When summer heat dries off ryegrass and clover, it pays to have a reliable summer forage up your sleeve. Shirohie Millet is one of the simplest, safest, and most versatile summer crops for dairy and beef systems.

Why Choose Shirohie Millet?

  • Fast summer feed – graze in just 6–8 weeks.
  • Safe for livestock – no prussic acid risk, making it fine for beef cattle, dairy cows, and young stock.
  • High yielding & water efficient – grows well with summer moisture, producing leafy, digestible feed.
  • Low stress to grow – simple weed control, low pest pressure, and easy management.
  • Flexible use – Ideal for grazing, hay, silage, or in a summer blend such as our Top Crop Millet & Rape mix (16kg/ha millet + 4kg/ha forage brassica).

Paddock selection

Millet performs best on soils with good moisture retention, where it has the greatest chance of delivering high yields. On lighter soils with less water-holding capacity, total yield will be lower. Even so, millet is versatile and is often used in pasture renovation programs, making it a suitable option across a wide range of soil types.

How to guide to growing a Shirohie Millet crop?

  • Before sowing: To maximise soil fertility and nutrient availability to the plant you could spread the following, Urea @ 100 kg/ha, MOP (Potash) @ 100 kg/ha and Single Superphosphate @ 200kg/ha
  • Incorporation: If working up the paddock power harrow to 7 cm depth to mix fertiliser through the seedbed.
  • Sowing rate: 25-35 kg/ha as a standalone crop, or in a Top Crop blend.
  • Sowing window: Late October through to December
  • Weed control: After crop emergence, if weeds are present (such as Fathen), apply a broadleaf herbicide such as Dicamba 500. Safe to spray until millet reaches 30cm high. Always read the label for directions.

Grazing millet

The first grazing should begin once the millet reaches 35 cm in height. With adequate rainfall and nitrogen, regrowth can be expected within 20–35 days. Apply 80 kg/ha of urea after grazing only if rain is likely, and then graze again once the crop has grown back to 35 cm.

Harvest

Cut for harvest when millet has reached a height of 70cm (approximately mid-January) using a mower conditioner. If aiming for another harvest in early March, following harvest in mid-January apply Urea 150kg/ha if moisture is available.

The Practical Summer Option

Shirohie Millet is a proven performer when you need fast, leafy feed that fits easily into your summer rotation. It’s straightforward to grow, safe for stock, and gives the flexibility to cut for hay or silage if the season allows.

For many farmers, it’s a dependable way to bridge the summer feed gap without complications.