I have often wondered how fine the line is between a food plot and bait? Planting food plots is a generaly accepted practice throughout most of the country,and encouraged in many areas. Baiting is usually illeagle. Perhaps it matters how far away your tree stand is?
For the purpose of this conversation the difference would be baitings ability to unnaturally congregate deer in a very precise location (the bait pile), and often at an exact time (when the feed is dispersed).
For a more practical biologic discussion on how food plotsactually have verylittle in common withbaiting please read the following...
http://www.whitetailinstitute.com/info/news/aug05/3.html