Sorghum/Soybean Forage Mixture - Is it a good alternative to corn silage for the Northeast?

Project Overview

FNE94-060
Project Type: Farmer
Funds awarded in 1994: $2,950.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/1995
Region: Northeast
State: New York
Project Leader:

Commodities

  • Agronomic: sorghum (milo)

Practices

  • Animal Production: feed/forage
  • Soil Management: soil quality/health

    Proposal summary:

    We have a relatively short growing season for annual crops in the Northeast. We have wet springs and falls which make it hard to get corn planted early in the spring, equally difficult to get it harvested in the Fall and almost impossible to get a reasonable cover crop established after harvest. Sorghum/soybean forage mixtures have been introduced as an alternative annual forage crop to corn. We will compare the cost and yield difference of corn for silage and sorghum/soybean mix for silage.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.