[AT] combining grain sorghum with an older combine

[charlie hill]

John,   they've been growing milo down here in the east for going on 20 
years now.  Looks to be a good crop.  Everyone picks it high just like you 
said.   Run the head just low enough to get
the grain.  Leave the rest in the field.   I wish I could tell you the rest 
of the harvest tricks but I don't know.  I have a friend who farms it.  If I 
see him in the next day or so I'll ask him.

Charlie

-----Original Message----- 
From: jtchall at nc.rr.com
Sent: Monday, September 03, 2012 7:58 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: [AT] combining grain sorghum with an older combine

Looking for a voice of experience here. We have a new market in my area for 
grain sorghum (milo). Up until now it was very rarely planted, most folks 
around here have never seen a field of it. My dad planted a little back in 
the 50’s. His problem was harvesting it—trying to get and keep the heads 
into the header. They were planting it in rows as wide as corn—which didn’t 
help. I’ve got mine in 15” rows. From what I have seen on you-tube videos 
and from talking with agronomists and other farmers,  you run no more of the 
plant in the machine than is necessary and also keep your ground speed up to 
help push the crop in.  Sounds simple but I don’t think my 35 year old 
combine always plays by the same rules as a modern machine. I had an older 
fellow from the southwest (Texas I think) tell me they used to bolt a piece 
of PVC pipe right behind the guards to keep the heads from rolling out.  Any 
other ideas concerning header loss or are there other concerns I need to 
address? One other thing I forgot to mention, we are going to be allowed to 
cut it pretty high in moisture---I think it is close to 20%. I think that is 
so we can get the jump on birds and deer—we can’t sell the bird-resistant 
varieties. How long can a crop that high in moisture sit in a truck/grain 
cart without spoiling?

John Hall
_______________________________________________
AT mailing list
http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at