Food Plot Screen Egyptian Wheat

Smallplot...
Great thread BTW....I remember this post from the other site as well!

I am curious...if you know anything about the availability of EWG for next year. I have only attempted to plant plot-screens now for 3 years (this being the 3rd). My first 2 seasons I used EWG with a high degree of success, and was planning on using it (along with the knowledge that I gained every year) again this past Summer...but was shocked to find out that I could not find EWG seed anywhere in the country for sale. Apparently the entire seed crop had failed ??? Or at least that was all the info I was able to ascertain about it. I did eventually purchase a Sorghum/Sudan hybrid...and after planting, re-planting...then re-re-spot planting....have had moderate success at accomplishing what I needed to accomplish, but the EWG was and had been MUCH EASIER to do the same with in my experience in the recent past. Getting the hybrid Sudan/Sorghum to germinate was a hassle for me, as I broadcast (dont have a drill) and apparently it requires a deeper soil contact to germinate that EWG.

Do you have any insight or have you heard anything regarding availability of EWG for next year?

Anybody???

Thanks in advance !
Cheers,
Brigg
 
I noticed EW seed was impossible to get last year. I planted it the 2 years before for a screen and it did well...

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OkieKubota - VERY Nice!!!
I liked it very much too! I had only used it for 2 years...and had enjoyed very good success even though I barely knew what to try to do in planting it. Now...this year has been a different story!!!
I have managed to get a stand of Sorghum/Sudan going....but it has been an expensive and trying process...and in the end I do not think that the results will be as desirable as the EWG was.
I sure hope that it becomes available for the 2017 season again next year!
 
OkieKubota - VERY Nice!!!
I liked it very much too! I had only used it for 2 years...and had enjoyed very good success even though I barely knew what to try to do in planting it. Now...this year has been a different story!!!
I have managed to get a stand of Sorghum/Sudan going....but it has been an expensive and trying process...and in the end I do not think that the results will be as desirable as the EWG was.
I sure hope that it becomes available for the 2017 season again next year!

Thank you...

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I hope it is available too in 2017...


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There are two problems with EW that I have found. Wind and hogs. I see you found one, and I hope you never experience the other. I planted it two years in a row for screening on my place and both times severe thunderstorms flattened part of it, but when the heads mature, the hogs will trample it to the ground to get at the seed heads. Other than that, it was great !:)
 
I noticed EW seed was impossible to get last year. I planted it the 2 years before for a screen and it did well..
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I experienced the same thing when i went to buy ew this year. We planted sundance surgum instead and that is doing well.
 
Most arent aware of this but egyptian wheat is sorghum. There was little to no egyptian wheat sold this year because of seed supply and i know for a fact some products were sold as EW when they were a specific varoety of sorghum. Some companies that substituted brown mid rib or white mid rib sorghums, you all will have major lodging issues when the first frost hits. Companies should have used old school forage sorghum as their replacement,

I am testing 2 new varieties of screening sorghum that might be released for 2017. Here is a mix i sell called fortress that stands better than EW because i have 3 different heights of growth with wgf grain sorghum, millet and 2 tall growing sorghums.
 

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I noticed EW seed was impossible to get last year. I planted it the 2 years before for a screen and it did well...

We saved back some old seed. Ironically, we have progressively lowered EW seeding rate in mixes the past 3 years, but plant numbers have increased.....pretty sure EW is a reseeding annual.

No wind damage to EW last week and had gusts which broke trees. We also applied ZERO N to the plot (just fixed N from HV in cover crop) and soil has optimum+ potash levels.....IMO....both are the secret to keeping tall forage plants standing!
 
Sorry been busy these days and have not been able to visit. I have not heard anything about availability of EW, sorry. I still have a few pounds left over so not a big issue for another year for me.

