By Jerry Volesky and Ben Beckman et.al
Wheat harvest will be coming up soon and that leads us to think about some forage opportunities after harvest is complete. There is plenty of growing season left this year and there are several forage possibilities, especially in a year where pasture or hay is short in some areas.
If the cropland is not irrigated, receiving some rains after wheat harvest is going to be necessary to grow that forage crop.
One dryland choice might be a high grain-producing forage sorghum if chinch bugs and other insects are not a problem. Sunflowers can be a surprisingly good choice for a short-season silage. They survive light frost and yield well under many conditions.
If hay is preferred, plant sorghum-sudan hybrids, teff, or pearl or foxtail millet. A hay crop exceeding two to three tons per acre can be grown easily if planted soon after wheat harvest. Another hay or silage alternative is solid-seeded soybean. A couple tons of good forage can be grown from taller, full season varieties planted after wheat.
Oats planted in late July to early August is another option. Yields over two tons are common when moisture is good, fertility is high, and your hard freeze comes a little late.
Source : unl.edu