Easily Managed Food Plots (click here for the printable notes)
A simple food plot needs to require as few trip as possible so you feel less like a farmer and benefit more as a hunter. I'm not saying time working in the woods is time spent poorly, I favor it more than walking a shopping mall or being with the masses any day, but this design is meant to reduce your time cultivating the plot and maximize the efforts for long lasting effect.
Planting food plots is a commitment, it does require that you loosely stick to a schedule to prevent overgrowth of weeds that can choke back your nutritious plantings and keep the plot growing. It also may require the investment in some tools to help speed the process along and reduce some back breaking labor and blistered hands (which I believe are good for you and develop character anyway).
These planting will be both annual (produces only one year and requires replanting) and perennial (produces multi-year crops). It is recommended that you do both types. They can be side by side or in different parts of the woods and you can have multiple plots throughout the woods but even if you only do one type in one spot, you are likely to have an increase in wildlife to that area.
The plots will require work in Spring, Summer and Fall but only one or two "work trips" are required each season. I will also break the plots down into Cool and Warm Season plantings.
THE HARD WORK - Clearing a location
Somehow you will need to clear a space for your plot to grow. This takes some scouting and some hard work. You will need to make sure sunlight can make its way to the forest floor so choosing an old clearing or spot with a few younger trees that can be removed is beneficial to your work load. Tools needed can range from a weed eater, chainsaw, shovel and a rake or two and get as big as a tractor with bush hog and/or disc harrow. I will use a weed eater, chainsaw and rake but also have a small disc harrow attachment for my ATV that helps me churn up the ground for easier clearing and planting.
WATER
You may also need to consider water availability and rain possibilities. With low water availability or drought like conditions, picking a strip that is North-South facing can reduce water evaporation from hard direct sunlight but also reduces the amount of direct sunlight received to only light in the middle of the day. It may be a choice of slow growth over no growth in some cases but if you can make choices to prevent over evaporation you may save a crop.
WHAT TO PLANT
Once you have picked your spot and cleared it, the easier part begins, planting your crop, watching it grown and maintaining it. It is good practice to plant both annual and perennial food plots. By doing this, you are providing forage that produces throughout the year. An annual will produce high volumes in the prime growing season and taper off as the planting ages. The perennials will produce most of the year but in smaller volumes. This is a more well rounded offering.
Cool Season (Fall)
Normally this is September but adjust for your specific season sowing suggestions.
Annual Plot - Normally Last One Season
The first year for your annual plot starts in the cool season with a planting of oats in September. Follow the sowing instruction as best you can for oats. Instructions may ask you to plant the oats in a row, 1/4 inch apart or just broadcast a certain poundage per acre. 80 to 100 lbs is normally suggested per acre and can range at a starting price at about $30.
Now that is it planted wait for rain or water it if you have the ability then you are done for 30 to 60 days.
Weed Control
Now that the oats have established themselves for about 2 months, there will be broadleaf weeds attempting to grow amungst your plot. A post-emergence herbicide can be used to kill these annual cool season weeds.
Find a post-emergance herbicide that won't harm your oats.
Some suggested oat safe chemicals are: Glyphosate acid equivalent and Glyphosate
Some Brands are: Harmony Extra SG, Sharpen 2.85 SC, Banvel 4SL, Buctril 4 EC and others.
Be sure to make sure you are using it the correct way per the instructions and don't harm your food plot or yourself.
I prefer to ask for help at "real" farm supply stores where agriculture is part of their business.
This is a great paper published by Clemson university that will help in selecting the correct herbicide and know when its time to apply it. In some cases, the herbicide should go down before a planting, some at planting and other after weeds emerge. WEED CONTROL IN SMALL GRAINS
Forage Production
With the weed production muted and oats continuing to grow you will now have a winter crop that will hopefully bring wildlife in for your viewing pleasure.
Repeat this again each year, each time with less effort due to the initial work done for clearing.
Perennial Plot - Can last multiple seasons with maintenance.
A planting of landino clover in September can coincide with your oats. In fact, planting them together can reduce the need for herbicides because the oats may chock off the broadleaf weed growth and while the clover is establishing itself. The clover will produce less forage initially than the oats but will continue to produce as the seasons come and go.
