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Plots Made Easy - First Timers

at1010

*Supporting Member*
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139
Well I see a lot of new guys on here and the first thing they ask is about food plots, what to plant, etc. I am not an expert but I have been doing plots on the farm for about 7 years. I also do plots on other properties as well, and worked doing plots for a wildlife consulting firm while I was in college. With that being said, I have learned a lot the hard way.

Here are some quick tips if you are a first time plotter
1. Get a soil test - this can be done through mossy oak, local coops, whitetail institute as well. This will help to tell you what your PH is, and what fertilizer is recommended based on what you are planting. Lets just focus on PH for beginners. If PH is below 6.8, need to add lime. Either pellet or AG lime.
2. Keep it simple: IF you want to use Buck on Bag seed blends that is ok for small acres (anything under 1 acre). Just make sure you don't pick a BS mix that is full of rye grass.
3. Clovers are legumes they fix nitrogen in the soil - you can plant these for several years in a row
4. Turnips, radishes, and other brassicas take nitrogen out of the soil - these are a great crop to follow clovers
5. USE GRAINS - oats, winter wheat, rye GRAIN (not grass).

Typically spring mixes are harder to plant, due to higher weed competition. Clover/chicory mixes are great because you can mow them and keep weeds down. You can also spray with grass selected herbicides in the spring, this adds an element of complication.

If fall planting a great mix is simply:
spray round up (41% gly) doesn't have to be brand round up
till plot
spread clovers
spread oats, rye grain, winter wheat
run over with atv, or if you have a cultipacker
pray for rain

the next spring you should just have mow this plot and you'll have clover left over. The following fall you can oversewed with the grains. After a few years, till it under and plant turnips.

I hope you all find this helpful. Please add corrections where I am wrong or you disagree.

thanks for reading!
 
Good advice.

I will add a couple of things.

6. Don't worry about producing a plot that looks like the pictures you see on the seed bag. Every plot that I have ever had (even when I have sprayed), has had some weeds in it. Weather conditions play a part when you plant and some have been worse than others. Weeds are ok as long as there isn't a ton of them and some of them the deer will eat.
7. Start with something easy to grow like clover, oats, winter wheat, or rye grain. These will grow even in poor soil and still give you some good results. If ground is poor it will take years to get it up to snuff anyway.
8. Keep your plots small at first. WHen you add up the cost of lime/fertilizer/seed and time to work the ground it can get pretty expensive when you start doing acres. A 1/4 acre plot will produce alot of food. This also allows you to see what works in your area. If working up ground by hand or with an ATV it gets to be alot of work even doing a 1/4 acre.
 

at1010

*Supporting Member*
4,943
139
Good advice.

I will add a couple of things.

6. Don't worry about producing a plot that looks like the pictures you see on the seed bag. Every plot that I have ever had (even when I have sprayed), has had some weeds in it. Weather conditions play a part when you plant and some have been worse than others. Weeds are ok as long as there isn't a ton of them and some of them the deer will eat.
7. Start with something easy to grow like clover, oats, winter wheat, or rye grain. These will grow even in poor soil and still give you some good results. If ground is poor it will take years to get it up to snuff anyway.
8. Keep your plots small at first. WHen you add up the cost of lime/fertilizer/seed and time to work the ground it can get pretty expensive when you start doing acres. A 1/4 acre plot will produce alot of food. This also allows you to see what works in your area. If working up ground by hand or with an ATV it gets to be alot of work even doing a 1/4 acre.

Good adds bud! One of my favorite weeds that grows on edges of plots, poke berry. Deer hammer that stuff!
 

motorbreaker

*Supporting Member I*
1,542
63
North of Toledo
We planted forage oats, winter rye and a brassica mix for the first time this year along with our beans corn and clover. The deer worked on the oats for awhile, Killed the rye. But never really hit the brassica mix to well. They look great and the turnips and beets have large bulbs, But they never really hit them hard. Im sure they will hit the bulbs before the winter is over. But they seemed to lack the draw I was hoping for during Oct. Nov. As always they hammerd the beans and corn.
Id like to add that Brassicas must not be over seeded. What seems like to little seed when planting is more then likely more then enough.
Also, If you plant forage oats. Its a big plus to broadcast in some winter rye (not rye grass)about 3 weeks later.
Never skimp on fertilizer.
Next year were going to try broadcasting winter rye in with our soy beans just before they loose there leaves. We will more then likely not be doing the brassicas next year unless I see them tore up later in the year.
 

