Foodplotting Trends?
 

What are the trends of foodplotting going to be in five years? Any ideas? I'm doing a research project for college.

RE: Foodplotting Trends?
 

I think you'd get better input (although it may be somewhat biased) from the seed company representatives. I'm sure they would be more than happy to help you out.

RE: Foodplotting Trends?
 

I expect to see most companies to get in to more educational services, because the puplic is looking for knowledge. The thing I see in my line of bussiness is the clients are starting to conscider enhancing the shelter side of the deer habitat. Meaning planting more native warm season grasses. Not for sure what seeds the companies are testing and doubt you will get much out of them, as they all keep that pretty tight lipped. If anyone will give you some idea it might be Kent Krammer of Pennington Seed.

RE: Foodplotting Trends?
 

I think there will be a couple food plot bleands for Mule Deer & Blacktails...and elk!

RE: Foodplotting Trends?
 

1. I think you'll continue to see MIXES - as seed companies are smart enough to know that with a mix, there is a better chance that one or more of its elements might do very well for the consumer, and hopefully they'll come back as a result. All kinds of mixes.

2. Look for MORE Brassicas - maybe even better tasting ones - (broccoli typescomes to mind as a NEW option)

In the last 2 years - brassica options have increased a lot. Figure to see more of these - maybe with better annual mixes of clovers and or oats. Brassicas have a unique quality of growing very well (consumer pats himself on the back)- and deer do not eat them much at all until winter (sometimes not at all) - BUT - consumers have a GREAT LOOKING plot - and often times deer will actually eat them once it gets cold (or if the other food sources available are not as good).They are alsovery cheap to plant compared to clovers or beans.
For the seed company - its about as good as it gets.

3. Clovers will continue to do well - you cannot go wrong with a good clover plot!

I can think of a few others - but in 5 years - this what I see.

FH

RE: Foodplotting Trends?
 

[ol][*]RR sugarbeets is about the only recent new seed inovation. All the magic blends, brands, and bags are just marketing hype.[*]Switching more towards notill type plots. Spray and broadcast fine small seed such as brassicas, turnips, clovers, alfalfa, trefoils.As foodplotters become more educated on herbicides and spraying techniques, no-till when done right becomes a real time and cost saver.[*]Increased soil analysis, soil samples sent into state ag. labs.to get accurate lime recommendations, along with precise phosphorus and potassium(potash) recommendations. As fertilizer costs have reciently sky-rocketed, knowing what you need and don't need to apply can be a huge cost/time saver.[*]Having soil analyzed for micro-nutrients. Sulfer, calcium, magnesium, boron, zinc, manganese, selenium, ect. Many foodplotters have been at it for several years, and built up soil nutrients to healthy levels.Now many are ready to take it to the next level.[/ol]

RE: Foodplotting Trends?
 

I hope they will develope new products that will do well in heavy shaded areas, heavy clay areas and heavy sandy areas as well as areas that have a low rainfall amount per year.

RE: Foodplotting Trends?
 

"I hope they will develope new products that will do well in heavy shaded areas, heavy clay areas and heavy sandy areas as well as areas that have a low rainfall amount per year."

Have tried a lot of different stuff in shady areas and nothing worked. For heavy clay, heavy sand and low rain areas try milo, cowpeas and clay peas.

IMO:A lot of the brandsare over blown.I do not like to use Round Up or anything like Round Up. If one disks up a plot well and plants it thick before the spring vegetation gets a hold there will not be a problem with weeds and grass. Our fall plots are not planted until the Johnson grass turns blue or Big Blue Stem grass turns brown.

RE: Foodplotting Trends?
 

What's the problem with Round Up? And when you say 'anything like Round Up' are you only referring to generic glyphosphate or other kinds of weed killers too?

RE: Foodplotting Trends?
 

[blockquote]quote:

ORIGINAL: falcon

I do not like to use Round Up or anything like Round Up. [/blockquote]


I wonder as well. I thnk Glyphosate is the best thing that ever happened to us "part time" farmers.
It absolutely changed our plot strategies for the better.

FH

RE: Foodplotting Trends?
 

Trends, I think you'll see states with already great deer starting to listen and plant food plots, here in IL most people seem to think, the state is 1 large food plot, I keep reading articles to contradict this, the monster buck shot late in season......the 1 guy in the state with a food plot, geez I wish I owned some land, you'd be reading about me!

RE: Foodplotting Trends?
 

The problem with Round up and glycophosphate is that it has been used for years and some pest plants are now resistant insome areas. In Argentina, Johnson grass is now immune. In the eastern US there are several weeds that are either very resistant or immune to Round Up and other herbicides. At our three places we plant in the spring before the grasses get established, we plant thick. For the fall planting we wait until the native grasses are dormant-no weed problems at all. I ain't a production farmer, i plant food plots for game animals.

RE: Foodplotting Trends?
 

My two cents: I think we hunters will eventually realize that no matter how many food plots we plant or how much money we pour into them, they don't necessarily produce more or bigger deer. I think the food plot craze is just that: a fad that will subside in the next five to ten years as hunters decide that it's a hell of a lot of work for no substantial payback. Large landowners and commerical hunting operations with thousands of acres will continue to plant food plots, but those of us with smaller lots will decrease the amount of time and money we put into them.

RE: Foodplotting Trends?
 

hey buddy, i'd say you should try and contanct a couple of people who are assocaited with the food plotting business and see if they can give you any inside info as to what they are developing and where they see their companies going. I know whitetail institute is usually very quick about getting back in touch with you if you send in an email.

As far as...
I'd say that a statement like this is as ignorant as saying that supplements, protein, etc. etc. do not aid in muscle development and training in athletes...a better, healthier diet has been priven to produce bigger bucks and, more importantly, a healthier deer herd

RE: Foodplotting Trends?
 

To compare humans to free-ranging deer is even more ignorant. I'm simply saying that there are so many more factors involved in producing quality deer and bigger bucks than planting food plots. A better, healthier diet may produce a healthier deer herd in controlled situations, but thereare so many other variables that come into play besides planting a field of clover or wheat.
Again, when hunters realize that all the time and money they put into food plots on a ten, 50 or even 200-acre plot of land doesn't show direct results in the form of bigger deer, they'll stop planting them. It's a fad that will run its course. Will lots of hunters continue to plant food plots? Sure, but you'll see many others decide the results don't justify the cost.

RE: Foodplotting Trends?
 

ignorant, no big fella, as i do not lack knowledge in the field about which we speak;) a simple analogy was used in order to make reference to the given situtation at hand.

RE: Foodplotting Trends?
 

I don't see people stopping planting plots either. I suppose a few land owners might go this way, but with the cost of property - I think must hunters want to manage it in some fashion, and if feilds are present, they'llplant them.

I can see maybe theselittle plot mixeslike "Secret Spot", and others going away. Maybe this is what you mean - I think 1/2 the guys buying this stuff sprinkle it around their treestand and expect every 140+ class buck for miles to come in and devour it. Of course, when hunting season rolls around - its "not exactly"what they expected.

FH

RE: Foodplotting Trends?
 

I agree with FH. You get what you put into it. I can tell you from living in the middle of the best farmers in the U.S., and pulling more deer that would make your head spin to my farm, food plots work, but you can't spare the work.

On the foggiest days of last year, (you couldn't see across 2acre field) I counted 25+ on the reminents of RR forage soybeans. Oh, yeah this was not all day but about a 2hour period, and I'll bet I was only able to count a little over half.

Now, yes many landowner are finally learning there is more to it than just foodplots, like NWSG, tree plantings and so forth.