The Most Productive Cover Crop Is A Gamechanger: Sorghum Sudangrass

Sorghum Sudan Grass is the most productive cover crop that I have ever grown. Its and excellent forage for livestock like cattle and even pigs and it builds soil health in ways I never imagined.
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00:00 Introduction
00:45 Description of Sorghum Sudangrass
02:40 Managing Sorghum Sudangrass
03:52 Grazing Sorghum Sudangrass
04:11 Prussic Acid Poisoning and Sorghum Sudangrass
04:48 Nitrate Poisoning and Sorghum Sudangrass
06:07 Uses of Sorghum Sudangrass
06:47 Improving Water Holding Capacity of Soil
07:09 High Quality Forage
07:23 Pigs on Sorghum Sudangrass
07:48 Growing Your Own Mulch with Sorghum Sudangrass

[@ScarletKnightmare]

Sorghum is a great homestead plant for more than just forage. It's incredibly drought tolerant as well

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

Did you grow sorghum or sorghum Sudan grass? Bother are really good.

[@ScarletKnightmare]

@@DowdleFamilyFarms Just Mennonite sorghum for grain and molasses. Didn't realize sudangrass was a separate species. Good stuff!

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

@@ScarletKnightmare Yeah. Sorghum sudangrass is a cross between the two species. It takes the best things about both species and is absolutely wonderful for soil health and forage.

[@ppac300]

@@DowdleFamilyFarms Will it go to seed?

[@alifedal9062]

You made it very simple , thank you

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

Thank you for watching.

[@osodowilberforce2321]

Wonderful information on sorghum sudan grass.Very much appreciated.

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

Thanks for watching. I hope it helps.

[@traviss6500]

Very good.

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

Sorghum sudangrass is outstanding. Thanks for the comment. I hope you enjoyed the video.

[@jerrybates5766]

I grew 24 acres last year in a drought and the herd was lost in paradise for 3 weeks. Going to try it this year in a market garden.

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

Thats great. Where are you located? Did you try regrazing it?

[@jerrybates5766]

@@DowdleFamilyFarms I had it plowed up and put into grass and clover for hay and grazing. I would like to inter plant it and now they are coming out with a Prussia free type I was told. We are in Cloverdale indiana

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

@@jerrybates5766 So did you get one grazing out for he sorghum Sudan last year? I’m just curious how it grows in different climates. Sorghum Sudan in a market garden should improve the soil dramatically, especially if you can mow (or weedeat) it down to 6-8 inches once after it reaches 24-30 inches in growth. Let me know how it goes for you. I have not hear about prussic acid free type. The breeding of sorghum Sudangrass and the special types is pretty complicated from what I understand. To get particular traits like the brown mid rib, delayed maturity, or dwarf varieties they have to back breed it for a couple generations. I may not be getting quite right, but I do know that it is pretty complicated. I mention all that to say, there are usually only so many traits they can keep breeding into the grass. I wonder how this trait might fit with the BMR of DM traits. Anyway, sorry for the long answer.

[@user-ee4up8of4j]

We grow 12-16 acres NE FL, graze or cut for silage x3, never had issue with prussic acid, graze/cut at 36", use 100# 10-10-10/acre

[@GRAZINGARIZONA]

Man what a good video, great information, thank you. Been watching sorghum sudangrass videos for few months now just gathering info, your video covers it pretty well from what I've learned. Ima put this in my watch later list so i can easily watch again. First I've seen any of your video's, weird cuz i search sorghum sudangrass a lot.... at least it finally showed up in my search. Thanks again, im off to see what other videos of yours will peak my interest (for sure, at least, the one you mentioned here bout planting the sorghum).

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

Thanks for watching. Im glad that you found the video. Many of our videos include information about sorghum sudangrass and how we graze it, plant it, and manage it. Usually, however, the videos are about something else and the time of sorghum sudangrass is mentioned in passing. What are you planning on using it for? Grazing? Soil improvement?

[@GRAZINGARIZONA]

@@DowdleFamilyFarms Northern Arizona, we have a cow calf pair. Soil is very dense with clay and not a lot of rain. I've heard it does ok in drought and kinda crummy soil conditions. I think your channel may have a lot more I'm interested in... rotational regenerative type grazing, soil building and whatnot. Oh yeah, lots of bare dirt here also trying to get some type of organic matter in the soil. I've never done a soil test but I imagine there's almost no organic matter within the top foot of dirt here. I'm also trying to identify what we have growing already, squirrel tail barley, some type of vetch (I forget at the moment), blue grama, desert mallow, hounds tooth.... a hundred others I haven't been able to identify as of yet. Yeah man, really glad I finally landed on your channel, I just subbed. Thanks for the reply, appreciate it.