Again, follow your sowing instructions for the landino clover for seed volume, coverage and water. Most clover will require 20-30 lbs of seed per acre which can put you over the $100 mark for clover if your plots are that large. However, smaller seed portions are available if you are mixing clover with oats or have smaller plots.
Mowing
In the spring, when the clover begins to flower, mow the clover to stimulate additional foliage growth. In August, as weeds begin to creep in, mow it again to knock them back and prevent a weed take over.
Once the Clover has established itself, mowing in July or August to prevent weeds will be required.
Weed Control
Around October a post-emergance weed control herbicide can be applied on clover. Arrow or Butyrat 200 can be used but pay close attention to the directions or ask your local farm supply about proper application. Applied improperly this may damage your food plot.
In May an additional application of herbicides will be required to prevent the spreading of broad leaf weeds in the warming growing season.
Warm Season (Spring)
Normally this is May but adjust for your specific seasonal sowing suggestions.
Annual Plot - Normally Last One Season
This planting will typically last one season but in some cases, the plot may re-sow itself and partially replant on its own, but don't count on it since weeds may be a problem that suffocate its "self-replanting".
For this warm season annual plot, cow peas are a great choice for the forage production and attraction of wildlife. There are a multitude of cow peas available, iron and clay cowpeas have been documented as good crops for food plots.
Follow the instructions for planting your cowpeas in your warm season annual food plot. 50 pounds per acre is a normal recommendation so adjust for your food plot size that you have prepared. You can expect to pay around $75 for this amount. Replant it each year.
Weed Control
For cowpeas, a pre-emergence herbicide is recommended. Prowl H2 O, Pursuit and Treflan Herbicide are CowPea Safe at the pre-emergance stage. Ask you local farm supply for help in finding the right chemical and volume for your needs as these can get expensive ranging from $100 to $400 per gallon (although small amounts are needed, making it last for years). Treflan is available is pellet/powder form and can be lightly disced in and can be a more cost effect solution.
Repeat this again next year, by starting with discing the plot and replanting.
A short note version is available here: Printable Notes
See What Comes In
Now that the food plots are planted and the hard work done, set up a game camera or two and see what begins to find and enjoy your food plot and plan your future harvests!
A simple food plot needs to require as few trip as possible so you feel less like a farmer and benefit more as a hunter. I'm not saying time working in the woods is time spent poorly, I favor it more than walking a shopping mall or being with the masses any day, but this design is meant to reduce your time cultivating the plot and maximize the efforts for long lasting effect.
Planting food plots is a commitment, it does require that you loosely stick to a schedule to prevent overgrowth of weeds that can choke back your nutritious plantings and keep the plot growing. It also may require the investment in some tools to help speed the process along and reduce some back breaking labor and blistered hands (which I believe are good for you and develop character anyway).
These planting will be both annual (produces only one year and requires replanting) and perennial (produces multi-year crops). It is recommended that you do both types. They can be side by side or in different parts of the woods and you can have multiple plots throughout the woods but even if you only do one type in one spot, you are likely to have an increase in wildlife to that area.
The plots will require work in Spring, Summer and Fall but only one or two "work trips" are required each season. I will also break the plots down into Cool and Warm Season plantings.
THE HARD WORK - Clearing a location
Somehow you will need to clear a space for your plot to grow. This takes some scouting and some hard work. You will need to make sure sunlight can make its way to the forest floor so choosing an old clearing or spot with a few younger trees that can be removed is beneficial to your work load. Tools needed can range from a weed eater, chainsaw, shovel and a rake or two and get as big as a tractor with bush hog and/or disc harrow. I will use a weed eater, chainsaw and rake but also have a small disc harrow attachment for my ATV that helps me churn up the ground for easier clearing and planting.
WATER
You may also need to consider water availability and rain possibilities. With low water availability or drought like conditions, picking a strip that is North-South facing can reduce water evaporation from hard direct sunlight but also reduces the amount of direct sunlight received to only light in the middle of the day. It may be a choice of slow growth over no growth in some cases but if you can make choices to prevent over evaporation you may save a crop.
