So I had plans of putting a food plot in about aug through sept for this upcoming fall and winter. To descripe the land, my feild hasnt been tilled in over 12 years and has weeds 3 feet tall. My buddy's feild gets mowed every other week so is very short. Now i just got talking to a farmer who is a good freind of mine who we enlisted to do the tilling for us. He is telling us that seeing how the land hasnt been tilled in such long time that it would be best to spray roundup and plow this fall and not do anything with it till spring as the soil will be to hard and not enough time to make it workable, not to mention weeds would be regerminating right away. can someone help me out with this??? am i out of it for the fall plans??

I would cut it up as deep as I could with an offset disc RIGHT NOW, then come back in three or so weeks and cut it with a disc a couple of times to get it in better shape and plant with a grain drill. You didn't say where you are, howbig the plot isor what you are planting for the fall plot. You should have done a soil test in the early spring and limed and cut it in, but you should have something to hunt over at least this fall. With it cooling soon after planting you shouldn't have a big weed problem.

well im from G.R Michigan and the soil is heavy clay, i never did a ph test, was just planning on hitting it with a lot of fert and powder lime. would disking it now and liming it and then redisking in a few weeks be good enough with out roundup and when do you put fert down. what seed and or combination do you recommend.

The only reason I would spray at this time is if the field was heavy with grass. If it is then spray and wait about 2 weeks and then do the heavy disc followed in a week or so with a lighter disc till the ground is in better shape. It takes about 6 months for lime to help out, but you could put 2 1/2 tons per acre or more (this is just a guess as you didn't test) and disc it in and you would have a good start for next year. You would need to talk to someone in your area about what to plant, I like Buck Forage Oats planted with a grain drilland then over seed with a white clover.

Not to discourage you but in my opinion you've waited to long in preparing your area to plant this fall.
Here's how we did ours under real similar circumstances as you with limited means. Took a soil sample & had it analized. YOUR WASTING YOUR TIME & $ IF DON"T!!. Brush hogged area, then weed sprayed whole plot. Once weeds were dead we had a tractor come in w/bottom land plow turning the soil over. We then dragged it out best as good with a set of garden drags & atv.Had a lime truck come in & spread 3 tons per acre. Let it sit until spring. This did 2 things. 1 it let the turned heavy sod rot, 2 it allowed the lime to work into the soil good. That spring we redragged the plot, spread the fertilzer(about 400lbs acre), dragged the fertlizer in. Spread the seed, then went over it with a roller. The plot turned out great. If you plant a perenial you'll also need means of mowing it. Expect the costs to run ya around $35-40 ton for ag lime spread, fertlizer was $280 for 600lbs mixed to specs, plus seed. These are NY prices too!

alright, so lately it seems that i have getting discouraged out of everything lately,lol. the plans that are in the process right now are... the feild was brushed hogged today at 6inches, planning on letting it start to regrow and hitting it hard with roundup. then letting it sit for a week and then going over it with a tractor with a 6ft 3pt rototiller a few times. then rehitting it with the roto a week later with fertilizer and lime spread. and hopefully planting with a drillat the end off august early early sept. We are thinking Buck forage oats. I know that this isnt ideal and the results wont be the best but im thinking it will give me somthing tohunt this fall. plus will be a great start for next year as the ground will already be worked up and the lime will be taking effect. what are you opiniions on the rototiller,brush hog combo, and what succes have you had with buck forage oats?? thanks again for all your time.

I don't think you're too late.
I'd do exactly what you have planned so far except for the BFO. You can do that if you want, but I think BFO are really susceptable to early frost(someone correct me if I'm wrong). I would look at winter wheat or winter rye instead. Both will stay green even under the snow and will green back up early in the spring. Then next year you can till it back under as "green manure" and add organic matter to your clay. Then plant whatever you want next spring.
Brian

I would continue your prep work so that you have a head start for the spring. Make sure to get a soil sample from the plot and send it to the MSU Ag extension office so you can get the fertilizer and lime requirements for next year. I would start liming now so it is working by the spring though personally I would not fertilize till then.

I would also plant a mix of crimson clover and Austrian Winter Peas. This will provide a good food source for the deer this fall and will be an excellent green manure in the spring to help amend the soil.

Now once spring gets here you can begin full bore food plot work.

You could also look at some native species management and apply some fertilizer and do some cutting to improve the native plants that attract deer. This will give you some additional areas of attraction on your property for this fall season.

Lastly, I would start keeping detailed records of your food plots and native species management activities. This way you have a way to measure your successes and a record of what has been done. This record will allow you to learn from your mistakes and successes. Plus it is helpfull to have should you decide to seek help from a wildlife or agricultural professional to get you through any difficulties.

Just my $.02

Hope it helps.

i really dont think your to late, but i would get on the ball. spray roundup tomorrow on what you want to plant, dont bushhog first, roundup will not kill good because there will be cut grass lying on top of what you want to kill. then when it die's out, approx 10-15 days, if its possible burn the plot. this will clear out much of the weeds so it makes it easier to work the ground. Spread your lime 2 ton to the acre if your dont already have a soil test. make sure that you do get a soil test,they are free at your soil conservation office. this fall i would only plant an annual plot, something like winter rye or buck forage oats, i have great luck with them.maybe add some rape or turnipsor red clover. then late next spring or early summer you can go to work getting your plot like you want it to be. you can do it two different ways here. one way is to work the ground up and when the weeds come up spray them, after a couple of weeks work it again and continue this through the summer. orif you could plant roundup ready soy beans in the spring that would be great, roundup will kill the grass and weeds and the beans will grow. you will never get ride of all the grasses and weeds, but it can be made more managable. i have 5 acres of plots on my 100 acre farm, they take a lot of time and money to keep them in good shape, but they are worth it when fall comes around. now get to work on it ...