Even so, there is still time to plant grain sorghum, sunflowers or soybeans as a replacement crop. The milo planting window is pretty wide. Grain sorghum would be a good choice for dryland farmers because we currently have good soil moisture, and because early to mid-June is a good time to plant dryland milo. Seed companies can provide more exact recommended planting dates for available hybrids. Another thing to remember is that late-planted sorghum is more prone to insect infestations u it will require some insecticide applications.
Sunflowers are another option to consider.
Lining up a market outlet, or production contract, beforehand is always a good strategy when considering sunflowers, the agronomist said. Some buyers, such as Red River Commodities in Lubbock, only offer contracts on confectionary sunflowers. Farmers should also consider soybeans as a swing crop, said Brent Bean, Extension agronomist based in Amarillo. Irrigated soybeans are a less-thirsty crop than corn, and can yield well even under limited irrigation. Farmers can plant soybeans as late as July 10 and still make a crop, but late planting usually retards stalk growth and can make it hard to harvest the lower seed pods, he said.