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

As long as you can get the cows off the sorghum Sudan its worth growing. Try Sunn hemp with the sorghum Sudan or alone, great grazing, good in drought and no concerns grazing it. It is a legume and will help. Cowpeas are good as well.

[@taylorharbin3948]

I’m thinking of growing some of this in my yard this year. Northern Arkansas. Heat and drought is a big problem, but I want a healthy grain source.

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

Grain sorghum aka milo may be your best bet, very similar, just without the sudan cross. It should offer more seed.

[@StewartFarmApiary]

Prussic acid is no joke. We planted last year for a biomass cover crop with sunflowers. Great stand, lots of vegetation but the drought hit. We moved sheep on the sorghum sudan grass and let them graze. We lost two sheep from prussic acid because of drought. I agree with the great soil building advantages. Just have to watch out for the acid content. Great video.

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

I knew it can be an issue, but you are the first person I know who has had a problem with prussic acid poisoning. I heard from one person who had an issue with nitrate poisoning with sorghum sudan. Thanks for the response. Are you growing it this year?

[@StewartFarmApiary]

@@DowdleFamilyFarms I am growing this year but will limit if the drought comes again. I have a mixture of iron clay peas, corn, rattlesnake climbers, sunflowers, and sorghum sudan grass. The biomass is hard to beat and right now that is what I am focusing on to get the soil better. I will probably clip the first crop and graze after that. Let's hope we don't get drought like last year.

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

What are rattlesnake climbers? Is that a variety of bean or cowpea? I’m not familiar with that one.

[@ppac300]

You planted Sorghum Sudan?

[@StewartFarmApiary]

@@ppac300 Yes. That is one of the plants in this mix.

[@toddborron6239]

i am thinking of growing a patch next year to help start my compost pile, i've grown it in my yard in soil that I can hardly get anything to grow in, my cat loves to hide in it, just yesterday i interplanted cereal rye and will see how that does, will probably chop and drop before winter hits, just expermenting to see how i can use it to build soil and compost

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

Nice. It’s does a great job building soil.

[@vontinkles]

What happens in the winter? Does it just stop growing and turn brown or does it completely fall over? Was thinking about using it also around my fence for privacy throughout the year too.

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

It winter kills and turns brown. We graze it and terminate it before then usually.

[@karlbogrand1239]

Ive wanted to grow sorgumsudan for those reasons but was worried about the prussic/nitrate. I broadcasted 13 different seeds last summer and only cow peas and coes forage sorghum came up. Impressive considering it was broadcast into perennial pasture no incorporation. What do you do for incorporation?

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

Ill have a more detailed video on planting but we try to cover it up in some way. Prussic acid can be an issue as can nitrate poisoning. You’ll be nervous the first time you graze it, but as long as you follow the guidelines you should be ok.

[@Rev-Neckbone]

Thanks for the great information! I wonder if anyone has used sorghum-sudangrass on areas of lawn with bad compaction, allowing it to grow for maybe 1 season to break up dirt and build soil. . .then let it terminate over winter and plant cool season turf grass following? I have areas of lawn that are low in organic matter, very compacted (like hardpan in some areas with no grass) and struggle with cool season turf grass. Thought maybe I'd see if sudanex could help regenerate the soil but wasn't sure if planting turf grass after would be successful. Anyone have any experience with that?

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

I have contemplated doing it in my back yard but it is wildly unruly. You’d have to have equipment to mow it at 24-48 inches high or you would not get good biomass out of it I think. It might be worth a try though.

[@Rev-Neckbone]

@@DowdleFamilyFarms I planted a very small area out of the way with some. Dirt patch and hard as nails. Used an actual drill to loosen soil to put in seed. Covered in wood chips (had a bunch of arborist chips available) to keep moist. Watering a bit daily or every other. If that rehabs that small area . ..I'd consider it more widespread later. Gonna try my Stihl kobmi unit with power scythe to cut down when 3-4' tall. I'll post back later. . .

[@ContactsNfilters]

Sunflowers are supposed to help with that too. I'm in a city with a tyrant city code enforcement, even though it's legal in Texas to grow a garden in your front yard! So I'm using sunflowers, some alfalfa to use as mulch and adding nitrogen content as well a lots of beans and black eyed peas. So far my most bountiful harvest is the caleche rocks I keep digging out. Well that and a ton of pecans from our tree. 😂

[@savageairsoft9259]

If we're nervous about poisoning livestock, what would be a close 2nd or 3rd choice to no-till drill and then graze with livestock? Thank you

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

Hybrid pearl millet is a great forage crop and decent soil builder. You dont have to worry about prussic acid poisoning, though applying too much nitrogen can lead to nitrate poisoning, but its rare.

