Establishing Millet

[Breckland Boy]

I'm interested in hearing any thoughts on the best way to establish Millet. I have not grown it before.
It's sandy, it's dry but moisture at 10mm and lower as it's been injected with waste materials in the last month

 

[Great In Grass]

@Soya UK

 

[Breckland Boy]

@Soya UK

I'm growing it for them!
Should I plough up the moisture and hope it chits before it dries out, broadcast it and pray for rain ?

 

[Great In Grass]

I'm growing it for them!
Should I plough up the moisture and hope it chits before it dries out, broadcast it and pray for rain ?

I know very little about establishing millet give David at Soya UK a call he'll talk you through it, he may comment now I've tagged him.

 

[Simon Chiles]

I'm interested in hearing any thoughts on the best way to establish Millet. I have not grown it before.
It's sandy, it's dry but moisture at 10mm and lower as it's been injected with waste materials in the last month

I'd have thought that the soil isn't warm enough yet to be thinking about establishing millet, I'd wait until it warms up a bit. I also don't think it matters whether you plough, min till or direct drill millet, as with all crops it's more important that you manage which ever system you choose according to conditions. In other words if it remains dry, moisture retention will be key. I've drilled millet as late as the end of May and still harvested it by the second week in September. As has been said above, ask David if you need more advice.

 

[Simon Chiles]

I'm growing it for them!
Should I plough up the moisture and hope it chits before it dries out, broadcast it and pray for rain ?

PS I wouldn't broadcast it, far too risky for any crop this time of the year.

 

[Breckland Boy]

PS I wouldn't broadcast it, far too risky for any crop this time of the year.

My gut feeling at the moment is to plough and minimat press drill it. Always used to grow stubble turnips with it but it needs a few days on the workshop first

 

[Adeptandy]

I'm going to drill at the weekend, only a small area this year to see how it goes
Land prepared several weeks ago, going to chip it in the top with the Vaddy

 

[Simon Chiles]

My gut feeling at the moment is to plough and minimat press drill it. Always used to grow stubble turnips with it but it needs a few days on the workshop first

Nothing wrong with gut feeling as a management tool in farming. If you stick the minimat in the workshop it'll give the soil a chance to warm up whilst you're tinkering.

 

[Banana Bar]

Is millet a cereal?

 

[Fuzzy]

Is millet a cereal?

Yes

 

[Breckland Boy]

I'm going to drill at the weekend, only a small area this year to see how it goes
Land prepared several weeks ago, going to chip it in the top with the Vaddy

I originally was hoping to do so too, but the lack of moisture around the surface would mean failure. Unless the forecast changes I have to find an alternative

 

[Soya UK]

Moisture at 10 mm is fine - you can drill at 3/4 of an inch if you need to. Most people aim for 1/4 to 1/2 inch (but thats with rain in the forecast). Lots of millet is going in now after that rain at the week-end. As Simon says, it is still quite cold, but should heat up soon, so i'd be tempted to drill it now, make use of the moisture and hope for more heat / rain next week (or two....).

The waste material injected last month will help. How much N was in it? (Total N requirement is around 90kg per Ha.)

 

[Soya UK]

Is millet a cereal?

Yes - Its a small-grained cereal. The starch / oil / protein percentages are similar to wheat / barley. No good as a feed for cattle / sheep though as it will pass through undigested.
Its worth about £100 /t more than feed wheat in the bird seed market. (That's another reason you wouldn't feed the grain - you'd sell the millet and buy in feed wheat or barley). It is easy and cheap to grow - provided you can get it going in early / mid May.....
It can also be a good option for late-sown silage or a cheap alternative to maize for Anaerobic Digestion on off-lying awkward land.

 

[ZXR17]

Is there any herbicide for wild oat control in millet @Soya UK ?

 

[Breckland Boy]

Moisture at 10 mm is fine - you can drill at 3/4 of an inch if you need to. Most people aim for 1/4 to 1/2 inch (but thats with rain in the forecast). Lots of millet is going in now after that rain at the week-end. As Simon says, it is still quite cold, but should heat up soon, so i'd be tempted to drill it now, make use of the moisture and hope for more heat / rain next week (or two....).

The waste material injected last month will help. How much N was in it? (Total N requirement is around 90kg per Ha.)

Drilling the Millet

 

[Will 1594]

My gut feeling at the moment is to plough and minimat press drill it. Always used to grow stubble turnips with it but it needs a few days on the workshop first

B b. Just dug out an old minimat from back of barn not used for 20 years. What is the calibration How many turns of handle and area please will be pulling it on link arms to sow some margins and bits of game / pollen nectar mix

 

[Breckland Boy]

B b. Just dug out an old minimat from back of barn not used for 20 years. What is the calibration How many turns of handle and area please will be pulling it on link arms to sow some margins and bits of game / pollen nectar mix

Depends on the model. Mine is a 5 x 14 inch furrow. It is 64 turns for 1 / 20th of an acre. I have a sheet in the office for most other machines if required.

 

[Will 1594]

Depends on the model. Mine is a 5 x 14 inch furrow. It is 64 turns for 1 / 20th of an acre. I have a sheet in the office for most other machines if required.

Sameas yours. Do they have 2 hoppers ?

 

[Breckland Boy]

Sameas yours. Do they have 2 hoppers ?

No, just 1 hopper on mine.