Author
LYON, DREW - UNIV OF NEBRASKA | |
BURGENER, PAUL - UNIV OF NEBRASKA | |
DEBOER, KAREN - UNIV OF NEBRASKA | |
HARVESON, ROBERT - UNIV OF NEBRASKA | |
HEIN, GARY - UNIV OF NEBRASKA | |
HERGERT, GARY - UNIV OF NEBRASKA | |
KRALL, JAMES - UNIV OF NEBRASKA | |
Nielsen, David | |
Vigil, Merle |
Submitted to: Extension Circular
Publication Type: Experiment Station Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2008 Publication Date: 6/20/2008 Citation: Lyon, D.J., Burgener, P.A., Deboer, K., Harveson, R.M., Hein, G.L., Hergert, G.W., Krall, J.M., Nielsen, D.C., Vigil, M.F. 2008. Producing and Marketing Proso Millet in the Great Plains. University of Nebraska Extension Circular #EC137. Lincoln, NE. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Proso millet is a short-season summer crop that produces well in the semi-arid western Great Plains and is suitable for diversifying and intensifying dryland production systems. Proso allows transition back to winter wheat in cropping rotations. No-till methods work well with proso establishment. Proso is generally fertilized with 20-60 lb N/acre. Popular varieties are Huntsman, Horizon, Sunrise, and Sunup. Seeding rates are generally 8 to 20 lb/a. Proso seed yield increases at a rate of 300 lb/a per inch of water used after four inches of water use. Weed control can be accomplished through tillage prior to planting or with applications of glyphosate. Proso is tolerant to residual atrazine. Insects don’t seriously affect proso and there are few disease problems. Proso can be harvested by swathing to promote uniform drying or by direct cutting with a stripper-header. Proso produces enough plant material to be considered a forage crop. Proso is a low cost-of-production alternative for dryland producers in the Great Plains. The bulk of proso millet produced in the western Great Plains goes to the bird seed market, although some is exported to Asia and Africa for human consumption. Market prices for proso are volatile because of the small size of the potential market. Proso millet can be a profitable dryland crop in the western Great Plains if producers can achieve yields near 2000 lb/a. |