Planting Millet?

I've added this property for duck hunting this year and was contemplating throwing out some jap and brown top millet around the banks. I can not control any water levels at this time but the owner kicked around the idea of possibly doing something in the future.

Any tips for this year just throwing some out along the banks and up in the feeder creeks?

Any ideas for the future?

Broadcasting Jap would be your best bet in my opinion. Brown top does better when drilled in. Jap needs moist soil to get started and then can grow in moisture much like rice, so if you water level rises you'll be ok as long as the levees stay above water. Brown top does not like constant moisture.

Hit the mud flats with seed as the water draws down. Jap Millet will do better if it rains again and water level goes back up, but a really dry summer brown top would do better. It's a crap shoot either way.

Jap millet does ok most years even if all you do is throw it out on the muddy areas by hand. On some years it will come in really well, even without irrigation of any kind.

One thing to keep in mind, though -- if there are cows on the land planting any millet is a complete waste of time. The cows will eat it all before it has a chance to grow.

All good advice. We just used a few rakes last year around the mud flats to break the ground up (no more than an 1") and followed the water down as the pond dried up. Then it rained in fall and filled the pond back up. We had tons of it.

...and good advice about the cows too, lol.

Will the Jap millet come back next year ?

No. Some people say they have had a little bit come back up the next year, but I always reseed each year.

Hit the shiny mud- if you want it to grow- time it before a rain and you will hit a home run- Start planting Now, and go to weekly and hit banks- I prefer Baryard grass since it comes back. Can plant to about 9/1 but don't dove hunt area until seeds gone (i wouldn't at all) All good advice up top- Jap in moist soil, can scratch it up by discing prior to rain for Browntop-


I have extensive experience planting and spraying- if you have any questions PM me. I have gobs of grass around one wetland this year because of late rains and spraying Glyphosate and 2.4D (kills broadleaves but not grass)

get on Refuge forum as well-posts under Habitat- as good as it gets for advice- some really smart people on it

I have some Jap and brown top volunteer every year- but it gets thinner w less seed- some years it does, some it doesn't

We fessed every year. Slowly switching to barnyard grass though

Well I went ahead and threw out 50 lbs of millet around the area in the last pic I posted. I've got one more pound thanks to Barny Topwater who sent me some.

I think it may all be for naught because there are about 15-20 cows on there now. I guess we will see if they eat it. I was going to plant this really big flat that has some dead trees scattered throughout it that would be awesome if it gained 3-4 feet come September-October but going to hold off now. It's about a 150x100' yard flat scattered with big dead trees that would be amazing to hunt if it gain a few feet...especially if I had it planted with millet.

Let us know if the cows eat it. Looks like they already have lots to eat there, but millet is like candy to the cows, and horses too.

Millet is coming in great only after about a week but the water level has dropped significantly. I'm also concerned this was all for naught with the cows.


I was reading about millet and cows on an old post and barnyard grass was suggested.

Someone stated cows would bother it as much as millet?

Is there truth to this?

When would I need to plant it?

Where can I get it?

River refuge seed company

I'm not seeing it. Is there another name?

You do it right, it's that light green all the way to waterline. Then when it looks good, big seed heads, the cows eat it.

That's what I figure will happen.

Might just resort to throwing 50 lb bags out in November......

http://www.riverrefugeseed.com/

If you hit only shiny mud and time before rain- will be green everywhere. Shiny mud is key. Haven't tried to flash flood it real quick- that would work