WHAT TO PLANT
Once you have picked your spot and cleared it, the easier part begins, planting your crop, watching it grown and maintaining it. It is good practice to plant both annual and perennial food plots. By doing this, you are providing forage that produces throughout the year. An annual will produce high volumes in the prime growing season and taper off as the planting ages. The perennials will produce most of the year but in smaller volumes. This is a more well rounded offering.
Cool Season (Fall)
Normally this is September but adjust for your specific season sowing suggestions.
Annual Plot - Normally Last One Season
Now that is it planted wait for rain or water it if you have the ability then you are done for 30 to 60 days.
Weed Control
Now that the oats have established themselves for about 2 months, there will be broadleaf weeds attempting to grow amungst your plot. A post-emergence herbicide can be used to kill these annual cool season weeds.
Find a post-emergance herbicide that won't harm your oats.
Some suggested oat safe chemicals are: Glyphosate acid equivalent and Glyphosate
Some Brands are: Harmony Extra SG, Sharpen 2.85 SC, Banvel 4SL, Buctril 4 EC and others.
Be sure to make sure you are using it the correct way per the instructions and don't harm your food plot or yourself.
I prefer to ask for help at "real" farm supply stores where agriculture is part of their business.
This is a great paper published by Clemson university that will help in selecting the correct herbicide and know when its time to apply it. In some cases, the herbicide should go down before a planting, some at planting and other after weeds emerge. WEED CONTROL IN SMALL GRAINS
Forage Production
With the weed production muted and oats continuing to grow you will now have a winter crop that will hopefully bring wildlife in for your viewing pleasure.
Repeat this again each year, each time with less effort due to the initial work done for clearing.
Perennial Plot - Can last multiple seasons with maintenance.
A planting of landino clover in September can coincide with your oats. In fact, planting them together can reduce the need for herbicides because the oats may chock off the broadleaf weed growth and while the clover is establishing itself. The clover will produce less forage initially than the oats but will continue to produce as the seasons come and go.
Again, follow your sowing instructions for the landino clover for seed volume, coverage and water. Most clover will require 20-30 lbs of seed per acre which can put you over the $100 mark for clover if your plots are that large. However, smaller seed portions are available if you are mixing clover with oats or have smaller plots.
Mowing
In the spring, when the clover begins to flower, mow the clover to stimulate additional foliage growth. In August, as weeds begin to creep in, mow it again to knock them back and prevent a weed take over.
Once the Clover has established itself, mowing in July or August to prevent weeds will be required.
Weed Control
Around October a post-emergance weed control herbicide can be applied on clover. Arrow or Butyrat 200 can be used but pay close attention to the directions or ask your local farm supply about proper application. Applied improperly this may damage your food plot.
In May an additional application of herbicides will be required to prevent the spreading of broad leaf weeds in the warming growing season.
Warm Season (Spring)
Normally this is May but adjust for your specific seasonal sowing suggestions.
This planting will typically last one season but in some cases, the plot may re-sow itself and partially replant on its own, but don't count on it since weeds may be a problem that suffocate its "self-replanting".
For this warm season annual plot, cow peas are a great choice for the forage production and attraction of wildlife. There are a multitude of cow peas available, iron and clay cowpeas have been documented as good crops for food plots.
Follow the instructions for planting your cowpeas in your warm season annual food plot. 50 pounds per acre is a normal recommendation so adjust for your food plot size that you have prepared. You can expect to pay around $75 for this amount. Replant it each year.
Weed Control
For cowpeas, a pre-emergence herbicide is recommended. Prowl H2 O, Pursuit and Treflan Herbicide are CowPea Safe at the pre-emergance stage. Ask you local farm supply for help in finding the right chemical and volume for your needs as these can get expensive ranging from $100 to $400 per gallon (although small amounts are needed, making it last for years). Treflan is available is pellet/powder form and can be lightly disced in and can be a more cost effect solution.
Repeat this again next year, by starting with discing the plot and replanting.
A short note version is available here: Printable Notes
See What Comes In
Now that the food plots are planted and the hard work done, set up a game camera or two and see what begins to find and enjoy your food plot and plan your future harvests!
 |
| This guy visited my foot plot during the first year. |
Comments
Post a Comment