[@drogen9987]

what do you think about teff grass

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

Never really grown it n

[@user-pb4hs5md9b]

What Variety do you prefer?

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

See the other comment.

[@user-pb4hs5md9b]

I’m in Southwest Mississippi blood varieties do you preferred I know there’s a lot out there

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

I tend to do the cheap variety if the soil isn’t great. A recent video on cover crops I published talks about it more but the SSG with BMR traits didn’t perform as well as the cheap f1 hybrid that I got from my local coop.

[@user-pb4hs5md9b]

I appreciate your response, but does the F1 hybrid have a name?

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

@@user-pb4hs5md9b IM sorry if it does I dont know what it is. Honestly all the names sound similar to me, super super, super sweet, etc. Ill see if I can find it though and get back with you

[@user-pb4hs5md9b]

Thank you very much

[@rayjil7435]

Where do you get your Sorghum seeds from?

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

From our local farm supply store. They order it for me.

[@rayjil7435]

Can you name the supply store or the name of the producers written on the sack, please?@@DowdleFamilyFarms

[@rayjil7435]

Could you please give a lead of the local supply store or the producers/name brand as seen on the sack/bag?@@DowdleFamilyFarms

[@badger1132]

I bought mine from HOSS seeds online.

[@jlithgoe]

Rob, I disagree with Tony. I thought it was a great video. I have a small plot that has been heavily overgrown with brush and weeds for years. Do you recommend that I solarize the soil for a couple months to kill some weed seeds before planting sorghum sudangrass?. My plan is to improve the soil and break up the heavy clay before planting vegetables. I'm just south of the MS/LA line. Thanks, Jack

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

If you can disc or till the soil first, the sorghum sudan will outcompete the other plants I think.. Thanks for the kind words

[@carsonward665]

What variety did you grow?

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

I grew the only variety I could find, the cheapest in this video. That said, last year I tried a BMR and PPS variety and it did not perform well.

[@carsonward665]

What variety of photoperiod BMR did you plant? @@DowdleFamilyFarms

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

The variety with the BMR trait was Latte. Though the cheaper variety without the BMR and PPS trait were more vigorous and performed better on the worse soils. @@carsonward665

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

I noticed your graphic and saw that you work at or own a company that sells and maybe breeds different sorghum and sorghum sudan crosses. If you are interested and have a chance, I'd love to talk to you. [e-mail] @@carsonward665

[@NHamel123]

Is this just feed sorghum?

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

no, its a hybrid between forge sorghum and sudangrass.

[@NimolChanthorn]

How can I buy this seed?

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

If you are in the US then you can order it online, but shipping would be easier of you find a local supplier like a farmers coop or something.

[@tritchie6272]

My guess on why you don't need to fertilize it is that your livestock are fertilizing it for you.

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

Livestock certainly play a role in fertility, but its really about soil life. Sorghum Sudangrass jumpstarts soil life, which in turn feeds the plants within the soil. Of course, urea and manure contribute to soil life as well.

[@desertedenblooms]

SO WHY ARE YOU NOT SHOWING ANY PICTURES OF WHAT YOUR GROWING? CAUSE YOUR NOT?

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

Trowing? I’m don’t know what you mean.

[@desertedenblooms]

Sorry . missed spelled GROWING. You sit there talking, camera on you, instead of showing the sudan grass you grew or shots of any thing. @@DowdleFamilyFarms

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

@@desertedenblooms I understand now. Sorry. We have a dozen or so other videos showing the sorghum sudangrass growing. This video was recorded when we did not have any growing. I should have put some B roll of it growing from other years. But I put this video out so that people could start planting it this year rather than waiting until after it had grown.

[@desertedenblooms]

@@DowdleFamilyFarms AH ,,ok I will check those out. Sorry, I've just get tired of all the "talking heads" on you tube...lol good info. Im in Vegas and looking to shade a west wall and enrich the soil in my sand box... vegas

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

Nice.

[@user-oc7py9bk6n]

They only will eat this when there is no other feed. Do away this and plant hay grazer a lot better crop

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

Not sure what species of animal you are talking about but cows love it. Pigs graze it ok but it’s not their favorite. Never heard of hay grazer but according to Texas AM it’s a term used to refer to sorghum sudangrass.

[@TonyParagas-eh6wc]

You are very talkative but not showing to us your sorghum you out of sync farmer hahahaha You are not a good presenter of video

[@DowdleFamilyFarms]

lol. I appreciate the encouragement! When I recorded that video there wasn’t any growing and I did not have footage of any from previous years!

[@Not_all_as_it_seems]

If you want a professional documentary full of examples, subtitles, pretty girls n a film crew.... stop looking at the home channels. ps, look at his earlier work, it is all there