Japanese Millet Seed
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Japanese Millet Seed is commonly used for feeding ducks, as this millet will grow in flooded soils or standing water. Japanese millet is a tall, medium stalked millet that has a 65-90 day life span. Japanese millet is great for dove fields, duck ponds, deer feed, pheasant feed, cover crops, bird seed, erosion control and much more.
Japanese Millet Seed is Non-GMO.
Japanese millet is an exceptional wildlife plant. It is a choice duck food, and is eaten by 17 species of northeastern waterfowl. This food is also used by five upland game birds and many non-game birds, such as sparrows, finches, and cardinals. Leaves and seed-heads are eaten by rabbits and muskrats. As an erosion control plant it is used as a quick growing companion crop with perennial grasses and legumes and is especially suited to wet sites.
Japanese Millet, more commonly referred to as "billion-dollar grass," is an introduced annual. It has coarse leaves and varies from 1 to 5 ft. in height, depending on available moisture and fertility. The seed-head is a compact panicle-type inflorescence four to eight in. long, purplish in color, with awnless seeds. Billion-dollar grass produces a much heavier seed yield than the wild species. There are approximately 155,000 seeds per lb.
Japanese millet is well suited for areas with wet conditions. With a tolerance for wet and muddy soil conditions while growing, japanese millet is able to be flooded while growing as long as its leaves remain above water. After maturity is reached, a japanese millet plot is able to be flooded and used as a duck pond due to its tolerance for wetness. This tolerance for wetter conditions also makes japanese millet a strong nurse crop to protect slower growing, more tender legumes.
Japanese Millet was previously a major source of sustenance in Japan, Korea, China, and India, and remains a smaller crop in those regions to this day. It has slowly lost popularity for food purposes as better varieties of rice have been cultivated to withstand colder temperatures, which was previously Japanese Millet's main claim to fame. Still, the crop remains popular as a source of food for all varieties of birds!
Rave Reviews
It's no secret why Hancock's Japanese Millet Seed is so popular. The answer is "because it works"! Here are a few of our favorite reviews from clients who have planted Hancock's Japanese Millet Seed:
"Good experience," writes Leo G. "Would recommend to my friends. Second time buying from you. Both times good. Both times Japanese Millet."
Millet is popular with ducks and other waterfowl, but it can also be included in bird feed. "I use this as part of a finch mix," reports Sheryl C. "Great, my smallest finches love it!"
Here's one of our most interesting reviews we've ever received. Obviously we promote Japanese Millet seed as a source of forage for waterfowl, as well as erosion control for wet areas. But as a source of animal bedding? You're the expert on that one, Thomas! "Product was delivered arrived in good order. The millet was purchased not for planting or feeding but as a substrate for the habitat of a Uromastyx, an African lizard. They require special lighting and a dry environment. The hygroscopic effect of millet is good for this. The millet arrived clean enough and dry enough for this purpose."
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Climate Zone(s)
Cool Season
Transition Zone
Warm Season
Depth
1/4 - 1/2 in.
Fertilizer
250 - 350 lbs. / acre
Ideal pH
5.5 - 7.0
Non-GMO?
Yes
Seeding Rate
10 - 15 lbs. / acre
Soil Type
Wet
When to Plant
Spring - Summer
Back
Japanese millet duck food plots should be planted before the rainy season allowing the plant to sprout and begin growing before the standing water comes in. This millet can handle standing water if the young plant doesn't become completely submerged. Japanese millet is most successful when planted on prepared soil, although japanese millet will germinate and grow just about anywhere. For duck food plots, plant the japanese millet early in the summer (June-July) depending on the start date of your duck season. Japanese millet seed heads will hold on longer than most millet varieties, even in standing water. The seed will slowly drop out of the seed head feeding the ducks over time.
Japanese millet planted for dove fields should be planted at 5 to 10 lbs. per acre spacing out the plants. By spacing the plants out it will allow the birds to locate the seed much easier after the plants are mowed or harvested. Planting japanese millet too thick will decrease the plants seed production and create an abundance of plant material preventing the birds from locating the seed after mowing and harvesting. It may seem like a small amount for a entire acre but 5 lbs. planted properly will completely cover the soil and provide plenty of seed for your birds.
Seed may be drilled or broadcast and incorporated to a one inch depth on upland sites. In wetland areas, draw down water levels and broadcast seed on top of wet ground. Seeding rate for pure stands is 20 lbs./acre when drilled and 25-30 lbs./acre if broadcast. In a mixture reduce rate to 8-12 lbs./acre. Planting is recommended after the last killing frost in the spring. The seeding date may be timed to synchronize the maturity date of seed with the fall migration of specific migratory birds.
As an upland food source, japanese millet should be planted in pure stands as a field crop. For waterfowl, wetland areas planted in the spring should not be reflooded until the plants are at least six inches tall. During the migratory season, it is best to wait to flood until the crop is 12-18 in. Japanese Millet should be replanted annually to ensure a healthy growth.
Japanese Millet Seed
Japanese Millet is popularly known as "Billion-Dollar Grass," and those aiming to attract duck to their property believe it's worth every cent! This variety of millet is able to handle standing water as long as the seedling does not become totally submerged.
