Buckmine,

There is no reason to give up at all! Rain is in the forcast for several days this weekend and all you have to do is spread some annual rye, mixed with clover, on bare dirt. You can still have an excellant stand of rye, which is a better hunting season draw than clover or alfalfa, and then by mixing with some clover, you can establish your perinnial field for the spring. My rye and oats plantings took 1 good rain to germinate, and since that time(8/3), we have had only about 2 rains, but they are both doing great.

You are probably still a few weeks away from needing to give up completely. We' ve already had a frost and I' m going to broadcast some annual rye on an unproductive area Thursday night. Should do very nicely for a hunting season draw.

Rye is a great tool to offset the negative effects of drought with a hardy hunting season draw. I' ve spread close to 700#' s the last few weeks and my fields are looking pretty good. I' d personally go with about 150#' s per acre, along with some clover.

Jeff...U.P. of Michigan