How's your food plot producing this Fall?
11-05-2006 | 06:22 PM
#11
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Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: cazenovia, NY USA
RE: How's your food plot producing this Fall?
Our plots are producing OK, but not great.
Our Clover is really getting hammered - but it could be much thicker than it is - Probably we need more lime. We could use more clover too - we are down to 2-3 acres - and we hope to increase this next spring.
The Winter Greens look good - we can tell where we put down more Nitrogen - some areas got skipped - I would probably put the second dose of UREA down after 4 weeks like some have said to do (i was one that didn't think it was necessary!)
The corn - we got out of it what we put into it! We stretched the corn out and also planted in most areas for the third year in a row- we could have used more seed, more nitrogen - and a second Roundup application in some spots. We knew it wasn't our best corn year going in - But overall.............we got a bunch of ears - just not as many as last year. The wind storms of last week really knocked the tops off our corn - so it doesn't give the cover it did earlier.
The Soybeans were a really really good summer plot - We planted more than ever - I think 6 acres worth! - but the deer abused even this many acres this summer - so then are not as good a fall plot as we hoped. One 2 acre plot has really good pod production - the others were smaller plots ( 1/2 - 1 acre strips) and they have little pods to show. One we overseeded with Rye in Late August (the plot behind my bow buck from yesterday on the 4 wheeler) - and the deer really liked that. We put down 60 lbs per acres - but I think I would bump it to 100 lbs/acre next time.
I'm not unhappy with the plot program this year - we have more deer (and bucks) than we've seen in 5 years - and that is part of the "problem" - which is a great problem to have - we're working on thinning things out right now.
Thanks for looking!
FH
Our Clover is really getting hammered - but it could be much thicker than it is - Probably we need more lime. We could use more clover too - we are down to 2-3 acres - and we hope to increase this next spring.
The Winter Greens look good - we can tell where we put down more Nitrogen - some areas got skipped - I would probably put the second dose of UREA down after 4 weeks like some have said to do (i was one that didn't think it was necessary!)
The corn - we got out of it what we put into it! We stretched the corn out and also planted in most areas for the third year in a row- we could have used more seed, more nitrogen - and a second Roundup application in some spots. We knew it wasn't our best corn year going in - But overall.............we got a bunch of ears - just not as many as last year. The wind storms of last week really knocked the tops off our corn - so it doesn't give the cover it did earlier.
The Soybeans were a really really good summer plot - We planted more than ever - I think 6 acres worth! - but the deer abused even this many acres this summer - so then are not as good a fall plot as we hoped. One 2 acre plot has really good pod production - the others were smaller plots ( 1/2 - 1 acre strips) and they have little pods to show. One we overseeded with Rye in Late August (the plot behind my bow buck from yesterday on the 4 wheeler) - and the deer really liked that. We put down 60 lbs per acres - but I think I would bump it to 100 lbs/acre next time.
I'm not unhappy with the plot program this year - we have more deer (and bucks) than we've seen in 5 years - and that is part of the "problem" - which is a great problem to have - we're working on thinning things out right now.
Thanks for looking!
FH
11-06-2006 | 09:41 AM
#12
Typical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
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RE: How's your food plot producing this Fall?
Plots: 2- 1/2 acre corn, 2- 1/2 acre beans, 1- 1 acre now winter wheat (was sunflower), 2- 1/8 acre clover, all part of 6 acre field, balance is fallow, about half in second year of growth.
I've taken 4 stands overlooking the plots thus far seeing 50 deer of which6 were antlered. Two of the bucks are 2 1/2's, the best of which is an 8 pointer which willnet around 130. Actually, there was a buck that came out after sundown but was 200 yds away and there I was without optics so can't be sure! Basic herd is 18 antlerless, 5 adult and the above bucks... so far. One doe has 4 fawns in tow their momma apparently having met her fate.
You may recall I'm the moron whokilled my first corn planting with roundup. The second planting, plot closest to my stand, was demolished as it grew, resulting in low ear production. The other corn plot did well and has been and is being hammered now. I watched does reach for the ears in it Saturday and they stayed in it from 6:30 to7:45 am. It probably only has 20-30 percent ears left.
The west clover plot had quite a bit of grass (Spring planted). I tried "Arrest" but it didn't do much. Applied too late. Surprisingly the deer are using this patch very frequently. The other clover patch I gave up on, killed with Roundup, and overseeded right into the dead grass this Fall. Germination has been great though the clover is still beneath the dead grass canopy and the deer are not using it. Should come in great in Spring.
Soybeans got pounded with every branch of every plant in both plots nipped during Summer so they only stand 8-10 inches, but they did make ok pod numbers and the deer are using them. I would apply first app. of Roundup sooner next year.
Broadcast 200# of winter wheat in 1 acre plot and cultipacked. This looks great, the deer are in it every day, and the geese have yet to knock it back. They'll be coming soon when they finish the corn in the area.
Like Farmhunter, I'm pleased with the problem of seeing so many deer. I guess I'd perfer half as many antlerless deer but so far am not willing to create the disturbance necessary to reduce the numbers with firearms. That big buck I can't provide detail on was bedded in the thick stuff 200 yds. from my stand. Every year I see tremendous deer, one of which will push 150. I know this is in part because of my low impact approach.
I'm considering a crossbow now legal in Maryland. As a recurve shooter, never thought I'd go there, but things are getting out of hand.
Next year: soil tests, rotate sunflowers to bean plots, beans to corn, corn to a portion of fallow, wheat to term then more wheat, and start with Roundup Ready corn seed this time!!
I've taken 4 stands overlooking the plots thus far seeing 50 deer of which6 were antlered. Two of the bucks are 2 1/2's, the best of which is an 8 pointer which willnet around 130. Actually, there was a buck that came out after sundown but was 200 yds away and there I was without optics so can't be sure! Basic herd is 18 antlerless, 5 adult and the above bucks... so far. One doe has 4 fawns in tow their momma apparently having met her fate.
You may recall I'm the moron whokilled my first corn planting with roundup. The second planting, plot closest to my stand, was demolished as it grew, resulting in low ear production. The other corn plot did well and has been and is being hammered now. I watched does reach for the ears in it Saturday and they stayed in it from 6:30 to7:45 am. It probably only has 20-30 percent ears left.
The west clover plot had quite a bit of grass (Spring planted). I tried "Arrest" but it didn't do much. Applied too late. Surprisingly the deer are using this patch very frequently. The other clover patch I gave up on, killed with Roundup, and overseeded right into the dead grass this Fall. Germination has been great though the clover is still beneath the dead grass canopy and the deer are not using it. Should come in great in Spring.
Soybeans got pounded with every branch of every plant in both plots nipped during Summer so they only stand 8-10 inches, but they did make ok pod numbers and the deer are using them. I would apply first app. of Roundup sooner next year.
Broadcast 200# of winter wheat in 1 acre plot and cultipacked. This looks great, the deer are in it every day, and the geese have yet to knock it back. They'll be coming soon when they finish the corn in the area.
Like Farmhunter, I'm pleased with the problem of seeing so many deer. I guess I'd perfer half as many antlerless deer but so far am not willing to create the disturbance necessary to reduce the numbers with firearms. That big buck I can't provide detail on was bedded in the thick stuff 200 yds. from my stand. Every year I see tremendous deer, one of which will push 150. I know this is in part because of my low impact approach.
I'm considering a crossbow now legal in Maryland. As a recurve shooter, never thought I'd go there, but things are getting out of hand.
Next year: soil tests, rotate sunflowers to bean plots, beans to corn, corn to a portion of fallow, wheat to term then more wheat, and start with Roundup Ready corn seed this time!!
