**Updated 9/14** 30+ hours on the tractor - Dial up beware, lots of pics

Just had to add......

We have had problems with trespassers in the past. If I catch you on camera, or in person on this property without permission, I will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. I have more than a few cameras out at all times, and the property is being patrolled every day. I'm dead serious, and it's unfortunate that I feel like I have to type this, but I'm tired of working my butt off just to have people trespass. If you want to hunt with us, please stop by and talk with me.......please don't trespass.

Well, I'm finally done with all the work on the plots for this year. At this point, I have 30+ hours in for 2008 on the tractor between mowing the existing clover plots (3x each this year), mowing the rest of the plots before spraying, spreading lime, discing, spreading fertilizer, and covering seed. That 20 hours doesn't count the work done on foot either........such as the spraying, seeding, and picking of rocks. I haven't posted much about the progress this year, but figured I would share here. I have added about another 3/4 acre in total split between two of my existing plots this year, and the third plot stayed the same size.

Got 2x of the plots done 2 weeks ago, and then this weekend I finished my biggest plot. Within 15 minutes of parking the tractor when I finished yesterday evening, a downpour came and hit my freshly fertilized/seeded/covered plots.......talk about perfect timing. :d In another 6-8 weeks this will look quite different, thats for sure.

Now all thats left to do is pray for more rain.

<------rain dance

Quick video of the plot in front of camp:



Pic of freshly disced and seeded section of this plot. I seeded it this weekend in Biologic Full Draw.



Existing clover patch in this plot. This is where Rob shot his doe last season. I called in birds for both Dan and I right here a few months ago. Followed by a close up of the clover. The deer and turkeys are on this every day now, several times a day.





3rd section in this plot. Now seeded in Tecomate Chicory. Close up of the 2 week old chicory as well.





Last section of the plot. Seeded 2x weeks ago in Biologic Maximum.





Next up is the plot next to my Aunt's house, just up the road a bit. I finished this one two weeks ago, these pics show the germination that has taken place since then. Half of this plot is seeded in Biologic Maximum, the other half in Tecomate Monster Mix (clover) with extra Tecomate Chicory mixed into it. The clover/chicory is a bit behind the other plots, but I top dressed it with some 0-20-20 this weekend so that should kick it in gear.

Video of the entire plot:



Pic of the Biologic Maximum in this plot. Two weeks after seeding.



Finally some

 

Jeff:

I'm having a hard time remembering exact model. It's a 29hp 4WD model with that 3cyl diesel motor (98' or 99'). We also have the full cab, bucket loader, and the power steering option.

 

Looks like all your hard work is paying off Matt. Hope to see a picture of you with a good one and one of your plots as a background this season.

 

Looks like it is coming along good! Hope you don't have the hot/humid stuff we got here right now. I never thought I'd say this after all the rain we've had, but we could use some again! 106 heat index in the upper midwest today.

 

Matt, i have one thing to say. Im jeilous Thats awesome!
cant wait to see the progress pics

 

Jeff -

The tractor will do everything here just fine. If I were going to do any more or larger plots, I would want a larger disc though simply because I'm limited in the time I can spend there. Being 4 hours away, I get 2-3 weekends total to get all this work done in. We are doing roughly 3-3.5 acres right now, and 75% of that is planted in annuals each year which means lots of discing. Right now I have a 5' wide disc, landscape rake, and brush hog deck. I also have a 2 bottom plow that I rarely use. I'd want 6-7' wide implements and a 3-4 bottom plow if I were to go to larger plots/more work. My 29hp Kubota is the largest "compact" model before you step up a frame size. If I were going to larger implements, a larger frame size and a little more juice would be nice.

Before this tractor we had a 39hp Kubota and a 50+ horse David Brown. I kinda wish we still had the bigger Kubota, but this one costs a LOT less, has less hours, and gets around in the woods much better.

 

Those plots are really looking good, Matt.

I started discing up an acre of my CRP ground yesterday. I got half done and was running low on fuel. I am going back tomorrow. I sprayed it a few weeks ago and it worked up nice.

My cousin is coming over with his big tractor to plow my 5 acre brush field this week. I am planting about half of it in food plots this fall also. I will be busy the next couple of weekends too. I'll take some pics of mine as I go.

 

John, can't wait to hear more about your plots. Please post pics when your done, and once everything has germinated.

