Gage County
1115 West Scott St.
Beatrice NE 68310
Phone: (402) 223-1384
FAX: (402) 223-1370

News Column

Paul C Hay, Extension Educator

Milo Production Tips

Choose Top Hybrid - Select a top preforming hybrid from one of the seed companies who a proud to sell milo seed. Don't be afraid of taller hybrids, many times these are top performers and height is not a real issue with today's combines and is not closely related to stalk rot or standability. Plant 80,000 plants per acre on dryland in any row spacing in Gage County and drop the population 5000 plants per acre for every county west across Southern Nebraska.

Fertilize For Top Yields - Milo needs one and one-tenth pounds of nitrogen per bushel for top economic production. Soil test levels will tell you the nitrogen fertilizer addition you will need and the response you might expect from phosphorus and zinc. If the phosphorus level in the field is low starter fertilizer is an excellent way to get the phosphorus efficiently placed for top response. Today when we rely so much on postemergent herbicides for weed control, starter fertilizer usually will help us get a larger plant sooner and aid in the weed control.

Limit Tillage - Milo yields have been excellent under no-till systems. If you feel you have to part the residue do so without moving soil. Residue cover keeps the soil temperature a bit cooler and reduces stalk rot problems. This is particularly true as you move west in Nebraska to dryer and warmer summertime soil temperatures.

Grass Control - If you have a terrible grass problem in the field plant corn or soybeans. If you have a terrible shattercane problem in the field plant corn or soybeans. That is a fact of life, because of the limited herbicide choices in milo. Early Preplant herbicide applications in April are the best choice for milo. We have the herbicide in place for the later planted crop which saves moisture and gives the producer added options for both grass and broadleaf control. Spraying part of the Bicep, Bullet, Guardsman, etc behind the planter and/or using Roundup behind the planter extend the weed control program and ensure a clean field at planting without using tillage to dry the soil and plant more weed seed. There are limited options for post grass control so scout heavy early and respond aggressively to escapes while they are small.

July is Greenbug Month - You have to scout fields carefully during July and make a decision on greenbug control. Treatments in August most often kill the greenbugs after the damage has been done.

Trifold Chinch Bug Plan - Chinch bugs are a threat to sorghum and corn, for that matter, at three stages. One, in the seedling stage when chinch bugs are present because of poor control or too late control of grasses like volunteer wheat. Two, when wheat or oats ripen and the chinch bugs march across to milo or corn fields next door. Three, after heading when the second generation flies into the milo or corn and sets up housekeeping. Stay alert and do the best you can to choose treatment options for this troublesome pest. Signs point to a higher population of chinch bugs this year.

Timely Harvest - Part of treating milo as a second choice is to let it stand to dry while getting the corn harvested before the itching starts. This is not the way those choices should be made.

View other Gage County News Columns & News Letters: http://gage.unl.edu/news/news.htm

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