Joe Mendonsa of Tipton, California, grows forage sorghum from Alta Seeds because of its water efficiency, cost savings and ability to produce on tough ground. “There’s just no beating it,” Mendonsa says. “It was really a no-brainer decision.”

“We need to select varieties based on roam soil, clay and sandy soil. Pac 999 is easy to grow on clay. We grow 339 because of its high productivity. Around here, we mostly grow 339.” “Customers especially like a variety of big and regular seed size. Only round seed. No flat seed, customers don’t like it.”

Terry Ingram is a dairyman in Brandy Station, Virginia.

“I’ve been growing sorghum-sudangrass now for the better part of 6 years….I’ve grown corn silage and fed corn silage and I’ll never go back,” says Mr. Ingram. “I have half the costs and half the water usage so to me, it’s just a no brainer.”

“AS6401, AS6501, and As9301 are the main hybrids that I use. AS6401 is mainly for bailage. I get a nice long harvest window, pretty decent tonnage, real high sugar quality – the cows love it. I don’t chop it, it goes straight in the bail just the way it comes. The difference that you see in your cow health is pretty evident.”

Dairyman Gary Fernandes of Tipton, California grows AF7401 from Alta Seeds. “The cost of growing it is quite a bit cheaper than trying to grow silage corn,” Fernandes says. “As far as inputs, it’s probably half of what I put into my corn. We like what we’ve seen and we’ll probably be growing more of it.”