Summer Annual Forage Grasses

The summer annual grasses most often used for forage in Nebraska are sudangrass, sorghum-sudangrass hybrids, forage sorghums, foxtail millet, pearl millet, and teff. Each of these grasses has unique growth characteristics that require proper management for optimum production.
Some of the desirable characteristics of summer annuals are rapid growth (especially in mid-season), excellent drought resistance, and good response to fertilizer and water. Alkali soils can reduce yields considerably, but plants will tolerate a moderate amount of salinity. They are well-adapted to most areas of Nebraska and grow rapidly following planting in late May or June. They provide good growth from mid-July through August, and then moderate growth until stopped by fall frost.