Cover Crop OF THE MONTH

Mielke from page 1B

Jade said showing an animal at the fair requires plenty of hands-on learning.

For Stella and Hailey, that work ethic and philosophy developed over the spring and summer months.

“We spent time with Morgan and Austin on Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons because it worked best for our schedule,” Jade said. “If I had a day off, I would text Austin and ask if we could come and do pigs. He’s really special.”

Pearl millet

Producers may know that cover crops benefit the soil and agricultural operations, but do they know the benefits of each species? Each month a different cover crop species will be highlighted to provide producers with information needed to successfully grow cover crops or alternative forages on their operation.

Pearl millet is a warm season grass that is typically used for forage. It is a fast-growing crop that is high yielding, making it excellent for haylage or grazing. The origin of pearl millet is not completely known but is believed to have domesticated in west Africa.

Pearl millet provides many benefits to soil and animals. The fibrous root system makes it great to reduce soil erosion and scavenge for nutrients. The high amounts of biomass make it excellent at suppressing weeds and as a high-quality forage. The forage value of pearl millet varies based on the growth stage of the millet, but one can expect to see crude protein levels of 8% to 11%. Total digestible nutrient levels will be around 55%.

One advantage pearl millet has compared to sorghum or sudangrass species is that it does not produce prussic acid which is a major win when grazing summer warm season grasses. Beyond the individual benefits, pearl millet, overall, is a great soil builder.

Pearl millet should be planted at a depth of half an inch to an inch between the dates of June 1 and Aug. 1 for the most growth potential. Rates of seeding will vary based on the intended use but starts at 20 pounds an acre of seed.

Information provided by the Morrison County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Earlier this week, Stella and Austin took to the arena with Possum, a crossbred calico gilt, during the 2023 Benton County 4-H swine show. Morgan and Hailey showed Tank during the Cloverbuds portion of the Aug. 1 show program.

“The Molitor kids have shown Stella how to do the tasks that need to get done when caring for pigs and showing at the county fair,” Jade said. “She doesn’t have any barriers in that area.”

Clint Mielke, the girls’ father, has been involved with dairy farming his entire life. The family currently milks about 170 head.

“It’s good the girls are learning from Austin,” he said. “He really works them. They love doing it. He’s really, really good with younger kids.