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
48,879
274
Appalachia
We planted forage oats, winter rye and a brassica mix for the first time this year along with our beans corn and clover. The deer worked on the oats for awhile, Killed the rye. But never really hit the brassica mix to well. They look great and the turnips and beets have large bulbs, But they never really hit them hard. Im sure they will hit the bulbs before the winter is over. But they seemed to lack the draw I was hoping for during Oct. Nov. As always they hammerd the beans and corn.
Id like to add that Brassicas must not be over seeded. What seems like to little seed when planting is more then likely more then enough.
Also, If you plant forage oats. Its a big plus to broadcast in some winter rye (not rye grass)about 3 weeks later.
Never skimp on fertilizer.
Next year were going to try broadcasting winter rye in with our soy beans just before they loose there leaves. We will more then likely not be doing the brassicas next year unless I see them tore up later in the year.

This has been my experience for the past decade. I'm done planting brassicas or tuber based mixes. The deer on our farm could care less about them.

Good write up Al. Hit most of the key points.
 

at1010

*Supporting Member*
4,943
139
We planted forage oats, winter rye and a brassica mix for the first time this year along with our beans corn and clover. The deer worked on the oats for awhile, Killed the rye. But never really hit the brassica mix to well. They look great and the turnips and beets have large bulbs, But they never really hit them hard. Im sure they will hit the bulbs before the winter is over. But they seemed to lack the draw I was hoping for during Oct. Nov. As always they hammerd the beans and corn.
Id like to add that Brassicas must not be over seeded. What seems like to little seed when planting is more then likely more then enough.
Also, If you plant forage oats. Its a big plus to broadcast in some winter rye (not rye grass)about 3 weeks later.
Never skimp on fertilizer.
Next year were going to try broadcasting winter rye in with our soy beans just before they loose there leaves. We will more then likely not be doing the brassicas next year unless I see them tore up later in the year.

Give brassicas a couple tries. It can take more than a couple years before they hit them hard. I agree stay away from eye grass. Brassicas = less is more when it comes to seed.

Overseeding plots with rye, wheat, oats into beans works very well. I've even had success with turnips in this method.
 
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Buckmaster

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jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,060
223
Ohio
Time and time again I read about turnips and other brassica plots that went completely untouched by the deer. I had the exact same results when I planted then a couple years in a row down in Carroll county. Honestly I think they kind of suck for a deer plot. If you want a late season cold weather for source, plant corn and/soybeans and leave them standing. You've never seen anything like the power of standing soybeans in January.
 

at1010

*Supporting Member*
4,943
139
Time and time again I read about turnips and other brassica plots that went completely untouched by the deer. I had the exact same results when I planted then a couple years in a row down in Carroll county. Honestly I think they kind of suck for a deer plot. If you want a late season cold weather for source, plant corn and/soybeans and leave them standing. You've never seen anything like the power of standing soybeans in January.

I agree however standing corn is hard to get to last till late season unless you can plant 5+ acres. I have had some great standing bean plots in the past, the deer smash them in the cold. However, the deer around my farm have always crushed brassicas. To the point that they eat them all year round now. As soon as I plant them I start seeing them nipped off!
 
Turnips and brassicas in years with a decent acorn crop will stink for an early season bow hunting plot. The deer in PA have just started to hit my turnip/brassica plot this year. It was a ghost town in October and November.

The other thing I have found is it seems that deer have some different taste preferences in certain parts. I know people that have planted rye grain and the deer won't touch it. When I plant it they keep it mowed down.

I don't plant turnips and brassicas every year, but I like to put them into the rotation. They do a nice job breaking up the soil as I can always tell the next spring how easy the ground plows. I agree with AT though that less is more. I used to have a bad habit of overdoing the seed rate on my mixes. With brassicas and turnips it will really kill your production. I know only put on the recommended amount and it made a big difference.
 

at1010

*Supporting Member*
4,943
139
Turnips and brassicas in years with a decent acorn crop will stink for an early season bow hunting plot. The deer in PA have just started to hit my turnip/brassica plot this year. It was a ghost town in October and November.

