Help with Food Plot?!?!

garberinc · 05-17-2006, 02:52 PM

Hey guys--- I am putting in my first food plot. I figure on planting corn, ***anese millet, and soybeans to attract waterfowl (geese) and deer. Sounds good?! I thought so. The area I mowed is in my backyard. Out of 5 acres I mowed about 1/2 acre down and planned a U- shaped area on the edges to plant, leaving the whole inside and one edge open to put decoys on and leave a large area open to landing fowl.
I have limited equipment. I asked a local farmer to plow and disc the area over a month ago. He said it was too wet. Well, just when it seemed dry enough to work we receievd 8 days straight rain.
So, I am thinking of alternatives since it will probably take 3-4 weeks to dry out again.
If I rented/ borrowed a large rototiller and really worked the top 6-8 inches of ground up, would that work? The area has not been treated by round up or anything.
If I wait another month to work it and a week later to plant, will that be too late to get the stuff into the ground?
Help!
Any ideas are welcomed.

garberinc · 05-17-2006, 02:53 PM

Also, how much Roundup would I need for 1000 square yards?
Thanks!!!

1sagittarius · 05-17-2006, 03:59 PM

where are you located?

There is still time to plant corn, and even more time to plant soybeans. Let the farmer do it if possible.

Round up is 1 to 2 qts per acre or 2.5 oz per gallon if hand spraying, that is for 41% glyphosate, generic roundup.

Hawgnman · 05-19-2006, 09:45 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: garberinc

Also, how much Roundup would I need for 1000 square yards?
Thanks!!!

About one half a quart for the 41% strength.

Spray, wait a week and plant.

garberinc · 05-20-2006, 12:12 PM

Thanks for the help guys. I'm in northern Ohio, right between the Sandusky Bay and Lake Erie. Plenty of geese and ducks here (ususally). There are mallards nesting in some tall grass just north of where the food plot area is. I hope this is a good sign for later this year!

garberinc · 05-20-2006, 12:16 PM

So, basically all is not lost? There are areas where the water is 4 inches deep and still standing.
So what happens next is:
I should get some round up, spray, let it work for a week while the area dries a little. Then plow, wait a week then disc and plant. Do I have this right? Thanks again guys.

Pass_Thru · 05-21-2006, 10:09 PM

Id wait til the water dries up first. then spray wait a week and then break gound. Just a thought.

VirginiaBuckMaster · 05-22-2006, 05:30 PM

In Virginia I have been doing food plots on the same property for years. We make sure we begin with a correct pH. We even had the manufacturer of seeds for Pennington visit to reccomend specific changes to make our plots the best. Here is what I have found. Ph is number one. A 4 wheeler can make this pictured spot "cutivated". You wil need to purchase the proper disc. Out of the 11 spots we have, the biggest success aside from pH is size. All these plots get hammered by the deer, if they are not large enough you will notice the plants being topped. Please feel free to ask more specific questions. Good Luck!