Today was planting day.

[Russ otten]

With an early start this morning, I retilled 3 plots before my two buddies showed. We seeded one 1/2 acre plot with Marshall rygrass, two more 1/2 acre plots with Buck Forage Oats and overseeded with Clover for next spring. Then we tilled and planted another plot with a Tecomate blend. Then we started discing a 15 acre field (it had been too wet before this weekend) half to be planted in clover and the other with Perennial Rye. As we ran out of time (and energy), we will finish tilling this week and when they come out next weekend with the seed and fertilizer we will finish that plot. Our small Clover plots get eaten to the gound by cold weather, so we figured we needed a bigger Clover field. (This food plot work is wearing me down. Hope I can find the energy to hunt.LOL)

Russ

[farm hunter]

Hi Russ -

Sounds good - and like you will be very busy the next couple weeks - But why Perennial Rye?? is it good for quail? or do you see deer using it in your area? Around here - Perenial rye is not a good choice for deer usage - and its tough to get rid of once planted.

Thanks
FH

[Russ otten]

FH,
The Rye was planted with a hunting buddy who has had good results with it. He has a patch North of me that has been continuous for 6 years. Each fall when it seeds out, they mow it and it starts over again. This patch is on a power line. And it gets a lot of use. The patch we planted is in a separate field by itself and I hope we can do the same with it.
The Oats is in another field, and I have put my plastic bag fence around it to keep the deer out for a couple weeks. We put it in as the weatherman said we would get a lot of rain from Frances, but now they say we won't get rain for 10 days. Now I worry about the doves cleaning it out. (Can't hunt them because it would be considered a baited field.)
Afraid to fertilize, as it might burn any new plants if they come up without rain. So I will fix fence and cut firewood until it rains. That will keep me busy.

Russ