Drylander, as the name suggests, is probably our most drought tolerant hybrid. It is one of our top choices for hay production in drier areas in which only a single cutting is taken. Drylander is a BMR sorghum-sudangrass with the added advantage of photoperiod sensitivity, which delays heading until the daylength drops below 12 hours and 45 minutes in the fall (early September in northern Kansas). When a forage plant heads out, the forage quality will drop, and the moisture use goes up dramatically. Since Photoperiod sensitive forages have a delayed heading, they are much more drought tolerant than others. They also have a wide harvest window before quality drops, allowing producers to delay harvest if preharvest nitrate levels are too high for safety. Recommended seeding rate is 15 to 20 lbs per acre, at roughly 1 inch depth after soil temperatures exceed 60 F in spring. Recommended practice is to swath once plants reach four feet in height or boot stage, whichever comes first.
