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Balemore

Balemore

Balemore Sudangrass is the premier summer annual choice for producers focused on dry hay production. Known for its robust emergence and rapid growth, this variety outpaces sorghum x sudangrass in both initial growth and regrowth, ensuring a reliable and plentiful harvest throughout the summer season. One of the key advantages of Balemore is its lower risk of prussic acid compared to traditional sorghum varieties, making it a safer option for livestock. Additionally, this sudangrass thrives in less-than-ideal soil conditions, tolerating poor fertility and low pH levels.

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Forage First® by DLF

Forage First® by DLF delivers top-tier forage grasses and legumes with superior yield, persistence, disease resistance, and grazing tolerance.
Summer Select

Summer Select® by DLF, part of the Forage First® portfolio, offers high-performance summer annuals like sorghum for diverse forage needs. It features drought-tolerant, water-efficient crops with traits like high digestibility and disease resistance, suited for various forage applications.

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Key features

  • Best summer annual option for dry hay production
  • Strong emergence
  • Quick regrowth
  • Rapid growth & regrowth
  • Lower prussic acid risk than sorghum

Segment Forage
Category Summer Annuals
Species Sudangrass
Approx. Seeds/Lb. 35000-40000
Seeding Depth (Inches) 1/2-1
Seeding Rate - Alone/New (Lbs./Acre) 15-25
Planting Times Spring, Summer

SUDANGRASS

USES:

  • Grazing: Begin at a height of 24 to 28 inches and stop at a height of 6 to 8 inches. Intensive rotational grazing works best and manages the fast growth of this species.
  • Hay/Baleage: Wide swath each cutting to allow the crop to wilt rapidly until desired moisture is reached. Optimal moisture for dry hay is 15% to 20%. For baleage (wrapped bales), it is 50% (+ or - 10%).
  • Silage/Haylage: Wide swath each cutting to allow the crop to wilt rapidly until desired moisture is reached. Optimal moisture for silage/pile storage is 68% to 72%.

SEEDING:

  • Recommended soil temperature of 60° F and climbing
  • Seeds per pound range from 35,000 to 40,000 depending on varietal and production.  Check the bag/seed tag or contact your Regional Sales Manager for seed size estimates.
  • Depending on soil moisture, plant ½ inch deep on heavy (clay) soil and up to 1 inch on light (sandy) soil
  • Follow recommended seeding rates for your area:
    • Higher moisture areas: 25 to 35 lbs per acre
    • High Plains (low moisture): 15 to 25 lbs per acre
    • Please refer to the Forage First® Management Guide or a Regional Sales Manager for the most accurate seeding rates for your variety
  • Can be no-tilled into the stubble of winter and spring crops
  • Avoid Iron Chlorosis. If soil pH is above 7.5, do not plant. If above 7.2, Iron application may be necessary.

FERTILITY:

  • Test your soil!
  • For optimal growth and minimum risk of nitrate poisioning, ensure that 1 to 1.25 lbs of Nitrogen per day is available during the planned growth period
  • Example: for a 40 day harvest, 40 to 50 lbs of Nitrogen should be available during the growth period
  • Potassium levels should be maintained similar to that of corn

HARVEST:

  • First Cutting: Harvest within 40 days from emergence, or at less than 40 inches of growth
  • Cutting Height: For optimal regrowth, crop should be harvested leaving 2 nodes or approximately 6 to 8 inches of plant material
  • Use Sharp Blades: A clean cut will enhance re-growth
  • Sudangrass dries relatively rapidly.  For hay/baleage, achieve a rapid dry down using a wide swath.
  • For silage, keep chop length uniform (around ½ inch)
  • Quality levels, including NDFd and protein, will decline as harvest is delayed. Harvest during vegetative growth to maximize forage quality.
  • For highest energy levels, harvest at the flag leaf stage. Sugar formation in the stalks and leaves is at its highest from this stage until grain formation.

AVOIDING NITRATE POISONING:

  • Do not harvest drought stricken plants within four days following a heavy rain
  • Do not over-feed the crop Nitrogen, follow fertilization tips found above
  • Do not apply Nitrogen prior to expected drought periods
  • When in doubt, cut at a higher stubble height as nitrates tend to accumulate in the
  • lower stalk
  • If high Prussic Acid is found, wait one month prior to feeding. Unlike excessive nitrates, prussic acid will escape from the plant over time.