Foxtail Millet

Growing

Success with foxtail millet begins with a clean start, as summer annual weeds compete strongly with this crop during its early stages. Prepare a well-weeded, clean seedbed before sowing. While this grass is drought-tolerant, check the foliage for signs of Pyricularia leaf spot, which can stunt or kill developing plants. If you are growing this near a wheat garden, use caution, as foxtail millet can act as a host for the wheat curl mite, which carries the wheat streak mosaic virus.

As the plants mature, birds or rodents may visit the field to forage on the developing grain heads. If you are growing this for forage or hay, the crop is harvested only once. The plant is safe for livestock and does not produce toxic levels of prussic acid, but avoid feeding it to animals if the plants have undergone severe drought or environmental stress, as this can cause high nitrate levels in the plant tissue.