First time food plotter

[Jimmy from Cottage Grove]

Hey guys I am thinking of planting a food plot this year for the first time. The field I am thinking has been over run with weeds for the last 10 years about 1 acre in size. I would like to plant something that will pull them in later in the season. There is corn in the field right next to it. I have a four wheeler. What kind of steps should I take spraying the weeds, burning? Any advice on what kind of equipment to buy for the four wheeler? Do those atv discs work? Any suggestions on what to plant? Thanks

[PerchJerker]

Welcome to the food plotting addiction.

If your field has been overrun with weeds for 10 years, you are going to have a tough time breaking through the turf with an atv disc. It can be done but it will take a lot of work. I have a flip-over atv disc and it works great, but breaking new ground with it can be a real pain in the a$$, and I have to add weight to the disc to do it.

Since you say there's a corn field next to it, can you have your field disced with real agricultural equipment the first time? It will go much better if you can.

Regardless of how you disc the plot, you will want to spray the weeds with Roundup or a generic equivalent. Wait until the weeds are actively growing, spray them with Roundup, and then disc the plot 10 days later.

Discing will bring up new weed seeds and you'll get a fresh crop of healthy weeds shortly after discing. Let the weeds get growing, then spray with Roundup again. 10-14 days later you can plant your new food plot.

It's really important to address the weeds as much as you can right away. If you don't wait and spray after discing you'll be competing against tons of weeds - better to get at them with Roundup a couple of times before you seed your plot.

Clover is great in food plots, but it is slow to get established, and is not that much of a late season draw. Cereal grains like oats, wheat and rye are easy to plant and grow and are a great fall planting, but they are susceptible to frost and won't last until the late season. I don't have any experience with soybeans, but have heard they are a great late season draw. But the best for you may be brassicas --- there's lots of varieties like rape, kale, turnips, etc., and they are a great late season draw.

Hope that helps and good luck.