Piper Sudangrass
Piper Sudangrass has finer stems and leaves than Sorghum-Sudan hybrid and can be used for grazing or hay. Piper makes an excellent emergency crop.
Piper Sudangrass is resistant to Anthracnose and Downy Mildew.
Establishment
The best method for planting sudangrass is with a grain drill at a depth of 1/2 to 1 inch into moist soil.
Plant when soil temperature reaches 60 degrees farenheit. (In the midwest this would generally be the end of May or in June.)
Management
All Sorghums & Sudans can cause Prussic Acid and Nitrate poisoning in livestock. Be sure to test your sorghum sudan products prior to grazing or cutting for prussic acid and nitrate poisoning. Prussic acid often occurs when plants are green, succulent forages as opposed to dried and baled. If there is a high level of prussic acid, cut and cure the crop before baling, as the prussic acid will turn to a gas and leave the plant. If grazing or feeding, delay releasing animals to feed until plants are 20″ tall. **PRUSSIC ACID LEVELS WILL RISE AFTER A FROST OR FREEZING. IT IS RECOMMENDED TO REMOVE ANIMALS FROM PASTURE FOR AT LEAST 7 DAYS TO ALLOW PRUSSIC ACID LEVELS TO DROP TO A SAFE LEVEL. Nitrate poisoning DOES NOT LEAVE THE PLANT and should be dealt with differently than Prussic Acid poisoning. If the Nitrate level is high, delay cutting or grazing the crop. Cut crops in the afternoon instead of the morning, allow for several sunny days of clear weather before cutting and raise your cutting bar. Do not apply nitrogen fertilizer if your levels are up or too high. Crops with high nitrogen can be used to make ensilage with a relatively good margin of safety.