The other thing I have found is it seems that deer have some different taste preferences in certain parts. I know people that have planted rye grain and the deer won't touch it. When I plant it they keep it mowed down.

I don't plant turnips and brassicas every year, but I like to put them into the rotation. They do a nice job breaking up the soil as I can always tell the next spring how easy the ground plows. I agree with AT though that less is more. I used to have a bad habit of overdoing the seed rate on my mixes. With brassicas and turnips it will really kill your production. I know only put on the recommended amount and it made a big difference.

thanks for sharing. brassicas do need a cold snap in order for their leaves to become the most palatable to deer. Typically this is after a first frost. Just keep that in mind as to why you typically see them eating later in the year.

also I think rye GRAIN will get eaten by deer anywhere it is planted. However a lot of people say RYE and it is some bullshit rye grass that is in a BOB mix. That looks nice but I watch deer walk through it all the time.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
I did some basic research some years back when I first moved back to Ohio. I found this product very good for my area and they give some excellent details on what to do to keep them up to snuff. This is year 4 on my spots and they seem to do pretty good. Deer keep them mowed down during spring and now. Summer time I have to mow them, but I'm happy with it. Best thing is, they keep coming back! That equals less work...less money. (Not trying to pimp a product, as I normally stay out of these conversations. But when I was into it, this site helped me.)

http://www.frigidforage.com/seed-blends/perennial-blends/wild-game-buffet-8-5-lb-1-acre-bag/
 

motorbreaker

*Supporting Member I*
1,542
63
North of Toledo
Give brassicas a couple tries. It can take more than a couple years before they hit them hard. I agree stay away from eye grass. Brassicas = less is more when it comes to seed.

Overseeding plots with rye, wheat, oats into beans works very well. I've even had success with turnips in this method.[

How many pounds per acre is best for broadcasting winter rye over soybeans?
 

at1010

*Supporting Member*
4,943
139
I did some basic research some years back when I first moved back to Ohio. I found this product very good for my area and they give some excellent details on what to do to keep them up to snuff. This is year 4 on my spots and they seem to do pretty good. Deer keep them mowed down during spring and now. Summer time I have to mow them, but I'm happy with it. Best thing is, they keep coming back! That equals less work...less money. (Not trying to pimp a product, as I normally stay out of these conversations. But when I was into it, this site helped me.)

http://www.frigidforage.com/seed-blends/perennial-blends/wild-game-buffet-8-5-lb-1-acre-bag/

Dave that is a great mix. However at 60 bucks an acre you can probably make the same mix for a lot less at a co-op. It is all in what the person wants to do, but BOB seeds can be extremely costly for what they really offer. Just an FYI!

If only doing a 1 plot, probably worth it convenience factor.
 

at1010

*Supporting Member*
4,943
139
Give brassicas a couple tries. It can take more than a couple years before they hit them hard. I agree stay away from eye grass. Brassicas = less is more when it comes to seed.

Overseeding plots with rye, wheat, oats into beans works very well. I've even had success with turnips in this method.[

How many pounds per acre is best for broadcasting winter rye over soybeans?


I would have to double check but I believe the standard planting rate is around 50lbs per acre. I tend to do a bit heavy, especially when going into beans. You will have turkeys eat some, some will stick to beans and not grow, etc.

I will take pictures next time I am at farm. I have standing beans with a blanket of rye under them. Too bad I don't got any deer! hahaha
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Dave that is a great mix. However at 60 bucks an acre you can probably make the same mix for a lot less at a co-op. It is all in what the person wants to do, but BOB seeds can be extremely costly for what they really offer. Just an FYI!

If only doing a 1 plot, probably worth it convenience factor.

Did you read any of the ground prep and such info? That was what I was really referring to. It's almost a copy paste of what you are saying, lol.
 

at1010

*Supporting Member*
4,943
139
Did you read any of the ground prep and such info? That was what I was really referring to. It's almost a copy paste of what you are saying, lol.

my bad bro! I read it earlier today on my lunch break and didn't get a chance to respond! I reread it and see your post now! Happy it is working for you.
 

jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,060
223
Ohio
How many pounds per acre is best for broadcasting winter rye over soybeans?

Typical seeding rate for cereal grains is 80-100 pounds per acre. If I was broadcasting over a bean crop, I'd probably stick closer to a cover crop broadcasting rate, say between 30 and 50 pounds per acre.