SorMax Steer
$72.50
SorMax Steer is a solid choice for an economical single cut forage sorghum. Rest assured, standability and drought tolerance will ensure it is a reliable harvest each year. An added bonus is that it is a male sterile variety, boosting energy forage values as a feed.
Dryland Seeding Rate: 6-8 lbs/acre
Irrigated Seeding Rate: 10-25 lbs/acre
Seeding Depth: 3/4 inch
Need some help? Contact us.
Product Guide
Planting
- Seeding Depth: 3/4″
- Dryland Seeding Rate: 6-8 lbs/acre
- Irrigated Seeding Rate: 10-12 lbs/acre
Fertility
- Forage sorghum requires approximately 28 lbs of N, 8 lbs of P₂O₅, 42 lbs of K₂O, and 6 lbs of S per ton of forage produced.
- Make fertilizer applications based on expected yield and soil fertility levels.
- Apply ½ rate of nitrogen before or immediately after planting, and the other ½ rate 30 days after emergence.
- Do not exceed a total of 10 lbs/a of N+K if fertilizer is placed in-furrow at planting.
Weed Control
Plant into a clean, weed-free seed bed and use the herbicide options below for optimal weed control:
| Timing | Herbicide | Rate | Notes | Weeds Controlled | Control Method |
| Preplant or Preemergence | Atrazine 4L (Atrazine) | 3.2-4 pts/a | Apply within 2 weeks prior to planting, or after planting but before crop emergence. | Broadleaves | Contact & Residual |
| Glyphosate** | 32 oz/a | Apply any time before crop emergence. | Grasses & Broadleaves | Contact | |
| Postemergence | 2,4-D Amine (2,4-D) | .67-1 pt/a | Apply when crop is 5 to 12″ tall. Use drop nozzles if crop is 8″ or taller. | Broadleaves | Contact |
| Starane NXT (Fluroxypyr + Bromoxynil) | 21 oz/a | Apply from 4- leaf stage through 7- leaf stage | Broadleaves | Contact | |
| Starane Ultra (Fluroxypr) | 0.3-0.4 pts/a | Apply from 3-leaf stage through the 7-leaf stage. | Broadleaves | Contact | |
| Broclean (Bromoxynil) | 1-1.5 pts/a | Apply from 4-leaf stage and prior to preboot stage | Broadleaves | Contact | |
| Huskie (Pryasulfotole + Bromoxynil) | 12.8-16 oz/a | Apply between the 3-leaf stage and prior to flag leaf emergence | Broadleaves | Contact |
*Always read and follow label instructions before making an application.
**Different glyphosate products may have different application rates. Refer to the label before making an application.
Disclaimer: All products and rates were provided by university-based sources and product labels. Always follow label instructions and consult your local chemical dealer and seed dealer before making any applications or planting of seed.
Harvest Management
- Forage sorghum should be cut for silage when the seedheads have reached the mid-dough stage of maturity.
- If a killing frost is received before this point, growth will stop and sorghum should be cut as it begins to wilt in the field.
- It can be direct chopped or swathed and wilted before chopping depending on harvest time and target moisture
- Nitrates: Forage sorghum can accumulate nitrates if stressed to the point of stunted growth, but when harvested for silage the ensiling process breaks down nitrates to safe levels for livestock.
- Prussic Acid: Forage Sorghum plants can accumulate prussic acid after a killing frost, but prussic acid escapes from the plant after several days. If harvested for silage after a frost, prussic acid escapes from the feed as a gas which makes sorghum silage very safe for livestock.
