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Old 10-20-2003 | 08:53 PM
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farm hunter
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: cazenovia, NY USA
Default RE: Farming Question

The best thing to do for the next crop, is to Mow it when the heads first start to appear and plow it right under. At no other time in Wheat (or barley, oats, rye triticle - etc) is the plant more easily broken down in the soil bacteria - or have more nutrients in the body of the plant. If you plow it under later on - the nutrients to get Bound up in the seed heads or in straw, that takes a long time to break down. This process is especially good if the field has little organic matter or has been fallow for some time.

Obvoiusly, if you mow and plow it under in June - You either do not want to replant until Sept or Plant again in June - plow under & re-plant in Sept. This three crop rotation will keep the plot always attractive to deer. Though it does little for quail or pheasant.

Rather than replant 3 times per year - I would recommend a three plot rotation for clover/wheat where you plant wheat in plot 1 in the first fall - overseed it with white or alsike clover. Allow wheat plot to mature, mow it when brown (July-Aug)- rake it off or mulch it good (preffered method is to mulch good).

The Clover that emerges becomes the plot for that fall - and the next. In Fall #2 prepare new plot #2, prepare as before - In Fall #3 prepare new plot #3 - prepare as already stated - In Fall #4 - you plow under clover plot #1 - and start again. With this system - the clover provides ample Nitrogen for the subsequent Wheat plots - and you rarely have to feertilize.

Good luck.
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