As far as lodging goes any plant that gets as tall as EW can be prone to lodging but certain practices may help to avoid that. First and most important is planting rate. Planted too thick, and it becomes basically a solid catch all wall. Thinner planting usually allow some wind to pass through thus lower rates of wind damage. Another benefit to lower planting rates is thicker stalks. As I recall I messed up in figuring my rate and the pictures were planted just too thick. Looked picture perfect until the wind storm. You can still have some lodging issues but lots of times this can be due to available fertilization.

Hogs, from my experience with the domesticated versions, will eat anything in sight, including concrete. Glad we don't have hogs but if we did I would likely have to get more ammunition shipped in, in bulk quantities. Hogs can bare off very big sections quickly.

2nd point is getting seeds deep enough and not left in fluffy soil. This leads to the root system getting a more efficient grip also helping the plant stand upright. Also do not overlook some pest damage.

If you suffer from wind damage every year you can try adding in a mix of shorter grain sorghum to the mix. Keep rates very low as deer like the grain sorghum heads when they mature. Not real good to have deer eating from a screen


Dan
www.pikecountyfoodplots.com
 
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All, thanks for the additions info. You have me thinking thaat we planted a little heavy. We will hope for no strong winds and go thinner next year.
 
Thx for the great Thead. Your the reason I tried planting EW this year and I'm happy so far. I'll post more pics once finished growing and how effective it was.
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Most arent aware of this but egyptian wheat is sorghum. There was little to no egyptian wheat sold this year because of seed supply and i know for a fact some products were sold as EW when they were a specific varoety of sorghum. Some companies that substituted brown mid rib or white mid rib sorghums, you all will have major lodging issues when the first frost hits. Companies should have used old school forage sorghum as their replacement,

I am testing 2 new varieties of screening sorghum that might be released for 2017. Here is a mix i sell called fortress that stands better than EW because i have 3 different heights of growth with wgf grain sorghum, millet and 2 tall growing sorghums.
Nutritionist - You say that you are selling this blend called "Fortress". Id be very interested in learning more about it. As in (A) does it do well when broadcast or does it need to be drilled and (B) where/how does someone purchase what you're selling?

Thanks in advance,
Brigg
 
Enjoyed this read Dan, We planted two small plots of egyptian wheat this year for the first time, Put theses 2 small plot's out in our front area, basically as you mentioned for a " Visual Barrier" as we have a front black top and people like to pull over and watch deer in our front plots,, I I see your in Pike, we are up in Adams-15 minutes from Barry. I am liking the barrier it is creating, We have not gotten the rains you guys have down there this year, Plot work all summer has not been fun, period! Our plot is over my head and is heading out now ,
 
Enjoyed this read Dan, We planted two small plots of egyptian wheat this year for the first time, Put theses 2 small plot's out in our front area, basically as you mentioned for a " Visual Barrier" as we have a front black top and people like to pull over and watch deer in our front plots,, I I see your in Pike, we are up in Adams-15 minutes from Barry. I am liking the barrier it is creating, We have not gotten the rains you guys have down there this year, Plot work all summer has not been fun, period! Our plot is over my head and is heading out now ,

Up around Liberty then? That is good country for sure. Just be aware this is not an permanent solution. The EW is good because deer don't seem to want to eat it and after seed heads ripen they are so tall deer usually don't pay much attention when surrounded by lots of other foods.
 
Thought I would share some EW pics using a throw and "kill" method. Basically, I seeded a 100ft strip, then sprayed what was mostly fescue and various weeds with Gly. I also threw down a shot of urea when I seeded, then another shot about 4 weeks later. We've had a wet July and August, which no doubt allowed this to succeed. This is hard compact soil/rock. Used as a vehicle trail for years.


Four weeks after seeding.....

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The thatch.........

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About six weeks later......

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Thin in some places.......

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Looking great in other places....

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This will provide a great screen on the end of a small food plot. When the winter winds blow, the screen will break down pretty fast, but until a frost starts burning things down, this should serve the purpose. October should be great!
 
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