Food plot results to date

[Cooter]

So what, when, and where did you plant? Going good, not so good? What would you do different? Getting lots of usage?

I have a small plot in the woods on a ridgeline south of Eau Claire near Eleva. Have had numerous successful crops of rye and oats over the years, have limed/fertilized several times. Wanted to go with chicory/clover this spring. Tilled up last years rye, put down more lime and tilled again. Waited a week and a half during which we had two nice rainfalls. Came back before another rain - no weeds. Planted and packed it down. Got the rain, plus some more. Checked on it about 3 weeks later to find out it was about 80% weeds!

Lesson learned: with slower growing plants such as clover give any dormant weed seeds that might have got tilled towards the surface pleny of time to show before either spraying if they do or planting.

Ended up spraying then went back 2 weeks ago and tilled lightly before planting rye. Have never had weed problems with rye before, grows so quick it does well outcompeting weeds. Plus I realize the temps are much cooler and often dryer in fall for a rye/wheat/oats planting vs in spring with clover/chicory and warmer and wetter conditions which probably gave the edge to weed seeds.

I'll be down this weekend to check the rye - we've had more than enough rain but its been very cool and cloudy. However, I had that stuff grow like crazy in the back of my pickup so I should be fine. Will try the clover/chicory again next spring. Maybe should have this fall but it got too late for that.

Whats your story? Later.

[splakeshaker]

Not that you can really control weeds too incredibly well, but maybe till in some roundup a week or two before planting/fert/lime. I am considering a food plot next year but I think I my have to find a farmer to gain to insight and advice.

[Jameson]

I've got a few small plots that add up to almost an acre.

Sweetcorn turned out as well as I could expect for the first time planting any. I went with 5 different varieties with maturation dates between 63 and 110 (I think) days. Next year I will hopefully do about the same amount, only all of the 63 day variety. After the corn is done I will broadcast in some brassicas for the fall.

Biologic Biomaxx I'm still not sure how I like. The corn turned out great. The three varieties of beans are all too late maturing IMO. Some are just starting to yellow now, others are still flowering. The deer did not ever really nail the soybeans until this last week, and with frost coming this weekend, it isn't worth it to me having green beans up till frost. I would rather have the beans mature early, and than broadcast on some rye/oats/clover/brassica etc.

The birdseed plots turned out well. Lots of nice big sunflowers, some sorghum, some corn, and millet. Hopefully the pheasants stay nice and fat this winter.

Next year I have one plot of old clover/alfalfa that I hope to rotate into sweetcorn. Other than that one plot I have the rest freshly broadcasted with clover/alfalfa/chicory that I hope to just mow next year. Likely have to broadcast in some more seed where the Biomaxx is still green. Should be an easy food plotting year.

[lovebigbluegills]

Great topic Cooter.

I planted 4 different plots with rape and turnips on August 15.

I also planted one plot with Alsek(sp?) clover.

I wish I would have planted a month earlier. The clover is doing alright, but about 3-4 inches tall in the best spots.

The rape and turnips came in relatively thick, but only about 3-4 inches as well.

Bottom line--I should have planted around July 15th, instead of August 15th.

[Musky Buck]

My neighbors looks dynamite and he planted in mid-august roughly, tons of deer every night but like he said once rifle opens there will be zero bucks during shooting light, mostly fawns and a doe or 3 in the waining light. I'm not sure what he planted but he owns the company so he knows when what and why.

[Moonshine]

Timely post Cooter!

I am really disappointed in my late summer plots located in field areas this year. The summer plots I placed in the woods are O.K. For me it was just too dry in August and September.

I planted pure ladino clover and turnips/rape in early summer that came in great. The late season plots consisted of more clover, rape, alfalfa, rye, oats and chicory. All late summer fields were sprayed this summer and killed off. A few weeks after I planted and it was warm & dry, nothing grew. They were dirt fields until we got rain. So yes, spraying the fields first will keep the weeeds out, but you still need the rain to get the seed you put in the ground going.

My question is if anyone has had luck this year or in the past with alfalfa? This was my first try and I failed miserably. Everything else eventually came in except the alfalfa. Also, I have seen pictures of some peoples fields with really lush rape. Does that get planted early summer or late? I planted some late summer and it doesn't look anything like the other pictures.

Thanks!

[lungdeflator]

I planted for the first time this year with info from everybody on this site and the money I had. Planted F rigid Forage Monster mix in a 1 acre field. I broke the ground for the first time in 7-8 years. Ended up making 6 passes through it but still had some weeds. Didnt spray, lime, or fertilize for lack of funds. Turned out great though. turnips range in size from marble to a little bigger than softball. all i spent on was gas for the atv and seed. very happy with results. also recomended seeding rates are key, tested that in a small area and have hundreds of plants but only 1-2 inches tall

[JK22]

I opened up 2 new acres on memorial day that was solid woods. I went up there every 2 weeks to spray. In August there was no weeds around anymore. I tilled it up and planted some imperial wildlife clover. I was up there a week ago and the clover was 18" tall and the deer were all over it. I also planted some corn in a different area that got chewed up before it had a chance to grow. I spread some turnips/brassicas on Aug 20 and I should have planted them about 3-4 weeks earlier. Some are about golf ball size but I think they are done growing after the 22 deg. the other night. Lesson learned for next year.