 

that really bites when people don't respect other's property. I just acquired some land & land owner has the same problems. She takes down stands every yr, funny how they never seem to come and ask for their stands. That's kind of you to at least let people come & ask. That planting will look like a buffet to those deer. Good luck for the fall.

 

Wanted to add this again before the updated pics in case you didn't see it on the first post. :huh:

We have had problems with trespassers in the past. If I catch you on camera, or in person on this property without permission, I will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. I have more than a few cameras out at all times, and the property is being patrolled every day. I'm dead serious, and it's unfortunate that I feel like I have to type this, but I'm tired of working my butt off just to have people trespass. If you want to hunt with us, please stop by and talk with me.......please don't trespass.

With that said........updated pics to share.

The plot down the road by my Aunt's house is growing really well. There are two seperate strips in this including Biologic Maximum on half, and Tecomate Monster Mix overseeded with Tecomate Chicory on the other half. I applied quite a bit of Urea (almost entirely nitrogen) to the Maximum when seeding, and at a higher rate than the other plots. It shows too, it's taller and thicker than the others by quite a bit. The clover/chicory is doing well, not exceptional but good enough. Both parts of this plot were seeded on July 19th.

Video of this entire plot:



Pics showing the Maximum:





Pic showing the Tecomate Monster Mix overseeded with Chicory:



The plot in front of camp is doing well also. This plot has 4x seperate strips in it consisting of Biologic Maximum (seeded 7/19), Tecomate Chicory (seeded 7/19), Tecomate Monster Mix (seeded last summer), and Biologic Full Draw (seeded 8/2). The Full Draw and Maximum in this plot didn't get nearly as much Urea as the plot up the road at my Aunt's house, but still look pretty good. The Chicory is coming along very strong, and the Monster Mix from last season is looking awesome and getting hammered by deer every day all day long now, they have it browsed down to about 4-5" tall and it's pulling deer out of the corn fields which isn't easy to do right now.

Video of the entire plot (that's Lisa and our dog June at the end :d ):



The Full Draw seeded on 8/2:





The Monster Mix seeded last summer:



The Tecomate Chicory seeded 7/19:





The Maximum seeded on 7/19:





My biggest plot is doing well also. This plot has 4 seperate strips in it including Biologic Full Draw, Tecomate Monster Mix, Tecomate Ultra Forage, and Biologic Maximum. Everything in this plot was seeded on 8/2 except for the Monster Mix which was seede

 

Matt, it looks absolutely wonderful/pefect. It's kinda nice to recognize the spots. I know that one pic is from where I/we shot that doe.

 

Wait till you see that plot this year Rob. It's 2x bigger now.

 

Matt, you are the food plot guru on this site.

I hope mine look half as good as yours are doing. My second planting needs a rain soon. It was supposed to rain all weekend, but the weather man blew it again. I hope the deer appreciate all of your hard work. Your neighbors must really be jealous.

 

RJ, the plots are looking good. Those bare spots should slowly start to fill in but if they don't, atleast you have a backup bag to help fill in the larger spots.

How many pounds of urea per acre are you using?

Did you happen to get any soil samples before you planted some of the newer stuff? Just wondering what your previous N,P,K units were before you started this year.

 

Thanks Bols and John.

I didn't practice what I preach this year. No soil samples this year.

For the brassicas I applied roughly 150-250lbs of urea per acre, and 200ish lbs of 0-20-20 on the clover/chicory.

Certain plots got a heavier application, and I've got another 150lbs of urea stashed to top dress the brassicas with. Hopefully I can line that application up immediately before a good rain, and I'll likely use just a hand broadcast spreader for this.

 

Time the last app. well and I think you should have enough nitrogen to last and help give the plots enough food for the rest of the year. The only other key would be pH. But I think I remember you mentioning something about spreading some lime, if so, your pH should be good.

 

Yes, I have put down roughly 7ish tons of lime in the last 3 years (almost 4 acres). Last test we did do showed PH between 6.5-6.8. I put down more this year too, so I'm thinking everything there should be good. We will test everything next spring and will fertilize/lime accordingly.

 

Good deal Matt. I am hoping you see an increase in mature deer sightings as well as the ability to hold deer on your property as a result of your hard work. I always love seeing the investment people put into their hunting land.

 

My dad took this picture yesterday and emailed it to me. This is the plot in front of my cabin. Just thought you guys would enjoy!

 

Lookin good!