  All summer grasses are sensitive to most soybean herbicides.  Sunflowers for silage and replanted soybeans for hay or silage are among the few alternatives compatible with soybean
herbicide carryover.

Even when you find out an annual forage will grow, you may not be allowed to feed it legally.  Many row crop herbicides have specific restrictions or at least lack approval for use with forages.  So check out your options closely and carefully before making your selection.

If forages look like an option for your replant challenges, be sure to select a forage that is compatible with your herbicides and your livestock.

Source: unl.edu