Bspencer -

We generally do not knock down the stalks. Mostly because we plant it so that the deer can use it in the Winter - when we get our normal snowfalls (100-150" per year avg). Sometimes standing corn is the only thing that we can count on tfor the deer to eat.

In past years when we've had "surplus" corn growing - we've brushhogged lanes - more for visability than anything. The corn on the ground was quickly found by turkeys, and it did seem the deer were on it sooner as well.Before you brushog or even knock down corn - be sure you understand yourlawsin your state. Some states would consider it baiting if you hunt over it.

This picture is from a couple years ago - some of you have seen it before:



FH

wow that corn is really dense, in that last picture there arent rows or anything, do deer bed in there much? if you had one run in there with no blood tril im not sure youd find it

Tlutt, that might be considered baiting if the ears did not fall of during normal farming operations. And as you can see from the replys, most people in here are ethical and consderate.

Don't waste your time on BioMaxx, I tried it last year and the corn never grew very well. This year I'm going back to regular field corn.

FH how are you planting your corn? Grain drill or broadcasting?

Hi -

We use a Corn planter - 36" rows. It was definitely planted too close together that year, though the picture makes it look even thicker than it was. It was a great plot though!

This is the same plot in February that year:





When you plant corn this close - you need LOTS of Nitrogen.

FH, since we are close in proximity, what dates are you planting corn and beans? Where is a good place to buy seed? Is it possible to plant corn with a spreader rather than a drill (only because I have a spreader and would have to rent a drill). Sorry for all the questions, but this year I want to be prepared. I sent my soil out for a test last week and should ahve the results next week. I never realized how importantt he soil analysis was. I wasted a lot of money last year trying to 'guess' at how to do things. This site is extremely informative and I can't wait to get started this spring.

Dan M

We Give ourselves a Drop Dead Date of June 1st to have the corn in the ground - And we would prefer to have it in on or about May 15th. We usually start preparing the plots for corn by Late April (plowing/disking). Its hard because sometimes its so wet in Mid May.

We plant Beans at the same time - but if pushed - we can wait until Mid June to get them in, we would always plant the corn ahead of the beans if we were limited.

I've heard of others broadcasting corn with success - however I've heard it is ineffcient and only some portion will effectively germinate. You would need to "disk it in" - we like our corn at least 1-2" deep. You would want it broadcast so that it was 4-6" apart. I think you would have to expect thick spots and holes - but I might be worth a try.

Go with round up ready seed.

We get our standard seed products from the DeRuyter Co-op.

http://www.agwayfeed.com/deruyter.html

They are definitely "farm oriented" - not "deer flot plot" oriented - so I wouldn't go with out knowing what you want. What I mean is I wouldn't go in and expect or hope for them to help you with a food plot - they seem very busy there.

We get our clovers from Gander or Bass Pro usually - and we've tried some of the brassicas form there too.

Good luck this spring,

FH