During drought nitrates and prussic acid can build up in forages to levels dangerous to livestock, causing severe illness and even death after eating affected forages, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Jamie Gundel.
Nitrates tend to concentrate in the bottom third of the plant. It shows in the plant’s stem and stalks more than leaves, Gundel says.
Plants most susceptible to nitrate buildup include sorghum, Sudan grass, sorghum-Sudan grass hybrids, corn, millet and perennial grasses. Some weeds can also…
