Hello. Just pondering some food plot options for this spring. I have the option of hiring a farmer to plant a couple of acres of corn for me. He said he would charge 75 per acre. I think this would be the best option. I was just wondering could you just broadcast the seed and then cover it real good? or do you need the drill?
Yes u could do it that way but if u have a farmer willing to plant corn for 75/acre let him do it. Is he using roundup ready corn?
Corn prefers consistency, broadcasting it you'll get some but not like a proper planting. And it is generally planted with a planter....not a drill.FYI
I do believe it is roundup ready. I think that is all he uses. How often should you spray corn? The farmer and I didn't talk cost of coming in and spraying it. Thanks
Is it $75 per acre just to do it or is that for the seed too? A bag costs, we'll use $225, and will do 2-2.5 acres. So would be a good deal if it's seed included. Corn should be planted at roughly 2" depth. Corn is a very competitive crop so if you throw it out, it will grow, but you will have some great looking corn next to some really crappy corn. Proper spacing is key for a good corn crop. Intertwined roots will compete with each other and sometimes have an effect on both plants. Stunting of the plants will mean less ears on each plant and less kernels on each ear. Fertilizer is another thing to consider but it depends on how "fancy" you want to get with a food plot. If it's small enough plot, just walk it and pull/hoe out the weeds if you don't want to deal with spraying. Get family members/friends to help out some nice summer day and you'll be good to go. Work but relaxing at the same time (at least for me). Otherwise a normal (preferred) practice is to put a PRE on at planting and then hit them again at roughly V4 stage.
Does that mean he will get soil tests, proper liming and fertilizing or that just bare bones planting? The price is great just for the planting but know that isn't going to help it grow better if you don't prep the soil with proper treatments.
It doesn't have to be ridiculed down to a science of 280 bpa corn, lol. Find some Reed's yellow dent corn and some atrizine and give it to the farmer and he'll know what to do from there.
Get it worked out with all the details beforehand but if I could get a farmer to plant it at 75 bucks an acre with any fertilizer and the seed I would go for that for sure. Sure you can broadcast corn and drag or disk it in but you have a farmer will to plant it properly so that is the only way to go. I think you will find most farmers spray round up ready corn twice after its planted. Ask if he would spray or add any nitrogen to the soil before you seal the deal on this one. I think I would rather have the nitrogen than the spraying if I had to pick. It doesnt hvae to be a thing of beauty for the deer.
I assume that's his labor cost as he'd barely break even if that included seed/fertilize. I'd pay it the past few years due to limited time availability living out of state. The bigger the area you plan to plant the less sense it makes to not do it yourself
Thanks for the advice. I was just over to see the farmer today. The price was for seed and planting only. Fertilizing and spraying would be additional cost. I think I am going to do a soil sample. Then listen to what the farmer recommends if he is willing too. I live in south central pa. We have a huge problem with poachers. The field I am going to put the corn is a 15 acre back field away from any roads. I want to do this and try to keep the deer away from the roads. I am going to do some warm season grasses for cover. Then use the corn, and soybeans to hold the deer. I going to put some clover in there somewhere. Anyway thanks for the advice.