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Japanese Millet Seed is commonly used for feeding ducks, as this millet will grow in flooded soils or standing water. Japanese millet is a tall, medium stalked millet that has a 65-90 day life span. Japanese millet is great for dove...
Japanese Millet Seed is commonly used for feeding ducks, as this millet will grow in flooded soils or standing water. Japanese millet is a tall, medium stalked millet that has a 65-90 day life span. Japanese millet is great for dove fields, duck ponds, deer feed, pheasant feed, cover crops, bird seed, erosion control and much more. Japanese Millet Seed is Non-GMO. Japanese millet is an exceptional wildlife plant. It is a choice duck food, and is eaten by 17 species of northeastern waterfowl. This food is also used by five upland game birds and many non-game birds, such as sparrows, finches, and cardinals. Leaves and seed-heads are eaten by rabbits and muskrats. As an erosion control plant it is used as a quick growing companion crop with perennial grasses and legumes and is especially suited to wet sites. Japanese Millet, more commonly referred to as "billion-dollar grass," is an introduced annual. It has coarse leaves and varies from 1 to 5 ft. in height, depending on available moisture and fertility. The seed-head is a compact panicle-type inflorescence four to eight in. long, purplish in color, with awnless seeds. Billion-dollar grass produces a much heavier seed yield than the wild species. There are approximately 155,000 seeds per lb. Japanese millet is well suited for areas with wet conditions. With a tolerance for wet and muddy soil conditions while growing, japanese millet is able to be flooded while growing as long as its leaves remain above water. After maturity is reached, a japanese millet plot is able to be flooded and used as a duck pond due to its tolerance for wetness. This tolerance for wetter conditions also makes japanese millet a strong nurse crop to protect slower growing, more tender legumes.
Japanese Millet was previously a major source of sustenance in Japan, Korea, China, and India, and remains a smaller crop in those regions to this day. It has slowly lost popularity for food purposes as better varieties of rice have been cultivated to withstand colder temperatures, which was previously Japanese Millet's main claim to fame. Still, the crop remains popular as a source of food for all varieties of birds!
Rave Reviews
It's no secret why Hancock's Japanese Millet Seed is so popular. The answer is "because it works"! Here are a few of our favorite reviews from clients who have planted Hancock's Japanese Millet Seed:
"Good experience," writes Leo G. "Would recommend to my friends. Second time buying from you. Both times good. Both times Japanese Millet."
Millet is popular with ducks and other waterfowl, but it can also be included in bird feed. "I use this as part of a finch mix," reports Sheryl C. "Great, my smallest finches love it!"
Here's one of our most interesting reviews we've ever received. Obviously we promote Japanese Millet seed as a source of forage for waterfowl, as well as erosion control for wet areas. But as a source of animal bedding? You're the expert on that one, Thomas! "Product was delivered arrived in good order. The millet was purchased not for planting or feeding but as a substrate for the habitat of a Uromastyx, an African lizard. They require special lighting and a dry environment. The hygroscopic effect of millet is good for this. The millet arrived clean enough and dry enough for this purpose."
Climate Zone(s)
Cool Season
Transition Zone
Warm Season
Depth
1/4 - 1/2 in.
Fertilizer
250 - 350 lbs. / acre
Ideal pH
5.5 - 7.0
Non-GMO?
Yes
Seeding Rate
10 - 15 lbs. / acre
Soil Type
Wet
When to Plant
Spring - Summer
Instructions
Japanese millet duck food plots should be planted before the rainy season allowing the plant to sprout and begin growing before the standing water comes in. This millet can handle standing water if the young plant doesn't become completely submerged. Japanese... Japanese millet duck food plots should be planted before the rainy season allowing the plant to sprout and begin growing before the standing water comes in. This millet can handle standing water if the young plant doesn't become completely submerged. Japanese millet is most successful when planted on prepared soil, although japanese millet will germinate and grow just about anywhere. For duck food plots, plant the japanese millet early in the summer (June-July) depending on the start date of your duck season. Japanese millet seed heads will hold on longer than most millet varieties, even in standing water. The seed will slowly drop out of the seed head feeding the ducks over time. Japanese millet planted for dove fields should be planted at 5 to 10 lbs. per acre spacing out the plants. By spacing the plants out it will allow the birds to locate the seed much easier after the plants are mowed or harvested. Planting japanese millet too thick will decrease the plants seed production and create an abundance of plant material preventing the birds from locating the seed after mowing and harvesting. It may seem like a small amount for a entire acre but 5 lbs. planted properly will completely cover the soil and provide plenty of seed for your birds. Seed may be drilled or broadcast and incorporated to a one inch depth on upland sites. In wetland areas, draw down water levels and broadcast seed on top of wet ground. Seeding rate for pure stands is 20 lbs./acre when drilled and 25-30 lbs./acre if broadcast. In a mixture reduce rate to 8-12 lbs./acre. Planting is recommended after the last killing frost in the spring. The seeding date may be timed to synchronize the maturity date of seed with the fall migration of specific migratory birds. As an upland food source, japanese millet should be planted in pure stands as a field crop. For waterfowl, wetland areas planted in the spring should not be reflooded until the plants are at least six inches tall. During the migratory season, it is best to wait to flood until the crop is 12-18 in. Japanese Millet should be replanted annually to ensure a healthy growth.
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