Pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum) and sorghum-sudan hybrids (Sorghum x drummondii), are warm-season, rapidly growing, high-yielding, high-quality, annual grasses. They are often planted following small grains, a spring vegetable crop, or some other cultivated crop. Occasionally they may be planted in a pasture renovation program, where the perennial grass is destroyed and the area is planted with the annual grass. These annual grasses are usually grazed by animals that need a high-quality forage, such as stockers, replacement heifers, first-calf heifers, or dairy cows. Pearl millet and sorghum-sudan hybrids are excellent creep pasture for nursing calves and may be harvested as hay, green chop, or silage. Making hay is usually difficult because of the large stems. A hay conditioner is needed, and extra drying days are required compared to making hay with bermudagrass.

Pearl millet is leafy, with an upright growth habit, and grows 4 to 8 feet tall. It can be grown throughout the state on well-drained soils but does not perform well on calcareous soils or on flatwood sites that flood. Sorghum-sudan hybrids, although not particularly tolerant of flooded soils, may be the better choice for use on the wetter sites. Pearl millet is tolerant of drought and acidic soil conditions. The dwarf or semidwarf types such as Tifleaf I, II, and III are more leafy, with less stem than the taller types, and therefore may be easier to manage under grazing. The taller types may produce more forage dry matter per acre than the dwarf types, but animal production is usually the same. Leaf numbers are usually the same for short and tall types; the differences in total height being due to longer internodes ("distance between the joints") for the taller types.

Pearl millet can be planted from mid-March through June in south Florida. The earliest planting date in north Florida should be around April 1. Soil temperature must be warm before planting since seed germination and seedling growth are very sensitive to cool soil conditions. A late summer planting could be made in south Florida or midsummer in north Florida for a single fall grazing or harvest. Regrowth from late plantings is less than from earlier plantings. Both pearl millet and sorghum-sudan hybrids can be broadcast, drilled, or planted in rows. The seeding rate for broadcast plantings is 24 to 30 pounds per acre. The seeding rate can be reduced for drilled and row plantings. A low seeding rate or poor stand may not be a disaster since many varieties have excellent tillering capability and can fill in voids. With the early planting dates, the bulk of the forage is produced from June through August.

Producers should be prepared to graze pearl millet rotationally. Millet should reach a height of 14 to 24 inches before each grazing period. Try to graze each pasture down to 6 to 8 inches in one to three days. After a pasture has been grazed, allow it to regrow to a 14 to 24 inch height before regrazing. When plants start to form heads, removing heads by mowing may prolong vegetative growth. If harvested for hay, cut when plants are approximately 3 feet high and use a hay conditioner to crush the stems. Harvest for silage in the boot to early-head stage of growth, and if possible, allow to wilt before chopping.

Both pearl millet and sorghum-sudan hybrids can be grown on low-fertility soils that are moderately acidic. The recommended soil pH for these grasses is 6.0. Apply 30 lb of N per acre, 50 percent of the soil-test recommended K₂O, and all of the P₂O₅ in a preplant or at-planting application. Apply 50 lb N per acre and the remaining K₂O after the first grazing period. Apply an additional 50 lb N per acre after each grazing period or harvest as needed.