Chomper Forage Sorghum Delivers Outstanding Results at “Little River”
July 16, 2025 All Regions
Image: The impressive AlfaGen Seeds Chomper Forage Sorghum eight weeks after planting.
At “Little River” in Geurie, Michelle Tomkins of Lazi Hay, alongside Agronomist Josh Driver from AGnVET Dubbo, trialed AlfaGen Seeds’ Chomper Forage Sorghum under supplementary irrigation—with impressive results.
The initial block, planted under a travelling irrigator, got off to a slow start. After an inspection by Josh and an AlfaGen Territory Manager, uneven growth was traced back to dry subsoil and some irrigation issues. But once the watering program was adjusted, the crop responded strongly, prompting Michelle to sow a second paddock of Chomper for hay production.
This second planting—a 20-hectare pivot sown on 20 December 2019—used 18 kg/ha of Chomper Enhanced with a paired boot Flexicoil on 12-inch spacings. Backed by a robust fertiliser program and supported by irrigation and well-timed summer storms, the crop reached its first cut in mid-February.
Persistent wet conditions meant the hay couldn’t be dried, so the big squares were wrapped as silage instead. The first cut in late February yielded an impressive 385 wrapped bales.
Following a nitrogen top-dress and additional rainfall and irrigation, Chomper was ready for a second cut just seven weeks later in April. Cooler conditions and ongoing moisture saw this second cut either wrapped as silage or stacked into a silage pit and covered to cure—producing another 294 bales.
Michelle was thrilled with Chomper’s performance, both in the paddock and on the feed test.
“From day one it performed very well—it gave us a lot of fodder, which is either wrapped or in pits,” she said. “The quality is good too. Even with fresh green barley available, the stock are still cleaning up the Chomper silage.”
“We’ll grow it again, most definitely. It’s been one of our best-performing crops since we’ve had this farm.”
Josh echoed the praise:
“I know I can rely on it. It’s a premium product without the premium price tag.”
Learn more about AlfaGen Chomper Forage Sorghum here.