Fall Food Plot and Farm Project

Well today was a hot mama with the heat index in the 100's. The horseflies and sweat bees were relentless but I needed to get started on our fall food plots at our farm. We mowed down the grass in the plot, the clover between our rows of trees and sprayed the two acre plot with the new Jimna tractor we purchased this spring. I bought the seed from Welter Seed company that included Ground Hog Radish, Bonar Forage Rape, Barkant Forage Turnip, Appin Forage Turnip and Pasja Hybrid Forage Turnip. The plan is next weekend to get the ground tilled up and put the seed in the ground. For various reasons I didn't get in a spring plot this year. I was too busy planting the 2,500 trees to our northern part of our farm and just never got around to getting the seed in the ground. Our total trees planted is right at 15,000 over 3 years with Ladino Clover broadcasted between each row. I don't plan on putting anymore in the ground! I also planted 40 acres of NWSG last year and now have a field lush with forbs, Little Bluestem, Switchgrass, and Indian Grass. This 100 acre farm was entirely fescue due to my grandpa being a cattle farmer and this process has taken close to four years to make the transformation into a more wildlife friendly environment. It's a fulfilling process and gives me the sense of accomplishment with every green thing growing in that field. I'm anxious to see if the deer are going to tear up this food plot come Fall.

Tree planting this spring


Tree Rows with Ladino broadcasted between each row



Getting the plot sprayed with the new boom sprayer




Field of Forbs and NWSG

 

Looks like quite a project your taking on. What you've done so far should pay off big time in the next few years.

I think I'd wait a few weeks on planting the fall plots tho. It might not, but if it gets hot and dry, you might be screwed.

 

Awesome, good luck this season.

 

I actually think we're going to try the 1st week of August. Should be about perfect.

 

I agree John. Last year, even though I did get plenty of rain, (I planted about a week ago in 2009) my beans and sunflowers were hammered by the deer before the season even opened. I'll be putting them down the weekend of the 7th this year.